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August 14, 1991--The Portland Observer -Page 3
Scripture o f the W kef
Matthew 13:3
I Know I Can Do It!
BY MATTIE ANN CALLIER-SPEARS
Gladys and Avelton Harris arrived
in Portland in 1945 with their two chil­
dren, Arthur and G lenda, from W arren,
Arkansas. The children attended school
at Vanport Elementary. “ And it all got
washed out,’ ’ A rthur said. G lenda grew
and excelled in her school subjects.
She, later on, w ent to college, found a
husband and got married. H o w ev er-
big brother, Arthur, about whom this
story is being written, did not do as
well. Arthur was the victim of an injury
sustained at birth. It left him with a
dim inished capacity to leant and inau­
dible speech.
The year is now 1991. G lenda is
now Mrs. Sam Benefield. A rthur and
G lenda’s parents are both deceased.
All that they have is each o th e r-a n d
Sam. A rthur is 60 years old and is still
handicapped.
Since 1945, Arthur has been in and
out o f one program after another. He
has attended Vocational Rehab for the
handicapped and has struggled through
num erousotherprogram s. “ Arthur was
in Fairview for a long, long tim e,” says
Glenda. “ I had moved to C alifornia for
12 years after graduating from high
school. Then I m oved back to Portland
in 1952.” W hen G lenda returned, she
w ent to Fairview and got her brother,
brought him home and has cared for
him since.
W hen I arrived to do the interview,
A rthur greeted me with a big smile and
m otioned for me to have a seat until his
sister cam e into the room.
A rthur resides with his sister and
her husband, Sam, in a very clean,
orderly and modest, Christian home. A
home W here G od is the point o f atten­
tion.
“ I am ju st tired o f waiting and I
w ant som ething done - now !”
Glenda has struggled and struggled
to make things better for her brother.
She was so happy when she found out
about a program at Sylvania College
entitled ARC, Assoc iation for Retarded
Citizens. It took her eight months be­
fore she even got a chance to reach
someone. She called the case m anager
with the M ultnomah Developm ental
D isabilities and was placed on an eight
year w aiting list. Nothing was happen
ing. She was told that there w eren’t
enough case managers to go around.
B u t-o n e person finally came out to the
house. It was Randal Sherwood. Glenda
told the interview er, “ la m just tired o f
waiting and I want som ething d o n e -
now !” G lenda got an interview and
A rthur got into the program. All total, it
took about nine months. Arth ur entered
the program two to three m onths after
speaking to Sherwood. Arthur was going
to school.
Reed College has developed a food
service program with the Professional
Food-Service Management, Inc. Arthur
received his training at the PCC Sylva­
nia cam pus under the tutelage o f Chef
Paul from England. A rthur received
instruction real great. He began in the
dishroom and was then taken through
all phases of restaurant training. “ Arthur
was well liked by everyone,” says
Glenda.
A rthur excelled. He got excellent
grades. “ D on’t ask me how it hap­
pened,” Glenda spouted. “ It was noth­
ing but the good Lord. People try to
give me credit, but it was G od.”
Arthur w ent to school everyday;
all by himself; on the city bus. His
exam s were oral exam s. He has an
excellent understanding o f the spoken
language. He can rem em ber w hat is
explained to him. He can com prehend
spoken directions and he is able to do
things well with his hands. He cannot
read or write.
Arthur has held small jobs. He
worked for Goodwill for 12 years on a
sorting belt. B u t-it paid so little.
Vocational Rehab tests to see what
individuals can do. Som etim es it does
more harm than good. One place at a
lab the handicapped persons are assem ­
bling packets. “ It pleases them to be
able to accomplish som ething,” says
Glenda. “ I am so glad for the ARC
Program . A fter a student com pletes the
program , they can find gainful em ploy­
ment. Glenda said that a counselor comes
out, on the job site, and checks up on
the student’s progress.
Arthur showed me his grades. They
were all A ’s and B ’s. He even does
homework, with help from his sister.
“ He did m uch better than I im agined
he could,” Glenda shared. The course
taught him how to m anage on his ow n,
attitudes, living on his own in an apart­
ment. W hen he graduates, the program
will provide help in finding a jo b a c ­
cording to his abilities. Som e o f the
instructors w ere skeptical because they
thought that the em ployer might not be
able to understand w hat Arthur is say­
ing. W hen A rthur entered the program
he could not read or write. Now he can
write much better. He can also identify
kitchen tools and equipm ent and he
knows how to prepare food. Everyone
is not fortunate enough to have a rela­
tive to help them, But Arthur does.
In this program, each student is
taught that “ failure is not a part o f
success.” They can set goals. A rthur’s
goal is to do a good job at w hat he is
doing. His jo b is to cut up all the ingre­
dients. He has a utility belt that is ju st
awesome. Il has over 20 different tools
in it and A rthur can identify each one
and can tell you w hat it’s used for.
Left, Arthur and other members of ARC - Top Right, Glenda Benefield - Bottom Right, Arthur T. Harris
Arthur is pictured here with other
m em bers o f the ARC Program. This
particular picture is used on brochures
and envelopes. They hold conventions
each year. One year it was at the Red
Lion at the Lloyd Center. O ther times it
was held in Eugene, Salem, Springfield
and Corvallis. They also made a video
in which Arthur participated.
Following one year of intense study
and guidance, Arthur received his Cer­
tificate o f Completion as a Culinary
A ssistant in a graduation cerem ony that
Minister Gregory Fobbs Bible school 9:30 am. Morning Worship 10:45 am.
Evening Bible Class 5:00 pm. Evening Worship at 6:00 pm.Attended nursey
for all services Wed. prayer meeting and bible study 7:30 pm. Advacating
NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY
Mallory AveChruch Of Christ Invites you to open house\ visitors welcome Aug.
25, 1991. Bible Study 9:30 am worship 10:45 am. This invitation is extended
to guest and friends to meet our new Pulpit Minister and his family. Following
services, will be a Potluck Fellowship! Please join us in Christian Fellowship.
Maranatha
Church
MT OLIVET BAPTIST
CHURCH
WE ARE MOVING
SUNDAY SERVICES
TO
4222 N.E. 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon
Stone Tower Church,
N.E. Sandy Blvd. & 30th
Worship Services 8:00 A.M. & 11:00 A.M.
Church School 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.
Bible Study, Wednesdays, 116 N.E.Schuyler
10:30 A.M. and 6:30 P.M.
Sunday Services
Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
Morning Worship
his sister, nor he, shall ever forget.
G lenda says that people with re­
tarded relatives should look into the
different programs for the handicapped.
Look to see which one is best and just
w ho will benefit m ost from the pro­
gram ’s concepts. You have to pursue
all angles and ju st stay on top o f things.
“ Som etim es you get your feelings hurt
but keep on going. W hatever it takes,
never give up,” Glenda concludes.
Mr. and Mrs. Benefield and Mr.
Harris are m em bers o f Allen Tem ple
CM E Church. A rthur works with C hil­
dren’s Church. His responsibility is to
serve the snacks. He is a m em ber o f the
A rkansas C lub o f Oregon and has held
the position o f Sgt. o f Arms.
The staff m em bers of the Portland
O bserver and the entire Portland com ­
munity wish to offer its warm-hearted-,
congratulations to Mr. Arthur T h o m a s'
Harris for a jo b well done. May Gcxf
continue to bless and keep you all y o u r
days.
St. Paul Missionary
Baptist Church ~
8101 N. Fiske Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97203
Church Phone: 289-0147
Study Phone: 289-1911
Sunday Service
10:45
Sunday School
9.36
Bible Study
6:00
Evening Service
7:00 P.M.
'astor, Rev. James C.E. Faulkner
Theme: Whatever you’re going to do
for the Lord, do it now.
I Peter iv.ll
Jesus Loves You/
Ällän iän)pia © iE Ähu/d)
10:30 A.M.
Evening Worship
Radio Ministry each Sunday, 8:00 A.M.-KBMS
PsaJm 3 4 .3
A Teaching Church With A Reaching Ministry
Dr. James E. Martin, Senior Pastor
4236 NE Eighth Avenue
6:00 P.M.
M idweek Service - Wednesday
7:00 P.M.
Saturday- BASIC Youth Service
Rev. Wendall H. Wallace
Senior Pastor
7:00 P.M.
Church Office 116 N.E. Schuy cr,
&
FUNERAL
God's Presence i promises
prom
Power through Jesus Christ in
G ood Times and Bod Times
M a tth e w 11:28
"Come to m e a l you who ore
w eory and heavyloden ond I
will gwo you i
Sunday School
Morning Worship
Tuesday Bible
Study ond Prayer
Cleodus Vann
126 N.€. Alberto
Portland. OR 97211 (503) 288-5173
Interracial Congregation
Denise A. Bell Pastor
(503) 287-0261
M W V M nM VA VkW W W M W W
Mollerv Avenu« Christian Church
9:45am
11:00am
7:30pm
Portland, Oregon 97211
Phillip S. Nelson, Pastor
"Maranatha Live" Radio Program/Talk Show KPDQ 93.7 FM 800 AM
11 ;00 P.M. to 12:00 midnight (Each Sunday)
(Disciples oí Christ)
(com er of 8th 4 Skidmore)
D IR E C T O R S
Family Owned and Operated
Since 1954
Serving the City of Portland
for over 37 years
In your hour of need
Vann &Vann are there to serve
503/281-2836
5211 N. Williams Portland, Or. 97217
NEW TESTAMENT
CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST
1237 NE FAILING ST
PORTLAND, OR 97212
(503) 284-7594
ELDER LEON BREWER JR., PASTOR & FOUNDER
6TH ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP WORKSHOP SEMINAR
RED LION INN COLISEUM
1225 N THUNDERBIRD WAY
PORTLAND, OR 97227
AUGUST 1 6 -1 8
EVERYONE WELCOME
AUGUST 16TH - FRIDAY 12:00 NOON WORKSHOP
AUGUST 17TH - SATURDAY 10:00 AM WORKSHOP
AUGUST 17TH - SATURDAY 7:30 PM EVENING WORSHIP
AUGUST 18TH - SUNDAY 3:30 PM WORSHIP SERVICE
AT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
MSN. ERMA J BREWER, PRESIDENT.
PLEASE COME AND BE A PART OF THIS SPECIAL EVENT
SPECIAL GUEST FROM TACOMA & SEATTLE WASHINGTON
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