It is so great to see that Literacy Connexus is continuing with the "Adult Reading and Writing" and "Conversational English" programs that I was introduced to in 1967 when I took my initial training through the Southern Baptist Convention Home Mission Board. This life changing experience opened my eyes and my mind to areas of service not before known. The church I attended provided facilities for teaching and a nursery was provided as needed for the students.

One of my first students was a man in his late forties who had never learned to read.  He worked for a local chemical company, having started when the plant opened, and was not required to do any paper work. He shared with me that none of his three children knew that he could not read. Each day when he got home from work, he would pick up the paper and pretend to read.  As he began learning to sound out letters and then words, encouragement grew and he progressed quickly through the Laubach Skill Books.

Note from Lester:  

In 1993, Wanda received the Mildred Blankenship national Literacy Missions Award from the Baptist Home Mission Board. In addition to teaching students through local church ministry, Wanda was a literacy missions associate, and with other trainers like Leta Cornman, equipped many volunteer literacy teachers across the United States.

In 2002, she was recognized by Elmin Howell, director of the Texas Baptist River Ministry, for more than thirty years of service. She and her husband Jack served along the Texas - Mexico Border helping to start churches and meet human need.  

Most recently, she volunteered from 2010 to 2012 at the Hospitality House in Huntsville. According to executive director Debra McCammon, Wanda demonstrated unconventional love to the families of inmates at the Texas Department of Corrections. A tireless worker, Wanda once taught college student volunteers to use a tiller in creating a prayer garden. Debra noted that families are still asking about Wanda.