January 27, 2003

Class takes a bite out of shame, puts smile on woman's face
___By Miranda Bradley
___Texas Baptist Children's Home & Family Services
___ROUND ROCK--Lisa Monk hasn't met the Fellowship Bible Class at First Baptist Church of Round Rock. But she carries a little part of the class with her every day, and she shows it off every time she smiles.
___In 1997, Monk entered the Texas Baptist Children's Home Family Care Program, a ministry providing residential care and other assistance for single mothers and their children. Her four children, one of whom is autistic, barely saw their mother's smile. When she talked, she always hid her mouth with her hand.
___The reason lies in her past. Her teeth had been knocked out years ago by an abusive husband. Caps were put on to cover the gaping holes, but the caps eventually fell off.
___That left Monk with nothing but decaying nubs in the front of her

BEFORE her dental work, Lisa Monk covered her mouth with her hand every time she spoke. When members of First Baptist Church of Round Rock learned of her hard work toward earning a degree while raising four children as a single mother, they stepped in to put a smile on her face.

mouth.
___"It really caused me some very serious self-esteem problems," she said.
___And it also caused physical pain. Her back teeth hurt so severely that she was constantly on pain medication to make it through the day.
___But it never slowed her down.
___"My mouth was in terrible shape," she said. "I was in pain all the time, but I knew I had to keep going for my children."
___Monk spent 10 months in the Family Care Program, which is supported partially by Cooperative Program gifts through the Baptist General Convention of Texas. After that, she began attending St. Edward's University to earn a bachelor of arts degree in social work.
___Earning that diploma helped introduce Monk to the people who would change her life--the members of the First Baptist Church of Round Rock's Fellowship Bible Class.
___"Linda Bradley at the children's home asked me if there was anything that was giving me trouble that might keep me from graduating," Monk said, smiling. "I told her my teeth were bothering me a little."
___In fact, Monk's teeth had recently become infected, causing her health concerns that might have hindered her graduation.
___Months went by, and Monk continued to excel in school even though her teeth were causing her problems.
___During her last semester, she received a phone call from Bradley, the only person to whom she had mentioned her problem. Bradley told her the Bible study class wanted to provide her with a complete dental overhaul.
___Her only requirement was to keep excelling at school and follow her dreams.
___"When she told me what they were going to do for me, I almost started to cry," Monk said.
___Class members were emotional about Monk's cause as well.
___"Lisa had been such an inspiration to us all," explained class member Dan Collier. "She was upholding exemplary grades, raising four children, continuing an exercise regimen (losing 100 pounds in a semester) and was always cheerful. That showed us she deserved this gift."
___The class launched a campaign called "Lisa's Laughter," asking church members to sponsor a tooth, half a tooth or a bridge. It didn't take long for the money to start stacking up.
___And when the class still fell short of its $7,000 goal, a children's home board member stepped in with a major gift.
___Stephen Becker, a Round Rock dentist and friend of the Baptist home, performed the dental work, which took four hours and required assistance from his entire staff.
___Before long, Becker noticed a difference in his crew, which is made up of Christians and non-Christians alike.
___"This was a good witness to my staff," he said. "It let them see a side of people they might not have seen before, knowing a church group was helping to make this happen."
___This is not the first time the Sunday School class has called on Becker to perform such a task. Over the last four years, the class has helped others, but none as extensively as Monk.
___"We realized that Medicaid and Medicare often don't allow for any dental work of any kind," Collier said. "We know people's lives have been impacted because many times their dental work is in such bad shape. They can't afford to go to the dentist, and they need to spend their money on food."
___Since having the procedure almost a year ago, Monk has changed in demeanor. Now, she speaks out strongly and laughs loud, always flashing her big, bright smile.
___"It has made a huge difference in my life," she said. "Now, I don't think at all about my mouth and what people are thinking. I know my self-esteem has improved, and that makes me a better person and a better mom."
___When she walked across the stage to get her degree, Monk smiled proudly at the crowd and waved to Bradley. Today, she is applying to graduate school at Southwestern University, where she hopes to earn a master's degree in social work. Her career goal is to work with autistic children.
___The members of First Baptist Church in Round Rock have helped her achieve her goals, she said.
___"They are my angels. They will always be my angels, and I know God is looking out for me."
___

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