Marissa Mouse Ministry Helps Young Students Grieve Death of 7-Year Old Classmate Teacher uses stuffed animal

ministry to help students grieve loss of 7-year old classmate. Their school then reaches out to others who have experienced similar tragedies. Algood, TN, July 19, 2012 -- Beth-Anne White wanted to find a way to support her students in the death of their second-grade classmate, Marissa Wilmoth.She deci ded to give each of them a stuffed animal mouse with a Bible verse attached to i t so they could hold it and feel loved as they grieved.From that idea was born t he concept for Marissa Mouse Ministry, in which her students reach out to comfor t other schools who have also suffered the death of a student. Algood Christian Elementary School and the surrounding community were devastated in April by the heartbreaking death of 7-year old Marissa when she was tragical ly killed by the collapse of her home playground equipment.Mrs. White, rememberi ng how she had been given a stuffed animal at the memorial service of a girl who died while she was attending Southern Adventist University, felt inspired to do something similar for her students. Mrs. White found a mouse (Marissa's favorite animal) online that she thought loo ked cute and ordered one for each of her students. She handed them out with a ta g that had "Marissa Mouse" written on it along with Marissa's favorite Bible ver se: "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). When she gave out the mice, Marissa's brother and her twin said, "That's the sam e mouse as Marissa's!" And so it was.Mrs. White says, "By God's miracle, He had guided me to that exact mouse. It is the same brand as the one Marissa owned; he rs was just more worn with love. The students loved those mice and carried them around everywhere!" Mrs. White and her students want to share their love of Marissa and God's love o f them with others. Through Marissa Mouse Ministry, they seek to reach out to ot her K-8 schools in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. When a school suffers the death of a student during the school year, they will provide each student with a Marissa Mouse, letters from Algood Christian Elementary stu dents, and a cover letter explaining their ministry. Mrs. White says, "We have experienced tremendous, unspeakable loss, but in our p ain we want to reach out to others and share Marissa's life of happiness and lov e that she experienced in Jesus. It is our prayer that each Marissa Mouse will b e a tangible way for students to know that they are not alone, that God is there for them, and that others are there to help love them." Donations can be made online at www.marissamouseministry.com or a check can be m ade out to "Algood Christian Elementary" and sent to 2660 Hwy 111 N., Algood, Te nnessee 38501 with "Marissa Mouse Ministry" written in the memo. About Marissa Mouse Ministry Marissa Mouse Ministry seeks to reach out to other K-8 schools in the North Amer ican Division of Seventh-day Adventists. When a school suffers the death of a st udent during the school year, we will provide each student with a Marissa Mouse, letters from our students, and a cover letter explaining our ministry. Contact: BethAnne White Marissa Mouse Ministry 2660 Hwy 111 N Algood, TN 38501 484-269-3543

bawhite@gccsda.com http://www.marissamouseministry.com