Hi David,

Nice to speak to you!

Before I reply, I'd just like to say one thing. I am a Christian, as you
are. But I respect the beliefs, religious or otherwise, of all people.
Some of the people who have helped me the most in my life have been
professed atheists. I say this because, although I certainly believe
that Christianity is a source of help for people with AS, I would not
want to tell everyone else on this list that they ought to become
Christians, in order to be helped. This is simply not the case. It is
something that you and I can perhaps share, and maybe others might wish
to consider it, but no one should feel forced into doing so.

david wrote:
> Hi Angela
>
> I am a 29 year old autistic American Christian male. I understand
what you
> went though. I have been a Christian for three years now. I have had a
> similar problem like you and know how it's like to be alone and have a
> difficult time making friends I have the same problem before I was a
> Christian I never was able to get a date and I was so lonely I tried a
> mail order bride service and she was Russian and she used me and robbed
> me out of money and I tried to commit suicide after my suicide attempt

I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you here. I can understand
this. One of the things which I have experienced so often, and which
lead me to become so desperate that I become suicidal, is the way people
promise you things, and then let you down. Or worse, as you have
experienced, use you in some way, while you don't understand what they
are doing. I would never do these things to other people, yet they do
similar to me, and I can't understand why, except that I know that I am
vulnerable in ways which most people are not.

> I met Oliver he led me to Christ and Calvary Chapel of Orlando FL which
> I attend now I have friends who do not have asperger syndrome they
treat
> me normal and I have overcome my asperger syndrome by trusting and
> depending on God and relying on his help I have allowed God to work
with
> my disorder I have lived a better lifer I have a little more peace.I
also
> didn't know what was wrong with me until I met a teacher at my church
> who work with autistic people than she look up types of autism and I
have
> asperger syndrome.

I'm glad you have found this source of help. Personally, I do agree that
God can help us, and give us peace, whatever is wrong with us.

> I know you live in England I do not know where. I do
> not know if your husband remarried or not.

I live just to the north of Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, England.
It is in the north midlands. My mother lives on the south coast, just
outside Portsmouth, which is my home, but I haven't been able to go back
there for 11 years now. My ex-husband moved in with someone else in
1999, and married her in 2000, subsequent to our divorce.


> This church may not be right one for you . I am going to keep you in my
> prays and pray God will help you. I am starting a asperger autistic
> ministry at least I am trying to.

This sounds like a good idea, David, but, as I said before, I,
personally, think you should use it with care. However, from what you
have written, I think you already understand that, and so I wish you all
the best with it...

> I have taken biblical counseling classes and I have passed and
completed
> them. I hope to use my biblical counseling to help people with asperger
> syndrome like me and to give them hope by relying and turning to
God for
> help and sharing his peace and love and how to overcome asperger
syndrome
> like I did. Right now the asperger autistic minstry God is having me do
> is by e-mail for now and hope to do personal minstery.

The opportunities to speak to people in the "real world" are so limited,
are they not, in comparison with what you can do via email? Though, of
course, email has its limitations as well, for example, that you cannot
see the person you are speaking to. (I have been using email discussion
lists since 1998, and so have plenty of experience with what they can,
and cannot, do).

> I can advise you on this do not trust any worldly counselors.
> I know that you are going though hard times right now but God will help
> you and will provide you with all your needs.
> I know there are 14 Calvary Chapels in UK England area.
> To find the nearest one go to www.calvarychapel.com
> I would suggest that when you go tell them a brother in christ from
> Calvary Chapel Of Orlando FL USA sent you.
> Angela I am going to pray God will send you a helper to help you and I
> want you to know God cares for you and he will help you. I care. Feel
> free to e-mail me anytime.
> May God protect you and fill you with his love.
>
> In Christ
> David

Thank you, David. One thing which I do try to do is to remember that my
belief in God ought not to depend on how individual people treat me. God
is still there, even if I am let down by people...

May God bless you too, and I send you all best wishes,
Angela