Thursday, January 21, 2010

Meet Sofia

When the earthquake in Haiti happened, our students were still on break. Most go "home" to the countryside where many  of their relatives still reside. Sofia also went home--to the capital of Haiti, to visit her father.  Sofia is a new student of ours. She had only been with us a month or so when Christmas vacations started.

We are happy to report that Sofia is now safe and sound. The fifteen year old was in her father's house in Port au Prince when the earthquake happened. A few younger children (relatives) were at home with her at the time. She quickly got everyone out of the house, before it collapsed.

Her mother, back in the DR was frantic. She went to Haiti and spent eight days searching for her child, even checking corpses in the street before she found her, alive and well, although a bit skinnier.

We would appreciate your prayers for Sofia, that the Lord will help her, and help her family as well, to deal with the trauma of what  they have just passed through. We are so relieved to know that she is okay.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Not quite ready

The construction is moving along. We are hoping for the beginning of February, and it is looking like it may be possible--at least if they continue to work the way they are doing now. The main structures are up on added classrooms and bathrooms, there are new roofs where they were needed, and floors and windows are being installed. There is still plenty to do. Will it be done on time?

Meanwhile, the teachers come to my house for more training. Today each teacher signed up for an email account and learned how to send and receive email. Apart from Sign Language and Cued Spanish, and getting familiar with teaching materials, we've been working on basic computer skills--simple things like turning the computer on and off, opening a program, and cutting and pasting in a word processor. Even though all of the teachers are currently in college, or have graduated from college, they are not computer literate. Imagine it! But they don't have a lot of access to computers. Once the school is renovated, we'll be able to use the computer occasionally, when we have electricity. Usually that is a few hours in the morning.

We know the kids are as anxious to get back as we are. We are all missing each other. Such a long break is often a setback for children new to language. They revert back to home sign, and must be retaught. They usually pick it up a little faster the second time around.  It's also a setback to the teachers who were not fluent in Sign at the beginning of the year.  They all need that daily practice to maintain and develop their skills.

Blessings!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Our neighbor

In response to several inquires, here is short summary of what happened yesterday: Our neighbor, Haiti, as you know, had a serious earthquake. It was felt here in Santo Domingo, as tremors, and we had a brief tsunami watch. The tsunami did not materialize, thankfully. To the best of my knowledge, the Dominican Republic had no earthquake damage, although the quake was felt more strongly on the border areas than in Santo Domingo.


Ten percent of the population here is Haitian, so you can imagine that there is a lot of concern for relatives. 

According to our local news sources, the Domincan Republic is sending aid (water purifiers, search dogs, workers), and receiving patients from Haiti for treatment here, notably injured UN workers.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Back to school...school recognized.

Kings Day is over and Dominican children have received their gifts and had a few days to play with them. The long Christmas season will be winding down over the next couple of weeks. It's Dominican winter, and although the mid-day sun is still scorching most days, the evenings are very pleasant.

We had hoped to be back to school mid-January, but the construction is not going to be finished by then. It's looking more like February. We are asking the builders to finish off at least a couple of classrooms for our use by next week, but not sure if that will happen yet.

Since most schools only have classes three to four hours daily, and our class hours are extended, we can make up the time needed to satisfy the requirements of the Secretary of Education. But we would like to get going ASAP, and would appreciate your prayers for us on this point. Meanwhile, we will be concentrating on teacher training.

Most Dominican students will be returning to school this coming Monday.

The school has finally received the code that proves it is recognized by the State. It took us about four years to get through the process! Thank you to those who prayed with us for this. We know that it is truly the Lord who saves us, and despite opposition and obstacles, he is able, and got us through this.  Now we are asking the government to pay teacher salaries. This could take years, although they are able to do it any time they want. It's a very political process. Pray that the Lord will give us favor with the officials, and will remove those who are our enemies without cause, who seek to block this work at every turn.

In local news, the price of gas has gone up, and public transportation cars and buses are trying to raise their prices by 25%. This kind of situation usually means a series of transportation strikes that shut down the country, and can be violent.  A strike was called for today.

We are looking forward to what the Lord will do in 2010. Please stand with us in prayer for the deaf children, for their understanding of the gospel, their commitment to Jesus, and that they will grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord this year.