Posts
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
The week in review
Sunday
I was in a car accident, while riding as a passenger in a friend's car, a few minutes after leaving Sunday church meeting. Thankfully, no one had any serious injuries, although we certainly have had our aches and pains this week from the battering we took in the crash.
Tuesday morning
We have received five used macs (computers) which were donated to the school by some dear friends of mine in California. The children at my church there had raised the money to ship the computers during their VBS last summer. Tuesday morning I went down to the airport where the computers were being held in customs to pick them up.
The teachers are very excited about having a computer in each classroom now. During the Christmas break, I'll be doing some training with them to show them how to use the computers effectively. We hope to have a computer at each teacher's house, eventually, so that they can develop their computer skills, and create new curriculum.
Tuesday
The children's Christmas program at the school was wonderful. The children themselves enjoyed it very much. The next day the parents were calling and even coming by, to thank the school for this special program. Most, if not all, of the deaf students, had never participated in any kind of program on stage. Being deaf means being excluded often, and a lack of opportunity to do the normal childhood things. The parents had tears in their eyes, seeing their children up there for the first time. The deaf students signed "Joy to the World."
Wednesday
We had our annual Christmas party at the deaf school. We brought the group over from the Sabana Perdida school, to reunite with former classmates. There were games, candy, a nice meal and gifts for each student. Vision Trust provided funds for our party, for which we are very thankful. The kids had a lot of fun, and we teachers had perhaps even more fun watching them having fun!
Thursday
Vision Trust provided the fixings for a Christmas meal at the school in Sabana Perdida. Some of the children did not eat all of their food. Instead, they set aside a portion to take home to their moms. It was very touching, and impressive to see how the children were concerned for others. One said "I want to make sure my mom has something to eat when she gets home from work."
A gift arrived designated to helping one or more families at Christmas time. Part of the money went to help the family of one of our deaf students recover from the recent hurricane's effects.
A second amount was given to the mom of another of our deaf students. When she received it, she said that the children had eaten some bread brought over by a neighbor earlier in the day, and she was wondering what she was going to be able to give them for dinner, as there was no food or money in the house. This mom is a faithful worker at the school--the one who is always ready to serve when anything is needed. I was blessed in being able to distribute this love offering where it was very needed.
Friday
The good news is that the pilots are okay. The bad news is that the small plane that brings in our mail and mission supplies went down close to the Bahamas yesterday. Please keep this situation in prayer. Agape Flights hopes to recover the plane.
We are uncertain at this time of exactly what will happen with our mail service over the next weeks, as that is their only plane, but very thankful that everyone was okay. They brought in three plane loads of cargo this week, and were on their return trip, to the US. They usually stop in the Bajamas on the way back.
May you all have a very blessed time with family and friends this Christmas!
I was in a car accident, while riding as a passenger in a friend's car, a few minutes after leaving Sunday church meeting. Thankfully, no one had any serious injuries, although we certainly have had our aches and pains this week from the battering we took in the crash.
Tuesday morning
We have received five used macs (computers) which were donated to the school by some dear friends of mine in California. The children at my church there had raised the money to ship the computers during their VBS last summer. Tuesday morning I went down to the airport where the computers were being held in customs to pick them up.
The teachers are very excited about having a computer in each classroom now. During the Christmas break, I'll be doing some training with them to show them how to use the computers effectively. We hope to have a computer at each teacher's house, eventually, so that they can develop their computer skills, and create new curriculum.
Tuesday
The children's Christmas program at the school was wonderful. The children themselves enjoyed it very much. The next day the parents were calling and even coming by, to thank the school for this special program. Most, if not all, of the deaf students, had never participated in any kind of program on stage. Being deaf means being excluded often, and a lack of opportunity to do the normal childhood things. The parents had tears in their eyes, seeing their children up there for the first time. The deaf students signed "Joy to the World."
Wednesday
We had our annual Christmas party at the deaf school. We brought the group over from the Sabana Perdida school, to reunite with former classmates. There were games, candy, a nice meal and gifts for each student. Vision Trust provided funds for our party, for which we are very thankful. The kids had a lot of fun, and we teachers had perhaps even more fun watching them having fun!
Thursday
Vision Trust provided the fixings for a Christmas meal at the school in Sabana Perdida. Some of the children did not eat all of their food. Instead, they set aside a portion to take home to their moms. It was very touching, and impressive to see how the children were concerned for others. One said "I want to make sure my mom has something to eat when she gets home from work."
A gift arrived designated to helping one or more families at Christmas time. Part of the money went to help the family of one of our deaf students recover from the recent hurricane's effects.
A second amount was given to the mom of another of our deaf students. When she received it, she said that the children had eaten some bread brought over by a neighbor earlier in the day, and she was wondering what she was going to be able to give them for dinner, as there was no food or money in the house. This mom is a faithful worker at the school--the one who is always ready to serve when anything is needed. I was blessed in being able to distribute this love offering where it was very needed.
Friday
The good news is that the pilots are okay. The bad news is that the small plane that brings in our mail and mission supplies went down close to the Bahamas yesterday. Please keep this situation in prayer. Agape Flights hopes to recover the plane.
We are uncertain at this time of exactly what will happen with our mail service over the next weeks, as that is their only plane, but very thankful that everyone was okay. They brought in three plane loads of cargo this week, and were on their return trip, to the US. They usually stop in the Bajamas on the way back.
May you all have a very blessed time with family and friends this Christmas!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
A visit from Olga
We thought we were in the clear, since hurricane season ended a couple of weeks ago. We were surprised then, when Tropical Storm Olga, blew through on Tuesday, and dumped a lot of rain on us.
School was cancelled all over the country for yesterday and today, presumably to resume tomorrow. There was flooding on many of the major streets in the capital, and some of the people who were flooded out by the last big storm had to evacuate once again. The capital wasn't as hard hit as the northern coast was this time, and the death toll, which now stands at 13, is much lower. Santiago, which is the second largest city in the country, was hit with extensive flooding in river areas.
School was cancelled all over the country for yesterday and today, presumably to resume tomorrow. There was flooding on many of the major streets in the capital, and some of the people who were flooded out by the last big storm had to evacuate once again. The capital wasn't as hard hit as the northern coast was this time, and the death toll, which now stands at 13, is much lower. Santiago, which is the second largest city in the country, was hit with extensive flooding in river areas.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Joy to the World
That's what we are signing at the Christmas program. Although the song is a mere one minute 39 seconds long, it is going to take a lot of preparation, since some of the children are still new to Sign Language, and all are new to the concept of singing. I'm not looking for just a lot of waving hands. I actually want to try to help them understand what the song means. That is the hardest part, perhaps.
The kids are enthusiastic about participating, and I'm sure no matter how well or how awfully they do, people will be blessed, because they've never seen a song in Sign Language before.
Today a hearing student passed though the edge of the classroom, as she climbed the stairs toward her own classroom. Seeing our students at work, she exclaimed in amazement, that she never knew that "mutes" could write! Okay, we have a lot to teach the hearing children here, but I'm sure she went on to tell her classmates that the deaf children actually know how to write. You see, if you are deaf here, reading and writing is something you probably don't know how to do, and no one expects it of you.
Wycliffe Bible Translators are still interested in doing a Dominican Sign Language translation for us, but haven't got anyone qualified available currently. Do you know anyone who is fluent in English, Spanish, and ASL, and interested in missions?
We signed up another 8 year old girl today. She is our 14th student in the new classes. Although we are turning children away at this point, we had already reserved a space for her when we met her during relief efforts.
This announcement is bit premature, I suppose, but I'm excited. We are looking to add a deaf woman, Yulissa, to our staff. Technically, she'll be a teacher's aide, since she doesn't have the qualifications required by the Secretary of Education. The only formal education she's ever had was at DOOR's (Deaf Opportunity OutReach) school in Costa Rica, learning Bible Storying.
We would like her to help with teaching Sign Language and Bible Storying at both schools, half the time at each. We still have to confirm details with her, but she has wanted to work with us, and we with her, for a long time. I'm very familiar with her work, having worked with her in Church services, and I believe she'll be a wonderful addition.
As the end of another year arrives, I'm reflecting on all that God has done, and I cannot but be amazed. I thank him constantly.
I also want to take the time to thank all of you, for your participation in this ministry. People and church have sent money and teaching materials, replenished items such as pencils, given us needed equipment, and even come here to work directly with the children. (I tend to shy away from putting specific names on the internet, for privacy reasons, but you know who you are.) We also appreciate the ongoing help that we receive from Vision Trust, who supplies partial scholarships for most of our children, as well as other help from time to time.
Many are taking us before the Lord, asking for his blessing on these deaf children and this school. Thank you so much! The Dominicans have a saying "May the Lord repay you [for it]." Amen!
The kids are enthusiastic about participating, and I'm sure no matter how well or how awfully they do, people will be blessed, because they've never seen a song in Sign Language before.
Today a hearing student passed though the edge of the classroom, as she climbed the stairs toward her own classroom. Seeing our students at work, she exclaimed in amazement, that she never knew that "mutes" could write! Okay, we have a lot to teach the hearing children here, but I'm sure she went on to tell her classmates that the deaf children actually know how to write. You see, if you are deaf here, reading and writing is something you probably don't know how to do, and no one expects it of you.
Wycliffe Bible Translators are still interested in doing a Dominican Sign Language translation for us, but haven't got anyone qualified available currently. Do you know anyone who is fluent in English, Spanish, and ASL, and interested in missions?
We signed up another 8 year old girl today. She is our 14th student in the new classes. Although we are turning children away at this point, we had already reserved a space for her when we met her during relief efforts.
This announcement is bit premature, I suppose, but I'm excited. We are looking to add a deaf woman, Yulissa, to our staff. Technically, she'll be a teacher's aide, since she doesn't have the qualifications required by the Secretary of Education. The only formal education she's ever had was at DOOR's (Deaf Opportunity OutReach) school in Costa Rica, learning Bible Storying.
We would like her to help with teaching Sign Language and Bible Storying at both schools, half the time at each. We still have to confirm details with her, but she has wanted to work with us, and we with her, for a long time. I'm very familiar with her work, having worked with her in Church services, and I believe she'll be a wonderful addition.
As the end of another year arrives, I'm reflecting on all that God has done, and I cannot but be amazed. I thank him constantly.
I also want to take the time to thank all of you, for your participation in this ministry. People and church have sent money and teaching materials, replenished items such as pencils, given us needed equipment, and even come here to work directly with the children. (I tend to shy away from putting specific names on the internet, for privacy reasons, but you know who you are.) We also appreciate the ongoing help that we receive from Vision Trust, who supplies partial scholarships for most of our children, as well as other help from time to time.
Many are taking us before the Lord, asking for his blessing on these deaf children and this school. Thank you so much! The Dominicans have a saying "May the Lord repay you [for it]." Amen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)