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Camp was a success. Children learned more about Jesus, and some came to know him personally. There was too much fun to be believed, even though it poured down rain every day. The kids still had time to get in the pool.
Framy, who has been dealing with visual problems, at first didn't want to come, because he cannot see at night now. We assured him that we would assign someone to him, if necessary, to make sure he didn't have any problems. He decided to come. His classmates were happy to see him, and fought over who would be his guide.
The children had a bunch of new American friends to get to know, and American friends who they knew from last year to catch up with.
Several weeks later...oops! I just realized that this post was written but never posted. So here it is, better late than never!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Congratulations to our principal (director)
This past week, a little over a thousand public school teachers and principals took the state mandated testing for their positions. It is a grueling test, covering quite a broad spectrum of knowledge, including knowledge of education law. Less than 90 people passed. Our director (principal) Paulina, was among them. God has prepared her well for her position at the school. She was in the top ten percent of all scores.
We will be getting three of the teachers who passed, to work at the deaf school next year. This is a great blessing. The new teachers come in without Sign skills, or experience with deaf students, and will need on the job training. (Note: There is really no choice in this; teachers who already know Sign and have experience are extremely rare.)
On a personal note, I (Peggy Blevins) will be returning to the US for the next school year. This mission is complete and in the hands of Dominicans who are capable and trustworthy. I'll be leaving after camp, on July 1st. While on furlough, I will attend some conferences, the Voice for the Deaf board meeting, visit some churches to give them a report on the work here, and of course, see my siblings, and many dear friends, most of whom I haven't seen for the past six years or more. Did I mention that there will be some R& R in there too?! While stateside, I hope to do some work on the curriculum as well, but perhaps that is being too ambitious. We'll see. This year will be a time of seeking God for his plan for the next mission. When I return, God willing, I will be working in an area outside of the capital, possibly on the Haitian border, where there is almost no education for the deaf, nor churches, and most of the deaf don't know Sign even as adults.
The director has asked me if I will continue to do the English blog for them, and I have agreed; they will send me the info and I'll write it up in English to keep you all posted.
Camp is coming up soon, the third week in June. Keep us in your prayers!
We will be getting three of the teachers who passed, to work at the deaf school next year. This is a great blessing. The new teachers come in without Sign skills, or experience with deaf students, and will need on the job training. (Note: There is really no choice in this; teachers who already know Sign and have experience are extremely rare.)
On a personal note, I (Peggy Blevins) will be returning to the US for the next school year. This mission is complete and in the hands of Dominicans who are capable and trustworthy. I'll be leaving after camp, on July 1st. While on furlough, I will attend some conferences, the Voice for the Deaf board meeting, visit some churches to give them a report on the work here, and of course, see my siblings, and many dear friends, most of whom I haven't seen for the past six years or more. Did I mention that there will be some R& R in there too?! While stateside, I hope to do some work on the curriculum as well, but perhaps that is being too ambitious. We'll see. This year will be a time of seeking God for his plan for the next mission. When I return, God willing, I will be working in an area outside of the capital, possibly on the Haitian border, where there is almost no education for the deaf, nor churches, and most of the deaf don't know Sign even as adults.
The director has asked me if I will continue to do the English blog for them, and I have agreed; they will send me the info and I'll write it up in English to keep you all posted.
Camp is coming up soon, the third week in June. Keep us in your prayers!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Elections
The elections for senators, and other government posts (but not president) are being held on Sunday. For this reason all schools and colleges are canceled for tomorrow afternoon, and for Monday. This is nationwide, announced by the Secretary of Education.
Pray for the Dominican Republic, that Sunday's elections will be fair, and peaceful, and that God will guide in the choice of those who are to govern.
Pray for the Dominican Republic, that Sunday's elections will be fair, and peaceful, and that God will guide in the choice of those who are to govern.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Framy update
We hear from Framy's mother that Framy is doing well and that he had light perception today at least. It is not really clear what surgery they did! They have said it was for detached retina and they have said it was for cataracts. I hope it is the latter, as that is much easier to deal with, although the symptoms he described (sudden pain, a lot of floaters, and inability to see), seem like the former. Whatever, we are glad to hear that he is doing well, and will give him a few days of recovery before we visit. Thanks for your prayers.
Okay, it is officially hot here! Today we had a few tarps put up for shade, since the tree we used to have was taken down during the construction. At lunch time, when the kids have a little extra time to play outside, it is just too hot in the sun, so we hope this will help.
Okay, it is officially hot here! Today we had a few tarps put up for shade, since the tree we used to have was taken down during the construction. At lunch time, when the kids have a little extra time to play outside, it is just too hot in the sun, so we hope this will help.
Framy's Surgery
Today, (student) Framy underwent eye surgery on his one "good" eye for a detached retina. As far as we know, it went well, but of course today it is patched up with gauze. Imagine being deaf and having no vision even for a day. It is a deaf person's worst nightmare. Tomorrow we should hear if the surgery was successful.
Vision Trust helped make the surgery possible. The doctors had said that they would not do the surgery until the mother came up with several thousand pesos--not an easy thing for her. She is very thankful for their help, as are we who work at the school.
Your prayers are appreciated.
Vision Trust helped make the surgery possible. The doctors had said that they would not do the surgery until the mother came up with several thousand pesos--not an easy thing for her. She is very thankful for their help, as are we who work at the school.
Your prayers are appreciated.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Daily snack & Time
The students are very much looking forward to VBS camp, coming up in June. Those who attended last year have heartily recommended it to the new students, and daily we are asked, "When is camp--tomorrow?"
Many of our older students have been language deprived and have great difficulty with the concept of time. Most of them understand tomorrow and today. "Yesterday" to them means anything in the past, and they are often unable to be more specific than that. They will tell you their birthday was "yesterday," when in fact, it was three months ago, but they still remember it well. Explain that something will happen next year, next week, or next month, and it is beyond their comprehension.
Students who have spent a few years with us usually catch on a little better to time concepts. But even then, if they started school in their teens, they usually cannot grasp the idea of something even as simple as next Thursday. It isn't just a matter of learning the signs; it is understanding the whole concept of time.
It is difficult to invite them to church. If you tell them on Friday, they may show up on Saturday. For those who understand, we say to come on Sunday. To the others we usually say, "Come in two tomorrows."
This week the government began providing the students with a pint of milk and either a roll or a cupcake for morning snack. We are thankful that this is available, because most Dominican children have very little milk in their diet.
Teacher Melandina will be leaving after this week for maternity leave. In the DR maternity leave is six weeks before the expected birth of the child and six weeks following the birth, paid leave. Her class will be divided between two other classes, for the remainder of the school year.
Many of our older students have been language deprived and have great difficulty with the concept of time. Most of them understand tomorrow and today. "Yesterday" to them means anything in the past, and they are often unable to be more specific than that. They will tell you their birthday was "yesterday," when in fact, it was three months ago, but they still remember it well. Explain that something will happen next year, next week, or next month, and it is beyond their comprehension.
Students who have spent a few years with us usually catch on a little better to time concepts. But even then, if they started school in their teens, they usually cannot grasp the idea of something even as simple as next Thursday. It isn't just a matter of learning the signs; it is understanding the whole concept of time.
It is difficult to invite them to church. If you tell them on Friday, they may show up on Saturday. For those who understand, we say to come on Sunday. To the others we usually say, "Come in two tomorrows."
This week the government began providing the students with a pint of milk and either a roll or a cupcake for morning snack. We are thankful that this is available, because most Dominican children have very little milk in their diet.
Teacher Melandina will be leaving after this week for maternity leave. In the DR maternity leave is six weeks before the expected birth of the child and six weeks following the birth, paid leave. Her class will be divided between two other classes, for the remainder of the school year.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
back to school
Well, Easter week is past, and the children are drifting back in to school. This is something we experience every time the children have a week or more off; they don't come back all at once! Many go off to the country for a couple of weeks during the break. They are always glad to see each other again, after their time apart. It's so nice to be able to communicate fully with friends.
We have a few special problems right now as well. One teacher is out, because two of her own children have come down with viral hepatitis. We aren't sure how long she will be out. It can take from a few weeks to several months to recover from hepatitis. Meanwhile, the directors have divided up her class among the other classes.
One student, Framy, had a problem before the break. He has only one good eye, and began experiencing severe pain in that eye, and seeing a lot of floaters. It sounded like his retina was possibly detaching. We got him off to the doctor quickly. They basically said it was nothing, but his mom had the wisdom to take him on to the eye hospital. Still, even they were not sure. Meanwhile, Framy has not returned to school. His vision has been severely impaired these couple of weeks, and at night he's pretty much blind, according to his mom. He doesn't want to come to school because of this. The eye hospital is discussing possible surgery. Imagine how terrifying it is to a deaf child who uses his vision to understand others! Please pray for Framy, and especially pray that the Lord will give the doctors wisdom how to save his one functioning eye.
The church is meeting on Sunday afternoons, and a local pastor of the deaf comes to present preaching/teaching for the children who come. He teaches at another deaf meeting in the morning. The students know and like this pastor & his wife, and we are blessed to have their help. Pray that the children will see the importance of church participation, and that their parents will allow them to participate as well. Several live in the area, although there are also quite a few from outside the area.
Word of mouth is your best recommendation here, and news continues to travel that we are here in Sabana Perdida. Even though we are approaching the end of the school year, we still have children coming in to start school.
Please pray for God's provision of personnel to work with the ever-growing student population. Many of our students have problems in addition to deafness; dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders, vision problems, difficulties walking, among others. Nearly all come in with severe language deprivation as well. For this reason, it is quite a challenge to find teachers who can meet the needs of this population. We are thankful that the Lord continues to make it possible for these children to come to school.
And we are thankful to YOU! Your prayers make a difference.
We have a few special problems right now as well. One teacher is out, because two of her own children have come down with viral hepatitis. We aren't sure how long she will be out. It can take from a few weeks to several months to recover from hepatitis. Meanwhile, the directors have divided up her class among the other classes.
One student, Framy, had a problem before the break. He has only one good eye, and began experiencing severe pain in that eye, and seeing a lot of floaters. It sounded like his retina was possibly detaching. We got him off to the doctor quickly. They basically said it was nothing, but his mom had the wisdom to take him on to the eye hospital. Still, even they were not sure. Meanwhile, Framy has not returned to school. His vision has been severely impaired these couple of weeks, and at night he's pretty much blind, according to his mom. He doesn't want to come to school because of this. The eye hospital is discussing possible surgery. Imagine how terrifying it is to a deaf child who uses his vision to understand others! Please pray for Framy, and especially pray that the Lord will give the doctors wisdom how to save his one functioning eye.
The church is meeting on Sunday afternoons, and a local pastor of the deaf comes to present preaching/teaching for the children who come. He teaches at another deaf meeting in the morning. The students know and like this pastor & his wife, and we are blessed to have their help. Pray that the children will see the importance of church participation, and that their parents will allow them to participate as well. Several live in the area, although there are also quite a few from outside the area.
Word of mouth is your best recommendation here, and news continues to travel that we are here in Sabana Perdida. Even though we are approaching the end of the school year, we still have children coming in to start school.
Please pray for God's provision of personnel to work with the ever-growing student population. Many of our students have problems in addition to deafness; dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders, vision problems, difficulties walking, among others. Nearly all come in with severe language deprivation as well. For this reason, it is quite a challenge to find teachers who can meet the needs of this population. We are thankful that the Lord continues to make it possible for these children to come to school.
And we are thankful to YOU! Your prayers make a difference.
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