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The kids had a wonderful time the last few days of the year, with a team from Vision Trust headed by my friend Andy. He was the only nonsigner on the team of four deaf and four hearing. Andy frequently heads teams, and it was a rather unusual experience for him; this time, he was the one most in need of a translator when working with the local folks.
The team chaperoned the kids on a trip to the Colonial City. Amazingly, some of the kids had never been there before! The Colonial city has a wealth of historical sites, from as far back as Colombus' days. I was especially glad they were able to see Independence Park, one of the most famous sites in the country. There independence was declared from Haiti, and the DR became a country in its own right, and there the fathers of the country, Duarte, Sanchez, and Mella have their tombs.
The highlight of the week, though, was the day the kids had the opportunity to go for a day of camp. They had races, swam, played basketball, had a Bible study, sang, prayed, watched some mimes do drama, and ate till their heart's content. The very next day they were asking me when they get to do that again!
It was excellent having the team here. There are very few educated deaf adults here, and even less who follow the Lord. It makes a big impression on the children when they meet genuine Christians who are deaf. They are wonderful role models, and the students value their opinions greatly. They also love to be able to talk with hearing people who sign; rather unusual here. It broadens their world.
There is a lot more to say, but I'll hold off for a while, so as not to make this into a book!
I'm heading to the US on the 4th of July, and hope to see many of you who read this blog. I wish I could see ALL of you! Thank you all for your prayers and support this past school year. Now let's get going on the next one! :)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Here's the article
Here is the article referred to in the previous post. I just found it in an English translation. Article
An interesing but sad article
The front page of El Día newspaper today declared that 57% of the Dominican people want to leave the island to live and work.
Here are a few more points in the study, which was done by an outside agency.
One of our students just underwent a quite unnecessary surgery. His mom had the strange idea, that repairing a small crack in his skull, which he has had since he was 10 months old, would restore his hearing. It had nothing to do with his hearing, and was not recommended by most doctors she consulted, as he had no symptoms, but she continued to shop around till she found someone who would do the expensive procedure.
School continues. There is so much more to teach, and so little time left! We are looking forward to an American team of 8 coming for the last week of school. The team includes both deaf and hearing signers, so they can communicate directly with the kids. It is especially nice to have them here the last week of school, since that is a week that parents often opt to keep their children home. We can be pretty sure of their attendance for this event, and we know it will be a benefit to them.
Here are a few more points in the study, which was done by an outside agency.
- "The limited development...is the result of a style of economic growth and institutional arrangements that creates wealth by reproducing misery."
- Having access to the Internet last year cost between 43% and 57% of the minimum wage, depending on the company.
- The average daily classes taught in public schools are [a total of] two hours and 36 minutes long, ie 65% of the scheduled time. In Santo Domingo is where less class time is issued: 2 hours and 22 minutes.
One of our students just underwent a quite unnecessary surgery. His mom had the strange idea, that repairing a small crack in his skull, which he has had since he was 10 months old, would restore his hearing. It had nothing to do with his hearing, and was not recommended by most doctors she consulted, as he had no symptoms, but she continued to shop around till she found someone who would do the expensive procedure.
School continues. There is so much more to teach, and so little time left! We are looking forward to an American team of 8 coming for the last week of school. The team includes both deaf and hearing signers, so they can communicate directly with the kids. It is especially nice to have them here the last week of school, since that is a week that parents often opt to keep their children home. We can be pretty sure of their attendance for this event, and we know it will be a benefit to them.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Learning to pray, elections, photos
It's important for children to learn to pray. They need to see prayer as more than just some ritual before they eat or go to sleep. They need to see it as a way to speak to God. They need to see that God will answer their prayers.
When Yulissa was out with the chicken pox, we were praying that her young baby would not get it. He didn't.
A classmate didn't show up for a few weeks. His mom had been sick and not working, so there was no money for busfare. We prayed for him to be able to come. He was back the next day.
We are praying for more teachers now.
The presidential elections are next Friday. All schools will be out Thursday and Friday, (some Wednesday and Monday as well) because many of the parents have to return to their own native towns to vote. I hear arguments over politics going on in all the public transportation. There are traffic jams everywhere, caused by political rallies. So far, the polls have the incumbent with a strong lead--unbeatable. Traditionally the military is out in full force to protect the election process, although military personnel are not allowed to vote, nor to participate in any way in politics.
See our new pictures at www.flickr.com/alabemos.
Blessings!
When Yulissa was out with the chicken pox, we were praying that her young baby would not get it. He didn't.
A classmate didn't show up for a few weeks. His mom had been sick and not working, so there was no money for busfare. We prayed for him to be able to come. He was back the next day.
We are praying for more teachers now.
The presidential elections are next Friday. All schools will be out Thursday and Friday, (some Wednesday and Monday as well) because many of the parents have to return to their own native towns to vote. I hear arguments over politics going on in all the public transportation. There are traffic jams everywhere, caused by political rallies. So far, the polls have the incumbent with a strong lead--unbeatable. Traditionally the military is out in full force to protect the election process, although military personnel are not allowed to vote, nor to participate in any way in politics.
See our new pictures at www.flickr.com/alabemos.
Blessings!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
April highlights
We enjoyed having a team from Florida this month. They did a variety of things while they were here, including participating in medical operatives, one of which was in Sabana Perdida. While part of the team worked at that, our teens worked alongside their teens under the direction of other adults on the team, to build a much-needed storage cabinet, and do some painting at the school in SP. The teens also had the opportunity to strike up a few friendly games of chess, battleship, and connect four.
Later in the week, the team invited students from both Sabana Perdida, and CCES to go to the science museum. This was a special treat, and the kids enjoyed it a lot. We adults enjoyed just watching the kids having such fun. Afterward, in the courtyard, one of the team members showed the students how to make little rockets out of film cannisters, vinegar, and soda.
We look forward to their return next year.
The students are progressing in their studies. We have two classes at SP. One is for the students who are totally beginners--that don't know Sign, can't count, don't know the abc's etc. The second is all those who do know those things. This past month we've been able to move two students from the first classroom to the second. They are very excited to be with the more advanced group.
Our more advanced students learned this month how to find a Bible passage by chapter and verse. They are learning to read some simple verses, and they highlight them so they can find them again. These are very important baby steps. Several of them attend the Sunday School as well.
We made a trip to the annual Dominican Book Fair this week. Our SP students went along with the hearing students and teachers, for a total of about 100 people in a single American style school bus. The book fair is mainly a large book sale. There are vendors from Central & South American countries, and Spain. Field trips here are quite different from in the US. The children aren't nearly as closely supervised. Yet, when it was time to go, no one had gotten lost, even though there were hundreds of other school children in the same kind of uniforms. Any time we get out of the regular classroom is special. Twice in a month is unheard of!
This Friday we had another teacher workshop. It's encouraging to see that the teachers really want to improve their skills. We are also getting lots of requests for a Sign Language class, from parents, siblings of the deaf students, teachers, and people interested in deaf ministry. We have been trying to put it off until the summer, as there is so much going on. There are probably enough students for two or three classes.
Please continue to remember us in your prayers. The DR presidential elections are just a few weeks away. Politics affects everything here.
Later in the week, the team invited students from both Sabana Perdida, and CCES to go to the science museum. This was a special treat, and the kids enjoyed it a lot. We adults enjoyed just watching the kids having such fun. Afterward, in the courtyard, one of the team members showed the students how to make little rockets out of film cannisters, vinegar, and soda.
We look forward to their return next year.
The students are progressing in their studies. We have two classes at SP. One is for the students who are totally beginners--that don't know Sign, can't count, don't know the abc's etc. The second is all those who do know those things. This past month we've been able to move two students from the first classroom to the second. They are very excited to be with the more advanced group.
Our more advanced students learned this month how to find a Bible passage by chapter and verse. They are learning to read some simple verses, and they highlight them so they can find them again. These are very important baby steps. Several of them attend the Sunday School as well.
We made a trip to the annual Dominican Book Fair this week. Our SP students went along with the hearing students and teachers, for a total of about 100 people in a single American style school bus. The book fair is mainly a large book sale. There are vendors from Central & South American countries, and Spain. Field trips here are quite different from in the US. The children aren't nearly as closely supervised. Yet, when it was time to go, no one had gotten lost, even though there were hundreds of other school children in the same kind of uniforms. Any time we get out of the regular classroom is special. Twice in a month is unheard of!
This Friday we had another teacher workshop. It's encouraging to see that the teachers really want to improve their skills. We are also getting lots of requests for a Sign Language class, from parents, siblings of the deaf students, teachers, and people interested in deaf ministry. We have been trying to put it off until the summer, as there is so much going on. There are probably enough students for two or three classes.
Please continue to remember us in your prayers. The DR presidential elections are just a few weeks away. Politics affects everything here.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Book Alert!
Our beginners class in Sabana Perdida is showing progress. Yesterday I told the children a story with a picture book, Good night Gorilla. In the book were animals, and one was an armadillo. Now in the DR, you won't find any armadillos. I decided to fingerspell the word, rather than invent a sign, because I want them to know that sometimes that is the best choice.
When I finished the story, I asked who wanted to retell it. Almost everyone did! I chose Meri Luz first. She went through the story, doing an excellent job for someone who has only been signing for a few months. When she got to the armadillo, she spelled random letters. F-L-X-Y. I was very impressed to see her try her hand at fingerspelling. Her doing that is very similar to baby sign language, where babies wiggle their fingers to indicate they are spelling something. It's a good sign that she gets it.
The kids loved story time. Unfortunately, I only have a couple of picture books for that class. We really need to add to the collection. There are no libraries to visit here, and good children's books are very rare. Dr. Seuss hasn't come to the DR. So if you have picture books your children have outgrown, that are still in reasonably good condition--even board books--we would be glad to provide a new home for them. Let me emphasize that the books I'm looking for are specifically for the beginner group. They should be either totally wordless, or just have a few words per page (English is no problem when it is just a word or two.) The preferred book size is large enough to read to a group of 4-5 students.
We have a new teacher trainee. Well, we did have one for a day! One of the hearing teachers is out sick, evidently with something serious, so they pulled our trainee to go work with her class. Silvia will be working with the teens, if she ever comes back to us.
But we do have another one starting at the beginning of April. Her name is Julia. She has a deaf brother, but she does not sign yet herself. She is a Christian. She would like to learn Sign. She has a teaching degree. She'll be working with the younger class.
We are still turning away students for lack of qualified teachers. I hope I'll be able to fully train Silvia and Julia to be ready for the fall semester, but even so, we will need at least one or two more, if we are to avoid turning students away.
We are beginning teacher workshops tomorrow, to enable current teachers to improve their skills, and allow new teachers to learn the basics. There will be teachers of the deaf from several cities outside of the capital attending. We plan to have these half day workshops twice a month.
When I finished the story, I asked who wanted to retell it. Almost everyone did! I chose Meri Luz first. She went through the story, doing an excellent job for someone who has only been signing for a few months. When she got to the armadillo, she spelled random letters. F-L-X-Y. I was very impressed to see her try her hand at fingerspelling. Her doing that is very similar to baby sign language, where babies wiggle their fingers to indicate they are spelling something. It's a good sign that she gets it.
The kids loved story time. Unfortunately, I only have a couple of picture books for that class. We really need to add to the collection. There are no libraries to visit here, and good children's books are very rare. Dr. Seuss hasn't come to the DR. So if you have picture books your children have outgrown, that are still in reasonably good condition--even board books--we would be glad to provide a new home for them. Let me emphasize that the books I'm looking for are specifically for the beginner group. They should be either totally wordless, or just have a few words per page (English is no problem when it is just a word or two.) The preferred book size is large enough to read to a group of 4-5 students.
We have a new teacher trainee. Well, we did have one for a day! One of the hearing teachers is out sick, evidently with something serious, so they pulled our trainee to go work with her class. Silvia will be working with the teens, if she ever comes back to us.
But we do have another one starting at the beginning of April. Her name is Julia. She has a deaf brother, but she does not sign yet herself. She is a Christian. She would like to learn Sign. She has a teaching degree. She'll be working with the younger class.
We are still turning away students for lack of qualified teachers. I hope I'll be able to fully train Silvia and Julia to be ready for the fall semester, but even so, we will need at least one or two more, if we are to avoid turning students away.
We are beginning teacher workshops tomorrow, to enable current teachers to improve their skills, and allow new teachers to learn the basics. There will be teachers of the deaf from several cities outside of the capital attending. We plan to have these half day workshops twice a month.
Monday, March 3, 2008
A little of everything
We were very blessed to have two teachers here from the NC school for the deaf this past month. They were a great help at both schools. Jana worked primarily with teaching the students how to use the video camera, and making some videos of them. Mary Jo worked with individual students on cognitive skills, and gave me a personalized teacher workshop as well.
The audiologist is visiting today, to do whatever is necessary (new audiogram, earmoulds etc.) for any children who are in need of a hearing aid. There is a group that comes from the US annually, that provides this for the deaf students here in the DR. They will be coming soon, so all the preparation must be ready, in order for the children to be eligible for the hearing aids.
We are still suffering from a shortage of teachers in the school in Sabana Perdida, and turning away children as a result. Please pray that the Lord will send us workers. There are many more deaf children in the area in need of an education.
The church services for the deaf in Sabana Perdida have begun, headed up by Yulissa, our deaf TA. There are 8-10 attending weekly right now, which is a good beginning. They are telling me that they are learning a lot, and are enthusiastic about the meetings. A few have made professions of faith. This is the first time they have had the opportunity to attend church services in their lives, apart from the Bible studies which we offer them at school. This is a reason for great thankfulness to the Lord.
The Assembly of God has several small schools for the deaf sprinkled around the country. Many of the teachers are untrained, but have a heart for working with deaf children. As a rule, these schools are the only option available for these children. We are planning to begin bi-monthly workshops with some basic teacher training, to help support these schools. Our teachers will participate in attending and/or giving workshops monthly.
Many of these schools have as their main materials, chalk and chalkboard, and not much more. We hope to actually make some good usable, inexpensive materials in the workshops, so that teachers will take away a knowledge of how to make and use their own materials, without breaking the bank. We want these workshops to be very hands-on and practical, but not devoid of underlying teaching principles.
Our prayer requests:
The audiologist is visiting today, to do whatever is necessary (new audiogram, earmoulds etc.) for any children who are in need of a hearing aid. There is a group that comes from the US annually, that provides this for the deaf students here in the DR. They will be coming soon, so all the preparation must be ready, in order for the children to be eligible for the hearing aids.
We are still suffering from a shortage of teachers in the school in Sabana Perdida, and turning away children as a result. Please pray that the Lord will send us workers. There are many more deaf children in the area in need of an education.
The church services for the deaf in Sabana Perdida have begun, headed up by Yulissa, our deaf TA. There are 8-10 attending weekly right now, which is a good beginning. They are telling me that they are learning a lot, and are enthusiastic about the meetings. A few have made professions of faith. This is the first time they have had the opportunity to attend church services in their lives, apart from the Bible studies which we offer them at school. This is a reason for great thankfulness to the Lord.
The Assembly of God has several small schools for the deaf sprinkled around the country. Many of the teachers are untrained, but have a heart for working with deaf children. As a rule, these schools are the only option available for these children. We are planning to begin bi-monthly workshops with some basic teacher training, to help support these schools. Our teachers will participate in attending and/or giving workshops monthly.
Many of these schools have as their main materials, chalk and chalkboard, and not much more. We hope to actually make some good usable, inexpensive materials in the workshops, so that teachers will take away a knowledge of how to make and use their own materials, without breaking the bank. We want these workshops to be very hands-on and practical, but not devoid of underlying teaching principles.
Our prayer requests:
- That the children will come to know the Lord, and that those who know him will grow in His grace and knowledge
- That we will have the teachers and funds needed to maintain and expand the ministry to deaf children
- Electricity! We have had almost zero electricity in the SP school, and CCES has electricity only 2-3 days per week. As the temperature rises, we need fans, and it is very nice when we can use the computer to teach.
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