tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524028356482575592024-03-05T09:47:49.774-08:00The Hands of God Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-53819470421132362832023-02-23T07:41:00.000-08:002023-02-23T07:41:01.957-08:00Wrapping up the Summer-Fall of 5 Trips<p>I can't believe it has been six months since I have made a blog post! (Anyone have strategies for becoming more disciplined? hahaha) I know you're all most interested to know how the church construction is coming, so I'll cover that first and then tell you about some of the cool things that I have been blessed and honored to be involved in over the last six months.</p><p>In these last few months, the church has gone from looking like a construction site to looking like a church building! We're sooooo close to completing the first floor! We were able to put bars on all of the windows, install all of the doors, put in the windows, and build a fence around two sides of the church. All of these steps are so important to making sure that the space is safe. To finish fully enclosing the space, we still need the barbed wire on top of the fence, need to continue the fence around the third side, and will put up a metal gate that will cover the whole front face of the church. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAVAu8d9Wh5mBjLAKg0U_YE9NSlUSi48aHqsOuoCAkcu6tFIdaHv2we2NRRvIPh8WLe3ZP8FmnqLBFG_sVvbthJx-1_nukR968o1SldZ3t_JtdO8zL20AmD85Oq0ROXQj-qB0v5Z1WLU2IGGUpB22yotmEB40oiFjYE6BJqRi3NfUiuDPWDOUTIoj/s4032/IMG_8484%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAVAu8d9Wh5mBjLAKg0U_YE9NSlUSi48aHqsOuoCAkcu6tFIdaHv2we2NRRvIPh8WLe3ZP8FmnqLBFG_sVvbthJx-1_nukR968o1SldZ3t_JtdO8zL20AmD85Oq0ROXQj-qB0v5Z1WLU2IGGUpB22yotmEB40oiFjYE6BJqRi3NfUiuDPWDOUTIoj/s320/IMG_8484%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDN9TR7fLdZC6GGadhLfFgpJbPZ96RLYs0SaO4kHYy049c_MawpPOz-OY0xVN26E9o3Q22gm-0VXlpMv6lAoWtH-vcLjO4hiOfvGqfahVpmMLpn284rVW1clci5niCxYZI1DhdK3xtYMB_9UkzhQjPvOQ1C3WG94cOS-z2chsn5ZTqky-kr-Jctri/s4032/IMG_8584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDN9TR7fLdZC6GGadhLfFgpJbPZ96RLYs0SaO4kHYy049c_MawpPOz-OY0xVN26E9o3Q22gm-0VXlpMv6lAoWtH-vcLjO4hiOfvGqfahVpmMLpn284rVW1clci5niCxYZI1DhdK3xtYMB_9UkzhQjPvOQ1C3WG94cOS-z2chsn5ZTqky-kr-Jctri/s320/IMG_8584.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh943JrDuhkOYY5UiHEvCZzRa3ujqhjVkAAFrCHVAwuYdvIjU14R8opEJQqHo-4osqjytpDF7lZDfOEsGPjIj1OVx66NdSN-cJaobxCKsn6D5PGGPrNpCmu8sUPh-UCywi5yPXcMB0DmMnSQqgJlK2T0rTAIcZPrMcrBWUV0R5IHSuTUIU9tTP0SEey/s4032/IMG_9387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh943JrDuhkOYY5UiHEvCZzRa3ujqhjVkAAFrCHVAwuYdvIjU14R8opEJQqHo-4osqjytpDF7lZDfOEsGPjIj1OVx66NdSN-cJaobxCKsn6D5PGGPrNpCmu8sUPh-UCywi5yPXcMB0DmMnSQqgJlK2T0rTAIcZPrMcrBWUV0R5IHSuTUIU9tTP0SEey/s320/IMG_9387.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6Prsn-eI2VREw1hdsXxAJ3vwRn9glsC4WU1amFjor-TmN6jHk06Paqpk89Fv15jYs4c7qMLtHBGqqmjVy62XSKM2YeQZAtjhuCPpZP2_zYGtHhR4PyDFBn3Sclxdp2RxDapGYIvaBHcs-NY-qLPdRH_3toXpRqb3l2MiLTk4VnPN8MGUcHmoYgTA/s4032/IMG_9398%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6Prsn-eI2VREw1hdsXxAJ3vwRn9glsC4WU1amFjor-TmN6jHk06Paqpk89Fv15jYs4c7qMLtHBGqqmjVy62XSKM2YeQZAtjhuCPpZP2_zYGtHhR4PyDFBn3Sclxdp2RxDapGYIvaBHcs-NY-qLPdRH_3toXpRqb3l2MiLTk4VnPN8MGUcHmoYgTA/s320/IMG_9398%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We were also able to put in the tile for the floors and walls of the bathrooms, install the toilets and sinks (urinals are bought and plumbing for them ready, but yet to be installed), and put up the bathroom divisions. We now have fully functional bathrooms with running water!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgSzyY464WcBw67wB7t5gC-SgiADH6f_zkt50nkGcVVVn8QzeMC6Bxg2ljIGrp21u12BziNH89JM8gnjqQirhYbXqFEN68xZWD9S2t2dQ9zjeq9b0M8LZWjOJ71WssoRSmXbSwyRu7Md2daMssPxKlrykARxrcM5jokiQfMudIrblGwR2LrU6QPRA/s4032/IMG_9505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgSzyY464WcBw67wB7t5gC-SgiADH6f_zkt50nkGcVVVn8QzeMC6Bxg2ljIGrp21u12BziNH89JM8gnjqQirhYbXqFEN68xZWD9S2t2dQ9zjeq9b0M8LZWjOJ71WssoRSmXbSwyRu7Md2daMssPxKlrykARxrcM5jokiQfMudIrblGwR2LrU6QPRA/s320/IMG_9505.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXtQLL2ikHMyPmjN5yeYASCg7mSRu5QN1n0CRagts_GS-dEOciWZK-C8URtpwUVGa9gISU9AUBXeuf-t-e24v-HBtdxM8MnZPbNE-AQ5xkNOVzVENVc4ZgPN2e-rURvPyOVHWg0hDWxbIPdPjjJbg3gs8UwDtQaD4f0i2fh-plnftz35Zxu2Hox8Q/s4032/IMG_9574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXtQLL2ikHMyPmjN5yeYASCg7mSRu5QN1n0CRagts_GS-dEOciWZK-C8URtpwUVGa9gISU9AUBXeuf-t-e24v-HBtdxM8MnZPbNE-AQ5xkNOVzVENVc4ZgPN2e-rURvPyOVHWg0hDWxbIPdPjjJbg3gs8UwDtQaD4f0i2fh-plnftz35Zxu2Hox8Q/s320/IMG_9574.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP52-aJY4x3mJG9Y4KHvSyQsoNfAcFMMg7KD4H3hohROsx8z-f6XvxnaO4Ky0kR8GYPBBf16V4DL_1Kp-uEMZO0ImaJ8G7oNqEJu1DW3LQuQDkS3Mx1U4emMJWaOtaW8gJq1uD2zXRbQqHltTkkWx6NbeF59HgJaGXvL95XolOsOSgxouJTXzLb6Hp/s4032/IMG_9575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP52-aJY4x3mJG9Y4KHvSyQsoNfAcFMMg7KD4H3hohROsx8z-f6XvxnaO4Ky0kR8GYPBBf16V4DL_1Kp-uEMZO0ImaJ8G7oNqEJu1DW3LQuQDkS3Mx1U4emMJWaOtaW8gJq1uD2zXRbQqHltTkkWx6NbeF59HgJaGXvL95XolOsOSgxouJTXzLb6Hp/s320/IMG_9575.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In the last couple of days, the church was painted, inside and outside, and the pulpit area was finished.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWsIYvwxRBR-S4OQ24ZYLEOl4O6S99GuHI9QHb_xwnzl-uxwmWonXMXWDEOPiIFmutTq8Qj56tqIA3okPRtC3pagXCe_nRCwIswWAYmaRjCYF64MRUumRfg0j7jfsSw7C94yIK_wcvhxYd8xIHuO9ohig1XtGbmy3hGKvnxRlm2WP4v0hBqrBeK1G/s4032/IMG_9591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWsIYvwxRBR-S4OQ24ZYLEOl4O6S99GuHI9QHb_xwnzl-uxwmWonXMXWDEOPiIFmutTq8Qj56tqIA3okPRtC3pagXCe_nRCwIswWAYmaRjCYF64MRUumRfg0j7jfsSw7C94yIK_wcvhxYd8xIHuO9ohig1XtGbmy3hGKvnxRlm2WP4v0hBqrBeK1G/s320/IMG_9591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkITLEK3D_NdpBxryMWo2okuQWVWK-g8SftmsN0AQfQmt37cb13uHjROFDQ_Y48tdi83csAmwzJCi9AxKOALvMctGj8ggL6rbjfCY-OtOw7PEVK_dtc-y3JZGTJkckaRoK7ufDsfsb37qxHnra6SJvw8O_VRIKHdtD8_cg-jFXlyWio5yHoRmuUAKt/s4032/IMG_9600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkITLEK3D_NdpBxryMWo2okuQWVWK-g8SftmsN0AQfQmt37cb13uHjROFDQ_Y48tdi83csAmwzJCi9AxKOALvMctGj8ggL6rbjfCY-OtOw7PEVK_dtc-y3JZGTJkckaRoK7ufDsfsb37qxHnra6SJvw8O_VRIKHdtD8_cg-jFXlyWio5yHoRmuUAKt/s320/IMG_9600.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdejmnDIv-uqhreVDMVJwBGn_qMBkWpRHfNe_oJIXb6VBqpjF7gVN3pW-23i8B7xInuZhRs3N3edr32oDoUQBGj1J7EUp5moyoyEMSI5aEKVC_oqbrw_MW8V7jxkN7Y3vm8zugHkogg_ErJpT31kbNassOFn-5yAekSPzz6teSCiYjurcZes3NqxC/s4032/IMG_9596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdejmnDIv-uqhreVDMVJwBGn_qMBkWpRHfNe_oJIXb6VBqpjF7gVN3pW-23i8B7xInuZhRs3N3edr32oDoUQBGj1J7EUp5moyoyEMSI5aEKVC_oqbrw_MW8V7jxkN7Y3vm8zugHkogg_ErJpT31kbNassOFn-5yAekSPzz6teSCiYjurcZes3NqxC/s320/IMG_9596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHDrmrPe1AYijSaT1D1Qcp8g6t4c9jGyhlax6jITVKDqzrch_jV08vMfpDSIlNRWuTbCcv8BVzUSMV6VeldeafXuBOoMFijZm1TmPOj-aG-JB_gnaCMyWC93VAOC_gK7qcyIJnzpMJGrUBAfl8NV4Bkgk1YsR7gFB9fO4e5h2KcZo1IKdEddYIMn1/s4032/IMG_9592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHDrmrPe1AYijSaT1D1Qcp8g6t4c9jGyhlax6jITVKDqzrch_jV08vMfpDSIlNRWuTbCcv8BVzUSMV6VeldeafXuBOoMFijZm1TmPOj-aG-JB_gnaCMyWC93VAOC_gK7qcyIJnzpMJGrUBAfl8NV4Bkgk1YsR7gFB9fO4e5h2KcZo1IKdEddYIMn1/s320/IMG_9592.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWm7Bz8qsHCue5904-4YyFxUDGGqyE42EHhrbgtuQ1TsgXoYk8XPZ8-q_4qnxmvELzzPVQ_oIGFo20LEh-kj4IL2lpnSUBiZkRgIdjBIpY_gE3BkGVK-XJKa2GqE4aupKvOk5_s-2ab4w-KlLH4z_9b_GTE-2wX8O6LCLlW5clON5Oxky3ioveC0f/s4032/IMG_9597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWm7Bz8qsHCue5904-4YyFxUDGGqyE42EHhrbgtuQ1TsgXoYk8XPZ8-q_4qnxmvELzzPVQ_oIGFo20LEh-kj4IL2lpnSUBiZkRgIdjBIpY_gE3BkGVK-XJKa2GqE4aupKvOk5_s-2ab4w-KlLH4z_9b_GTE-2wX8O6LCLlW5clON5Oxky3ioveC0f/s320/IMG_9597.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The only thing missing in order for us to start using the space for our church services and activities on a regular basis are the ceiling fans!! We are so close! Of course, there are still many details that need to be finished, but we will finally be able to start using the church! The big things left to completely finish the first floor and be able to start on the second are tiling the floor, installing the cabinets and countertops in the kitchen, and buying the new chairs. We also will need to put up the front gate. After that, the second floor will be mostly easy-peasy. For the most part, it is just putting up cinderblock for the outside walls and inside wall separations and pouring the support columns. The most expensive part will be pouring the concrete roof. All of this to say, this church is such a miracle. God has turned an empty lot into a church in a year and a half! I really get emotional every time I see it. Something that was a dream for so long is now actually a reality. And what a blessing it will be to this community now and for years and years to come.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last August after I got back from Rochester and Ecuador, I still had two more trips to go before the end of the year! The first trip was almost immediately after getting back from Ecuador and it was to Rimini, Italy. My first time to Italy!! Pablo, one of our Bible translators and a dear friend, was invited to teach a workshop to future Bible consultants who will be working with sign language translation projects in Africa and Asia. I got to tag along as his interpreter! He taught them about the technology equipment and resources necessary for Sign Language translation projects as well as some visual, cultural, and linguistic aspects. What an incredible experience that was and what an honor! We met so many amazing people, saw incredible sites, and ate ALL of the food. If you're interested in seeing more pictures of that adventure, look at my FaceBook post from September. Don't worry, I barely post on FaceBook so it won't take long to find it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuRsm2C8eYM5JqatHsxnaTjMtNWgAV479JUGnJ8zjJlyxpg37sYsGxip1LiTNqWFjmn-zTxvZTHAFKHlTpBay1mbFSC-r9aQcZIBcwByrdonZNySLrii3ggzoJEuCdxnRIwIl-G05kK7VtNtfakpNdqAsOt2ay4vH671Aj9JZLa1QgkrhkZsOfd5T/s4032/IMG_7496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuRsm2C8eYM5JqatHsxnaTjMtNWgAV479JUGnJ8zjJlyxpg37sYsGxip1LiTNqWFjmn-zTxvZTHAFKHlTpBay1mbFSC-r9aQcZIBcwByrdonZNySLrii3ggzoJEuCdxnRIwIl-G05kK7VtNtfakpNdqAsOt2ay4vH671Aj9JZLa1QgkrhkZsOfd5T/s320/IMG_7496.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN9fmD81_P6xS2qWezSDCH3jW7GYwyxhjJtoM5_N11r11QTPShHC6KNA93G3E773Xfn3CdVi4cupFaWW0VaoRpazuYi4vXOx7DJ8FcdsTCadGUsXTzLCAN8QxWbDdmRFSnGXhVWH_fwLnD1CUkCdSko-lodOSbiMycQzj_cEsOwphOIegElZjHjIF/s4032/IMG_7500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrN9fmD81_P6xS2qWezSDCH3jW7GYwyxhjJtoM5_N11r11QTPShHC6KNA93G3E773Xfn3CdVi4cupFaWW0VaoRpazuYi4vXOx7DJ8FcdsTCadGUsXTzLCAN8QxWbDdmRFSnGXhVWH_fwLnD1CUkCdSko-lodOSbiMycQzj_cEsOwphOIegElZjHjIF/s320/IMG_7500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5P9pwPeMQX82ZDXuYdTEALzhI8yCpe1lWdbF-FcQ6lrHNfro1Eyi2fuBQHDH6FYUi0dHIhRsGfJkTH3iiVC2B0TjdcDgxOIG7WTqVqUHsumebK49NbdwsXEhVJDsmzKNt6xRCHecUmR3LAHw2TdxWZ8vladYQI9twC_NH2Mtn277ln2Asxh17YxJ/s4032/IMG_7568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5P9pwPeMQX82ZDXuYdTEALzhI8yCpe1lWdbF-FcQ6lrHNfro1Eyi2fuBQHDH6FYUi0dHIhRsGfJkTH3iiVC2B0TjdcDgxOIG7WTqVqUHsumebK49NbdwsXEhVJDsmzKNt6xRCHecUmR3LAHw2TdxWZ8vladYQI9twC_NH2Mtn277ln2Asxh17YxJ/s320/IMG_7568.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3Kh2EyDtwNbGFOEj5MpoKbwdNcV9kAIah35jGAVWWnaJ1kZ4mK_zUjAJzDn2sKuuRM0dyrg4cZcaedTIACFDNewV_A-SDGNzN9VVFAvQt2JjMHH0gjpuUaPZZ2pFCmXmyNEbm4EKW7UyVywj2Y_YZmA0j7My-PrzaLosNvKo4AErnymjw55TT9AU/s4032/IMG_7605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3Kh2EyDtwNbGFOEj5MpoKbwdNcV9kAIah35jGAVWWnaJ1kZ4mK_zUjAJzDn2sKuuRM0dyrg4cZcaedTIACFDNewV_A-SDGNzN9VVFAvQt2JjMHH0gjpuUaPZZ2pFCmXmyNEbm4EKW7UyVywj2Y_YZmA0j7My-PrzaLosNvKo4AErnymjw55TT9AU/s320/IMG_7605.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the participants hadn't arrived yet when I took this picture</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A little over a month after THAT, I went to another Bible translation workshop in Costa Rica! This set of workshops is a little different from the other ones because I am taking them as a participant, not interpreting them. They are actually workshops for indigenous peoples translating the Bible into their indigenous languages in Mexico and Guatemala. However, when in-person workshops got put on hold because of COVID, the United Bible Society quickly realized that Zoom workshops with the Sign Language projects were near impossible. With internet issues and so many interpreters on the screen, too much information got lost. They didn't want to leave the Deaf translators without workshops for two years, so they decided to put each Sign Language project's interpreters in the indigenous translation workshops (also over Zoom at the time) in our regions so that we could soak it all in and teach the Deaf translators what we learned. Now all workshops are in person again, and the Sign Language workshops have resumed, but the interpreters have to finish the other course set as well! So, we headed to Costa Rica.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took one of my favorite workshops that we've had so far during that trip: Analyzing the Bible as Literature. WOW! I think if more Christians received that workshop, a lot of the issues we see in our churches would improve or disappear. But, that is a topic for a different blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Though the workshop was amazing and I learned so much, we didn't really get to see the parts of Costa Rica that make it so famous. The site where we stayed and took the workshop was a bit isolated, and apparently it rains a lot in October. By the time we finished classes everyday, it was pouring rain, so that made it difficult to get out and see the city (we did go to the downtown area a few times and walk around, so that was great). And over the weekend when we didn't have classes, a hurricane passed through Nicaragua just north of us and we got some really nasty weather. I did get nearly all of our classmates working out with me in the afternoons, which was a blast. Anyway, I'm heading back again next month and hope to see more of the country while I'm there this time (and, of course, learn a lot)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6xUXng86JXZSeRsi108k078ArZU30ZlyTJLy3xqohu9YkUIpZwll6h8Plliw82cTxfL9ykFJLAg_vh3VnYyF7jUlKfy24kegF6weTqbx7t0R514pPp7wQow9lH_FvJvhMPtoOqyU0xCDJgcZBi4H2wLghR5bZYb_1I01b0Y10KuiNW2fS6iUUmfH/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-02-21%20at%2010.25.01%20AM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6xUXng86JXZSeRsi108k078ArZU30ZlyTJLy3xqohu9YkUIpZwll6h8Plliw82cTxfL9ykFJLAg_vh3VnYyF7jUlKfy24kegF6weTqbx7t0R514pPp7wQow9lH_FvJvhMPtoOqyU0xCDJgcZBi4H2wLghR5bZYb_1I01b0Y10KuiNW2fS6iUUmfH/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-02-21%20at%2010.25.01%20AM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGXcVcU4eGjIPxmSyH3_oBmukQa4n2EP02JwtTytrDeYx2hwIC5j5Bof-dVJftDz5d3VVKanLHUjA3U4MM9Vhd9cbw13VWm5469PreAUt6CMjG2jWSe57NmtOAYgq-wTuHaOfNx7fl7y2d1QAjuxUPNCGU3lIFknmVD89UYJP5O8d4HJDkPRJ9CI5/s1040/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-02-21%20at%2010.25.29%20AM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1040" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGXcVcU4eGjIPxmSyH3_oBmukQa4n2EP02JwtTytrDeYx2hwIC5j5Bof-dVJftDz5d3VVKanLHUjA3U4MM9Vhd9cbw13VWm5469PreAUt6CMjG2jWSe57NmtOAYgq-wTuHaOfNx7fl7y2d1QAjuxUPNCGU3lIFknmVD89UYJP5O8d4HJDkPRJ9CI5/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-02-21%20at%2010.25.29%20AM.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrqcAHgKPHIlLhtf-1VHTgKFf40QEsQWrXNL96cgpE4WorXW_vN7zb1GCpSQ115BRmw26VYNiJ7F-hMS7whZr3cwS6zN3xHl_6BxZmqBnBoEcPJgXM0ZB94nFmqfDyGfnxFasE8872kIFnZWz64kYFgTVBMzO6yxOkngj_69r_F7DoUfpuiy2DqgD/s1024/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-02-21%20at%2010.26.09%20AM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrqcAHgKPHIlLhtf-1VHTgKFf40QEsQWrXNL96cgpE4WorXW_vN7zb1GCpSQ115BRmw26VYNiJ7F-hMS7whZr3cwS6zN3xHl_6BxZmqBnBoEcPJgXM0ZB94nFmqfDyGfnxFasE8872kIFnZWz64kYFgTVBMzO6yxOkngj_69r_F7DoUfpuiy2DqgD/s320/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-02-21%20at%2010.26.09%20AM.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We started Bible study in person again a few months ago. It has been great being able to play Bible games with them and have really good discussions, which was all very difficult over Zoom. We did decide to create a hybrid Bible study to allow the people who live in other provinces or who can't make it in person to continue joining over Zoom. We have multiple cameras to capture everything happening at the church and project the Zoom participants to try and allow for full participation for everyone. It is challenging at times, but has been going very well.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpZK2sMyyjdHAX06HVrYNhR7Y0f-bK6Twnv4g4H114MVnBHm7TUhr6bdTQkj9QT0vwHCTUgwQIfz10ngjq-5k1IGutsQSFbjZS0sQYlHTL2dTSEahcVr_nPpMXH_1AWwEGxZUw6ON3wF1oYu0DxVGvFON3RJ68cT2Gek1F_iUiewa93OxQx6FdHop/s1024/IMG_8548%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpZK2sMyyjdHAX06HVrYNhR7Y0f-bK6Twnv4g4H114MVnBHm7TUhr6bdTQkj9QT0vwHCTUgwQIfz10ngjq-5k1IGutsQSFbjZS0sQYlHTL2dTSEahcVr_nPpMXH_1AWwEGxZUw6ON3wF1oYu0DxVGvFON3RJ68cT2Gek1F_iUiewa93OxQx6FdHop/s320/IMG_8548%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGg08R2Q7W8yeVRzYlb9jrymUEYE0wDu5JzjDPAcrxyqkidTtS7tjlL9D8-mn08bEC__uFgToEUqON9ujKdpWznaLgB95cYyq4JT1RA1fL_DUoM2UC3JbW7tKBCK-GTERtO3x42kvR3plo1QJU0nJZ6lShUCA-hj7Yleej4YBBTR2lM5mQqjN59Z5E/s1024/IMG_8549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGg08R2Q7W8yeVRzYlb9jrymUEYE0wDu5JzjDPAcrxyqkidTtS7tjlL9D8-mn08bEC__uFgToEUqON9ujKdpWznaLgB95cYyq4JT1RA1fL_DUoM2UC3JbW7tKBCK-GTERtO3x42kvR3plo1QJU0nJZ6lShUCA-hj7Yleej4YBBTR2lM5mQqjN59Z5E/s320/IMG_8549.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The very first day we restarted Bible study in person, there was a completely unexpected catastrophic downpour. We are so grateful that everyone made it home safe. But all of the major roads in the city were completely flooded. It took Paulina and I five hours to get home (it normally takes 30 minutes). Part of that was that we couldn't get to the house for over two hours because 1) a security guard in the neighborhood was tragically killed by a cement wall that collapsed and killed him, so we couldn't get through until EMS teams were able to make it there, declare him dead, and remove the body from underneath the wall, and 2) The water was still so high in front of the house that we couldn't get to it for another hour. I'm honestly not sure how many deaths there were that day, but it was too many. No one was prepared, so things were worse than they may have otherwise been.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thankfully, the family and all of our church members and their families were safe and no one had any significant damage to our homes. Our house did flood, but not enough to cause any real damage. The worst part for me was that I rode with Paulina to the church and left my car in front of our building at home (where I always left it), and no one was home to move it when the rain started. The water got so high outside of our building that it actually covered the roof of my car. Water and mud filled the interior. By some miracle, the strong current didn't move the car an inch, even though many vehicles were carried down the street. By another miracle (and a good amount of money), a mechanic was able to clean it out and get it working again. Since then, the car has been presenting issue after issue, but it still runs!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBD4yXZDyIkcdicX7VC4yM4C_KPuLtcRD22tHlUG6kakoqESOzO2kh_MqZd7YZukYVJCKab6w-xSmntVtJk0q5GP97U_D2LrlFTYqZLGbWx8xXplwb9rmD0R-5_Vc5G_ovqtbaMbsvnpkGAbyNd_XYezbcR0mPuRwg-Xq3r09xIGm2vEgkWuClW4v/s4032/IMG_8503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBD4yXZDyIkcdicX7VC4yM4C_KPuLtcRD22tHlUG6kakoqESOzO2kh_MqZd7YZukYVJCKab6w-xSmntVtJk0q5GP97U_D2LrlFTYqZLGbWx8xXplwb9rmD0R-5_Vc5G_ovqtbaMbsvnpkGAbyNd_XYezbcR0mPuRwg-Xq3r09xIGm2vEgkWuClW4v/s320/IMG_8503.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08YzMHzEl14PqW-AEedL509SuXYwLNzG5RN6DiFr6TSIzetbNN0ToJM9SQ9tV6mKImVjN9r0VRxQxW9L9-92Wc8BIEvpP8aBIhuZgndrGGHAMvT3yjw7xrxVcwyTwiGJT8DkNBXfXFxJg_xAztzkkXm_cCAeAkvYUoluONg_KpUf3ku5Cf6PM4GiI/s4032/IMG_8508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08YzMHzEl14PqW-AEedL509SuXYwLNzG5RN6DiFr6TSIzetbNN0ToJM9SQ9tV6mKImVjN9r0VRxQxW9L9-92Wc8BIEvpP8aBIhuZgndrGGHAMvT3yjw7xrxVcwyTwiGJT8DkNBXfXFxJg_xAztzkkXm_cCAeAkvYUoluONg_KpUf3ku5Cf6PM4GiI/s320/IMG_8508.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhEM0H4gP9QsZqwJN5wOUuSP9qVLwo3rdHHGMpr9JpqS8Al4ngO2reGuH989VSD8uBItUl7f0NKZJdf01SoOfVXtVlXGgCnssIEKLwAv70wFB80HyO46Cxs0tOI4zFxsANCiCxPWS0GMU-yzQ-tH6yEUW3Ad2OziMB5l2Eo6d5nbIjdhO8Y-8lYAN/s4032/IMG_8512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhEM0H4gP9QsZqwJN5wOUuSP9qVLwo3rdHHGMpr9JpqS8Al4ngO2reGuH989VSD8uBItUl7f0NKZJdf01SoOfVXtVlXGgCnssIEKLwAv70wFB80HyO46Cxs0tOI4zFxsANCiCxPWS0GMU-yzQ-tH6yEUW3Ad2OziMB5l2Eo6d5nbIjdhO8Y-8lYAN/s320/IMG_8512.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not long after that, it was time for our annual Christmas activity. Our contractor and his team did A LOT of work to get the new church to a state where we could semi-comfortably hold the activity in it. We were blessed to receive enough donations from people in the States and people here to prepare the food bags that we make every year, serve lunch at the activity, and give each child a toy. We were expecting up to 150 people that day, but around 250 showed up! 90% were Deaf adults and teenagers (some I had never met before!), and the rest were their children, some of the hearing parents of the Deaf teenagers, and other hearing people who came to support us and our team of Deaf leaders. We were very worried that we wouldn't have enough food bags or lunch food to serve, but we had our own Hanukkah miracle and nothing ran out! The Deaf leadership team put their money together to buy decorations and made the construction site beautiful for the occasion. It was truly such a fun and blessed day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGOg51KPDogDXr0qZ2R--8Lsm-tWPhOIGNmEj2nJLkMQTr2MIZqv-pKrjDnBJUZc3wY5Zh6DCvP2oWOW1_yxARngsEkKQSgIA-twWYxu2EhgaLeg8ZEnLFZXdPLIQoZcjjn9HdlsHl4aRd9gIVgvKN68kdLTiSDoC1NItW7vQqnqI8JRMAT2MYrdb/s1600/4f5d5aba-591c-4ac4-b4ab-6b407bd48b11%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGOg51KPDogDXr0qZ2R--8Lsm-tWPhOIGNmEj2nJLkMQTr2MIZqv-pKrjDnBJUZc3wY5Zh6DCvP2oWOW1_yxARngsEkKQSgIA-twWYxu2EhgaLeg8ZEnLFZXdPLIQoZcjjn9HdlsHl4aRd9gIVgvKN68kdLTiSDoC1NItW7vQqnqI8JRMAT2MYrdb/s320/4f5d5aba-591c-4ac4-b4ab-6b407bd48b11%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxldN3vsfKCGDtH6zpwuYUPZrky7pPbELwvaXaJVeXMKdEizzUQvZmj3BbfGjAFdQ_LxF3zMkJV4p1Hv2bhAt1axJdHtKatYH3ubshD2_eooR97fSNZE4hDXGmJXzsYolX5IB4nSy8oBMhFQWJjJ6aeAR5DhlijMKlUvS28OvpEQ8KKsvnNhgzxAj/s1600/7bb1d058-db1a-4535-923a-5b9c1812f1e5%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxldN3vsfKCGDtH6zpwuYUPZrky7pPbELwvaXaJVeXMKdEizzUQvZmj3BbfGjAFdQ_LxF3zMkJV4p1Hv2bhAt1axJdHtKatYH3ubshD2_eooR97fSNZE4hDXGmJXzsYolX5IB4nSy8oBMhFQWJjJ6aeAR5DhlijMKlUvS28OvpEQ8KKsvnNhgzxAj/s320/7bb1d058-db1a-4535-923a-5b9c1812f1e5%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xf5_jPPdx_Fz6xDPur3fLH0FoMEpC0zPh4IrkRChstEx1Y7w3jiQgkvJAOWppAHyl0QqDgjlIFBirChtwiWVB0L_w4z092qC2IrnS0QQVZfToH44jU8UbAFOa33wrA3_Pa8pwbXTsOC6SjE1dnbaOC1BROe1nvzsd96zbpRh6NTdI3QYdeh8Hj73/s1600/93f46f5c-1426-45c0-a511-51d3398c21d2%203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div>To wrap up the year, I was able to make it back to Florida to spend Christmas with my family. And as an added bonus, my Dominican family got to join me for part of the trip! I had a blast showing them where I grew up and showing them a different side of Florida. We did many fun things including kayaking, a lot of playing outside, and taking my oldest nephew to Disney! Now I see why taking kids to Disney for their first experience is one of my grandmother's favorite things. Watching him discover the magic was, well, magical!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbk4z98EFV0FgQjcHfovjtQm91bAxBEG1F_ZPQy0PWZLKacA3IxAaxrhV7mNxeXZb9Gjq1kqzYKcxDTALE0BlzBW8y5RQSYRghoLPSXkGz6QsnVDAp1FZT98y9FSqYjkkZ48mKThD5cAZUecr4v0SB5gFAQ7Cn1HB0i8bVl1zGQ3GzUmCMzaZ5k0i/s1024/PHOTO-2023-01-02-11-16-49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbk4z98EFV0FgQjcHfovjtQm91bAxBEG1F_ZPQy0PWZLKacA3IxAaxrhV7mNxeXZb9Gjq1kqzYKcxDTALE0BlzBW8y5RQSYRghoLPSXkGz6QsnVDAp1FZT98y9FSqYjkkZ48mKThD5cAZUecr4v0SB5gFAQ7Cn1HB0i8bVl1zGQ3GzUmCMzaZ5k0i/s320/PHOTO-2023-01-02-11-16-49.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking for gators</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3966gvuFgbF34hHS8m99qbXR1JClFmAaWxULlQXMin0pflX5vRCh2x2gbDAzCx36QKenJwTfznKIjNPV6tL-D0LW6de36TW0gIg-kV-zHo_bEB3F8mOfwYf0uTolq6Qus4A1-Z4Dc1gxrsxodJk1ZBPU_z_w734DduwzCWZpNdyv5Puzc90vTxnk/s1600/PHOTO-2023-01-02-18-20-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3966gvuFgbF34hHS8m99qbXR1JClFmAaWxULlQXMin0pflX5vRCh2x2gbDAzCx36QKenJwTfznKIjNPV6tL-D0LW6de36TW0gIg-kV-zHo_bEB3F8mOfwYf0uTolq6Qus4A1-Z4Dc1gxrsxodJk1ZBPU_z_w734DduwzCWZpNdyv5Puzc90vTxnk/s320/PHOTO-2023-01-02-18-20-22.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtLW33I1n27hJK62quvirP7qpqo4wQajMgB_KvSyq9zbAb5s_HltnXTVfmwiAIlwu2VFzgtYAvREU4fidgrKMKrhp0iAqjdYqN28_hJwcX6-VBDITN1hjFklzC6g2xziKzDDQ0NVYkRtpxHX3Ua7hjYR7KPQTJRyOzBYlX94CCxVggDR0owXBxxSK/s1024/PHOTO-2023-01-02-19-58-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtLW33I1n27hJK62quvirP7qpqo4wQajMgB_KvSyq9zbAb5s_HltnXTVfmwiAIlwu2VFzgtYAvREU4fidgrKMKrhp0iAqjdYqN28_hJwcX6-VBDITN1hjFklzC6g2xziKzDDQ0NVYkRtpxHX3Ua7hjYR7KPQTJRyOzBYlX94CCxVggDR0owXBxxSK/s320/PHOTO-2023-01-02-19-58-12.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV_5kBWqilTcHApZJS6YEy71dvPqpZNI2ug-P__R7zOiMiokIF3NUfy9_JwYyrnGb4AyJlomYSqaGkdBKP4Vi-Z09kBOjFpdEKwmn5g2FRRpIYcEsc1_gePOzGLSL7CDdnjR6SjCWeEzAfnNCwDmdrRI2wb-QsEQ5oOJKEEtj7ArB8lNDmrUNzVUP/s1600/PHOTO-2023-01-05-15-00-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxV_5kBWqilTcHApZJS6YEy71dvPqpZNI2ug-P__R7zOiMiokIF3NUfy9_JwYyrnGb4AyJlomYSqaGkdBKP4Vi-Z09kBOjFpdEKwmn5g2FRRpIYcEsc1_gePOzGLSL7CDdnjR6SjCWeEzAfnNCwDmdrRI2wb-QsEQ5oOJKEEtj7ArB8lNDmrUNzVUP/s320/PHOTO-2023-01-05-15-00-07.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AUJELimvxPSDSp7_GZL93IPn_qi7w_Krrlob0TzhMPMTuvG4wewfUiqUewJTGrwu8VmdZzRm9f-zkgV82xLfcq-DE6mpspuOZ1R0A72knQnjaPut9lf38D6nSmFb95AMla9PwKl7V1ufYgBJ-Fb_Y-xMKJaaAjHUGZ3D0JP00-Us5iUc26tBEeyn/s1600/PHOTO-2023-01-05-15-30-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AUJELimvxPSDSp7_GZL93IPn_qi7w_Krrlob0TzhMPMTuvG4wewfUiqUewJTGrwu8VmdZzRm9f-zkgV82xLfcq-DE6mpspuOZ1R0A72knQnjaPut9lf38D6nSmFb95AMla9PwKl7V1ufYgBJ-Fb_Y-xMKJaaAjHUGZ3D0JP00-Us5iUc26tBEeyn/s320/PHOTO-2023-01-05-15-30-05.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that we're all caught up to this year, we are working hard to finish the first floor of the church. With the Bible translation project, we are visiting churches and schools to distribute the portion we translated last year (Genesis 1-3 and the book of Jonah) and have started translating Ruth. Should be a great year! I'll try to keep you all updated more often. When I wait so long to post, there are so many things that get missed in these updates! Keep me, this ministry, and this community in your prayers whenever you can!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div></div>Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-82686198122223212062022-08-12T12:52:00.005-07:002022-08-12T12:58:12.553-07:00Building update, Rochester, and Ecuador<p>Since I last wrote in April, we poured the concrete for the roof and columns, installed all of the PVC to run the electricity for the building, dug the septic and cistern, and applied a cement layer to the entire interior and exterior of the building. Though we still have a lot to do, the structure itself is finished.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNTOCOxssICnFwqPnZoNd-WVwObCGVl7yN-oL8NBRJQYNvmR2_jHSTuXNAE_w_RzMAeRMtsGTI0dZfS0lTSVeM0uAyD-WTyo0w0e8QABwVnrBIINznTAeCu1boCwFoFffVnZoqS7M73rcaxj-7JWTkT9irduHVaYvWE2TochG7d50SSKg4mU4QAzeE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNTOCOxssICnFwqPnZoNd-WVwObCGVl7yN-oL8NBRJQYNvmR2_jHSTuXNAE_w_RzMAeRMtsGTI0dZfS0lTSVeM0uAyD-WTyo0w0e8QABwVnrBIINznTAeCu1boCwFoFffVnZoqS7M73rcaxj-7JWTkT9irduHVaYvWE2TochG7d50SSKg4mU4QAzeE" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View from the front</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidSJiNZVIEWaj-TXTH4N39A31eQ8hDHLfwmeh38jBfp43LrBH2SwqJqdCpcNx2duHJ7Cp8gnUfbhSOOxZOE2_V_iBMtJmgKDtErm7GvoEjrfgKddlbPkdUdEizii3FvqBstD9SXgg4SQr5wvT2oq9WIClCZTIs6pqtH8x4r3DGjzeEtxg-riqbHN5d" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidSJiNZVIEWaj-TXTH4N39A31eQ8hDHLfwmeh38jBfp43LrBH2SwqJqdCpcNx2duHJ7Cp8gnUfbhSOOxZOE2_V_iBMtJmgKDtErm7GvoEjrfgKddlbPkdUdEizii3FvqBstD9SXgg4SQr5wvT2oq9WIClCZTIs6pqtH8x4r3DGjzeEtxg-riqbHN5d=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Parking area and cistern</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKqs9Ll2XmErxCrdBTK42oZaP7SWMr4czTmMT2_cyhTNeExp0c5U8CdmAtdigK2asAayg_aPTZBelT3zDNYKBhXGKhWmH8DMLI2TveHzLNsgnmrX5ao-xA2OXGbQJwfefU2Hq14Kp21f6bB_MHyKVw6JIFDSYw44XhyqM2F4GSyZQP9NSZoPj0Shey" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The sanctuary" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKqs9Ll2XmErxCrdBTK42oZaP7SWMr4czTmMT2_cyhTNeExp0c5U8CdmAtdigK2asAayg_aPTZBelT3zDNYKBhXGKhWmH8DMLI2TveHzLNsgnmrX5ao-xA2OXGbQJwfefU2Hq14Kp21f6bB_MHyKVw6JIFDSYw44XhyqM2F4GSyZQP9NSZoPj0Shey=w320-h240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sanctuary (pulpit will go on that wall in the back)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxWpHy672D80IgJEFNVxQ4JReGVKXBgc_fcFhXUO74QAYvGz36ohRFm6UZ4jto2mGQYuz_qYFDSDua-lx6kCI4H42Ly9vXSamHcL0vYxTAzXXjFFU-UmASLDmKOcQrbK2U9pCGXhX-S6u7waIIKIBhpKxMgY4aLZajMuFs6RuO4nIYKUf8DnZm8Bn7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxWpHy672D80IgJEFNVxQ4JReGVKXBgc_fcFhXUO74QAYvGz36ohRFm6UZ4jto2mGQYuz_qYFDSDua-lx6kCI4H42Ly9vXSamHcL0vYxTAzXXjFFU-UmASLDmKOcQrbK2U9pCGXhX-S6u7waIIKIBhpKxMgY4aLZajMuFs6RuO4nIYKUf8DnZm8Bn7" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">View from pulpit to the other side of the building</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Door on the left is the kitchen. Door on the right is to bathrooms and storage)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZtgY2vhRWLt1I42396SUAiveZCk-jGTl3pe_SdoV6BzEMFdIAqYoonHDUn0yQPY6kxX91YO57gmuCXVHk4ZiXBzBtgxN0L6v4wUG3xIFV_zYLMGkW3o6WEKuu-UB3apJlK3zUcEq3LklZIFFb4f47EC5FbrRq0UNVlXjMwGnUrOqUuTiI52rwv5pa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZtgY2vhRWLt1I42396SUAiveZCk-jGTl3pe_SdoV6BzEMFdIAqYoonHDUn0yQPY6kxX91YO57gmuCXVHk4ZiXBzBtgxN0L6v4wUG3xIFV_zYLMGkW3o6WEKuu-UB3apJlK3zUcEq3LklZIFFb4f47EC5FbrRq0UNVlXjMwGnUrOqUuTiI52rwv5pa=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kitchen</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx2cnOBrxcaLNhLWUPx5DEBE1xPlZqDAP7STgxah5CN0SyRWKEQG5NvOIgyIgTwfGgcCX5luaRLUQg6UBqBs6WjZPJ84x_I-tKT-GGWtMs19xtVpCZsiE5oaRntpoonWCJlY_AP0sJPibIgyUqaokTVqaW-Wlo47Mfe0VGfmqs22Yzibdfa-fLtLXD" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx2cnOBrxcaLNhLWUPx5DEBE1xPlZqDAP7STgxah5CN0SyRWKEQG5NvOIgyIgTwfGgcCX5luaRLUQg6UBqBs6WjZPJ84x_I-tKT-GGWtMs19xtVpCZsiE5oaRntpoonWCJlY_AP0sJPibIgyUqaokTVqaW-Wlo47Mfe0VGfmqs22Yzibdfa-fLtLXD=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hallway to the bathrooms and storage area under the stairs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3D8oQwFpMEH9ovP_6eL6XbHE4mqJYrXyT73JPh1UI-vWdMzpjOF_od0ffKWdzpuczTJL5O5jyJIqAj3njmIT8tCM-vqCt4XK958fac22sqTXSFcF4QLJAVd4yeO4Cx094G1fxOUTHSuYvAmJU8NSbKUZ6eX7up6kEfGjJUUoQYXbvxBtYuZX6b93Z=w300-h400" width="300" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the bathrooms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZFUI1C-Hy4ZkA_Le347Yv0Ea2z0ET3s55XkzjsPYZaiFJfLiaHKtn88cS3O1XgsgP1zC-sAhMSb8qkq_D7DoCycTagmO5xDYMfrDIEali-jQnA6r6_PT1uwewxW2sfLEJeLcx4ucHAX2WP6wA8pCWQf8aFinTCcgwLsuG3m4wyHThGPtPyCNtXDfp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZFUI1C-Hy4ZkA_Le347Yv0Ea2z0ET3s55XkzjsPYZaiFJfLiaHKtn88cS3O1XgsgP1zC-sAhMSb8qkq_D7DoCycTagmO5xDYMfrDIEali-jQnA6r6_PT1uwewxW2sfLEJeLcx4ucHAX2WP6wA8pCWQf8aFinTCcgwLsuG3m4wyHThGPtPyCNtXDfp=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Storage under the stairs</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next steps are to install metal bars on all of the windows and doors, pour the cement for the flooring and the parking area, install windows and doors, lay the tile flooring, install the bathrooms, and install the fans and lighting. Once all of that is finished, we will be able to move in to the building while we continue building upstairs!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Though the building isn't quite ready to start holding church services regularly, we did have our first service in the building last month. We received shoe donations from Children's International and food bag donations from the Dominican government that month and decided to make a special activity out of it. We held our regular church service, gave out the food and shoe donations, and had juice and snacks. We were thrilled to see many people that we hadn't seen since the COVID shutdown, see a couple of new faces, and also see all of the hard work on this building really pay off. Raising money for the construction has been very difficult lately, and even now we have put everything on hold for lack of funds to continue, but the fact that we were able to use the building for the activity was such a necessary reminder that God is in control and that everything will come together in His perfect timing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_4zEuqbhPhL6OtSwMXgSpJwuSWbn9mkS6NslnH8mVjKVY6GUgmqPuFQE1G8u9xIBDpdgslV3NNXLIrEBKGLTLri6xg4k4Lcq2H85Pqr_T1nbjxb5vc3cw7XkC7ozYiwCdC3HIayO6E1F4JHJvId8jTSsjg2DuOdEkUMdEhAiPs_85sAtH8Ewi4jhf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_4zEuqbhPhL6OtSwMXgSpJwuSWbn9mkS6NslnH8mVjKVY6GUgmqPuFQE1G8u9xIBDpdgslV3NNXLIrEBKGLTLri6xg4k4Lcq2H85Pqr_T1nbjxb5vc3cw7XkC7ozYiwCdC3HIayO6E1F4JHJvId8jTSsjg2DuOdEkUMdEhAiPs_85sAtH8Ewi4jhf" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHmG5Dzt3aFJXQniPpYHwc8aH8xYGJeyaQyAza5y4em2BpF10XMJNs01nhjRA1Qze1sIpyW1D7VloA3gUKsmJH_Wdka9dw3my0vmaMYE_80pM-eGAPhkdA0jYjZGEDJpLRCvdMvS3OImreZRCLo0N6Q4KfQGFR2LuCDsvFKmFLCNaYCHPR7b0O5FeE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHmG5Dzt3aFJXQniPpYHwc8aH8xYGJeyaQyAza5y4em2BpF10XMJNs01nhjRA1Qze1sIpyW1D7VloA3gUKsmJH_Wdka9dw3my0vmaMYE_80pM-eGAPhkdA0jYjZGEDJpLRCvdMvS3OImreZRCLo0N6Q4KfQGFR2LuCDsvFKmFLCNaYCHPR7b0O5FeE" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmVAxRscuFC4Tra5rbYorDkXp45l-_t8CaxFPMJtyIsiqS_4xsW1DlIgwZ9-8eEBvnLXxkJm0blizPdOUL' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last five weeks have been insane for me because I traveled to both Rochester, New York and Quito, Ecuador. The trip to Rochester was related to a qualitative research study conducted with the Dominican Deaf community, focusing on language deprivation and healthcare experiences. The research is being done by the same multi-institutional collaboration that did the census project, <span face="Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;">the </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">Dominican National Association of the Deaf (ANSORDO), the University of Rochester, Deaf Worlds, and a Dominican university called Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM). Over the past couple of years, Deaf Dominicans were trained to conduct interviews and then proceeded to interview over 100 other Deaf Dominicans from different provinces throughout the country. Some interviews were done over Zoom and others in person. The interviews then had to be interpreted into English, transcripts created by an AI program from the interpreted audios, Deaf eyes looked at parts that were unclear to the interpreters, AI errors in the transcripts cleaned up, transcripts formatted, and now we are coding the data, which will then be analyzed.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;">First, a small team from the University of Rochester traveled here to the DR to work with a team of Deaf Dominicans and make sure that the interpretations were accurate and to clarify parts of the interviews that were unclear to the interpreters. We spent 10 days working on that. Then Pablo (a Deaf man who is the president of ANSORDO, also works in the Bible translation project, and is a good friend of mine) and I went with the American team back to Rochester for a week to continue cleaning and formatting the transcripts and start coding. There was a lot of work to be done, but we had an amazing time with some absolutely incredible people. I also got to see some good friends from camp and catch up with them a bit! It has been such an honor to be involved in such important work. I cannot wait to see the results of this research and to see them published so that it can be used for advocacy for the Deaf community here in the DR!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju1dOI7qpZ7bn4aBZzdhEhVHaJMxYlLf6UX6ACygroZbn-UeMcaOZfz3P43X_1K3-8aynqmeo3FkDbm53UDZGXB6KjEmntOWfcj1H6dMBKoY3yVSN4KGIJ3l331N4HDlQZgdfWj9e8pp51O9CW9ncnBov6JdDxn87ygQibCfcsrnkuXFbKqw6r33hd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="3000" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju1dOI7qpZ7bn4aBZzdhEhVHaJMxYlLf6UX6ACygroZbn-UeMcaOZfz3P43X_1K3-8aynqmeo3FkDbm53UDZGXB6KjEmntOWfcj1H6dMBKoY3yVSN4KGIJ3l331N4HDlQZgdfWj9e8pp51O9CW9ncnBov6JdDxn87ygQibCfcsrnkuXFbKqw6r33hd=w400-h186" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnQWKIhpRusIPO0fzdQKy-I44KLyMzQYIZKAHXdDcaPHKDqbWkPI-5_lYXIyEw9THfIWzzj6HoKlk9yVaZtKYUe-E2EB1FHeKUmeCt_Ojg6bWyQcMsKL-f_WukEMNZTrJItetNG6i8o4wk3S_zziJvH9Qfy9DT3FwOKxmxHLMTjLoP0nfwo_05-Ddl" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnQWKIhpRusIPO0fzdQKy-I44KLyMzQYIZKAHXdDcaPHKDqbWkPI-5_lYXIyEw9THfIWzzj6HoKlk9yVaZtKYUe-E2EB1FHeKUmeCt_Ojg6bWyQcMsKL-f_WukEMNZTrJItetNG6i8o4wk3S_zziJvH9Qfy9DT3FwOKxmxHLMTjLoP0nfwo_05-Ddl=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPnwjZMdeai8yTMT6JIExixqMFXNgSOjSIawERH4P6K5RGBljGYG29Gx9ct2hhX72gMVi7tRujfsOwU3p1-SoKw5Ca1Ir2mDQoVXcKn8Pe7-3Dcqzk-4ZnG4aLVY8RjQ_Vi5pt1VA-F5E9Xa_obGAtiVh2ovRYtDtjBP-kbyGG-xgyY3dAmqMp9Wa_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPnwjZMdeai8yTMT6JIExixqMFXNgSOjSIawERH4P6K5RGBljGYG29Gx9ct2hhX72gMVi7tRujfsOwU3p1-SoKw5Ca1Ir2mDQoVXcKn8Pe7-3Dcqzk-4ZnG4aLVY8RjQ_Vi5pt1VA-F5E9Xa_obGAtiVh2ovRYtDtjBP-kbyGG-xgyY3dAmqMp9Wa_=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Pablo and I got back from Rochester late that Saturday night and left for Ecuador early that Monday morning with the rest of our Bible translation team for a two-week workshop provided by the United Bible Societies. Already exhausted from working 10-12 hour days for the last three weeks, I had to dig deep to find the energy to keep pushing forward. But wow, was it worth it. Sign Language Bible translation teams from 14 Latin American countries attended. I was much more confident not only in my Spanish but also in my ability to use gestures and learn new signs from each country to break the barrier between different Sign Languages than I was in 2019, so I was really able to take advantage and interact with all of the amazing Deaf translators and interpreters. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first week focused on literary genres and devices in the Bible and how to translate them into Sign Language. Many people don't realize that Sign Language does have poetry, and that this poetry has rhyme, rhythm, inflection, alliteration, parallelism, etc., etc., etc., just like written and spoken poetry do. Every auditory device in existence can be recreated in a visual way! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The second week focused on New Testament history and culture. We learned about New Testament manuscripts, variants in those manuscripts, some history and context behind different books in the New Testament and their authors, the Greco-Roman influence during that time, etc. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Both weeks were full of so much important and interesting information that will help each translation project. This was the first in person workshop since COVID began, and we were all so grateful for the opportunity and the time together.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxXuyCtsLL7ZmlUxCfyUCVq5WrGdzPHcTG5zVz5b0w-HWKUwAbaLBlIjCl4Bxih7QPP-3VxBy_bsDUdu_VQghpFBvQgELEmLb0k3-SEpjNBKbLhccmOq6P1J6BEjcseBTz5W-GbcSzUXwmbhijXDuI_TB0lUGFyjNm9Po6fGFvPBI31v4ly02yg0nk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxXuyCtsLL7ZmlUxCfyUCVq5WrGdzPHcTG5zVz5b0w-HWKUwAbaLBlIjCl4Bxih7QPP-3VxBy_bsDUdu_VQghpFBvQgELEmLb0k3-SEpjNBKbLhccmOq6P1J6BEjcseBTz5W-GbcSzUXwmbhijXDuI_TB0lUGFyjNm9Po6fGFvPBI31v4ly02yg0nk" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjf6lZxiKls3maevdVLTV4qf88LHfvcBaFuiF-Y5qvMDKoWrymYgepBCPT21QOHxodAmZOccZAu06JmxO9wl2PcvbeCgap3-hxd9ZYLREiUz2hvXwTk8C4HjrTrOjjp0UgMF2XPJD1S1cgMzuhm_q7W2ID4nqzP4_ZSkw14sKPLmHO7jd3oX9hZSjqp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjf6lZxiKls3maevdVLTV4qf88LHfvcBaFuiF-Y5qvMDKoWrymYgepBCPT21QOHxodAmZOccZAu06JmxO9wl2PcvbeCgap3-hxd9ZYLREiUz2hvXwTk8C4HjrTrOjjp0UgMF2XPJD1S1cgMzuhm_q7W2ID4nqzP4_ZSkw14sKPLmHO7jd3oX9hZSjqp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIlcfOmlqLITGBSmIz95E6azVHBbPMnnbnTzCJezgLkhKJ40L6Spg1GgalD5hC1BXavlyBU6VfjJYfBt5YajMudoBl5zmld8EaEM3YIwL2er1TkzWNo3BhKCyF_67lllN3wnruTQxBRxNnFkvr1Tg5UfQt0s0untSmxOLuvJs6A4cz1XKbhGGxlBo0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIlcfOmlqLITGBSmIz95E6azVHBbPMnnbnTzCJezgLkhKJ40L6Spg1GgalD5hC1BXavlyBU6VfjJYfBt5YajMudoBl5zmld8EaEM3YIwL2er1TkzWNo3BhKCyF_67lllN3wnruTQxBRxNnFkvr1Tg5UfQt0s0untSmxOLuvJs6A4cz1XKbhGGxlBo0" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtC0fdXCs8StDvqifJeyieLKbnXCo8plyG6vosdJiCngiXYlz5uhDDD-sYRd9DokdZnpmXmAWRyS4VNddYf8J3PYzdU9_EaBsXvYohq---NTQXq9Wj0h44yyifrFaqCXOBwhwITkPLIvNEfi0hUlO71g0kKl54jsFRtZp4zRUjfFw9R9KRuam12B5w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtC0fdXCs8StDvqifJeyieLKbnXCo8plyG6vosdJiCngiXYlz5uhDDD-sYRd9DokdZnpmXmAWRyS4VNddYf8J3PYzdU9_EaBsXvYohq---NTQXq9Wj0h44yyifrFaqCXOBwhwITkPLIvNEfi0hUlO71g0kKl54jsFRtZp4zRUjfFw9R9KRuam12B5w" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgeDL0bAQ3BkUeyLjqCWjjYjsVVqA8B5x5i5Qs7cyiIrsTjVOQE7CCof_ulwQ-l89EQyY3MkgiuzhxwCJz4ayCc6mlQgib-NeiR8Zi4RTBThOgmUrHIOE4KdHxRfd4f5BRHQHeiqjOvWyO1S2ESgsoI-iaZy-rCx0oySKX5TtPOWrlGB_k0GFo7Cow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgeDL0bAQ3BkUeyLjqCWjjYjsVVqA8B5x5i5Qs7cyiIrsTjVOQE7CCof_ulwQ-l89EQyY3MkgiuzhxwCJz4ayCc6mlQgib-NeiR8Zi4RTBThOgmUrHIOE4KdHxRfd4f5BRHQHeiqjOvWyO1S2ESgsoI-iaZy-rCx0oySKX5TtPOWrlGB_k0GFo7Cow" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dykRKp_QSzP-iuEdpDAkTrQ64jhM4WxhlEmguR1JuhhLM98BhJArGFuDVW9kUh6nafLs-F0VT8fcmROTyY6' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp1_UmTem2pqzgir_bXxfrfR8Wt_4GYWqxakMs3oEJK2D8CFD7y342X9Lt3x20hVofYPraW8Wp2bpnnQ0Nor90Py6WWtwBSKCApiXRNwHkaaeawrqByBgR57_4UAJRuY6lltGha6lg6bbtzJ-mkLsUWQ5foT_EyYw_4Oe9iW0cddG-YyvC42B8-ZOF" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjp1_UmTem2pqzgir_bXxfrfR8Wt_4GYWqxakMs3oEJK2D8CFD7y342X9Lt3x20hVofYPraW8Wp2bpnnQ0Nor90Py6WWtwBSKCApiXRNwHkaaeawrqByBgR57_4UAJRuY6lltGha6lg6bbtzJ-mkLsUWQ5foT_EyYw_4Oe9iW0cddG-YyvC42B8-ZOF=w400-h180" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcAwEUH8ICZAp9NEF1qT5HutGt1Ql6r9Bl_PoROfh0ediQtzObeOKV02mzo1kX9tNAuSXur7U0z-UoVmU4AaDrvBi1lcRbaUohDhPmpNkEY4yplQQYncT7AkA9ORSMgBJmjjCFr197-wSHbtcbTvsYnGx6jIDhKyVz_2OLWjJVHeyU-y2pXTbQZlsk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcAwEUH8ICZAp9NEF1qT5HutGt1Ql6r9Bl_PoROfh0ediQtzObeOKV02mzo1kX9tNAuSXur7U0z-UoVmU4AaDrvBi1lcRbaUohDhPmpNkEY4yplQQYncT7AkA9ORSMgBJmjjCFr197-wSHbtcbTvsYnGx6jIDhKyVz_2OLWjJVHeyU-y2pXTbQZlsk" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At the end of this month, Pablo and I will be traveling again. This time, to Italy. Pablo has been invited by the United Bible Societies to teach a workshop to future Bible consultants for Sign Language translation projects about technological necessities and challenges in Sign Language translation video production. Until then, I am trying my best to balance rest with catching up on things that I had to put aside for the last five weeks while also trying to raise enough money to continue construction on the church. Seeing how our leaders at the church have stepped up in the last few weeks shows me that things are moving in the right direction. Every single day God shows me that He is in control. As my grandmother would say, "God's got this." And that as long as we have our hearts open to receive His guidance and are obedient, all things work together for good. As always, prayers for the church and all of these projects are so needed and appreciated. God bless.</div></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div></div><br /><br /></span></span></div></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div></div><br /><br /><p></p>Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-24541584434381007002022-04-18T14:55:00.001-07:002022-04-18T14:55:30.930-07:00Emergency Need for Donations!<p>Happy Easter, everyone! Well, our building excitement was put on hold for a few months while we dealt with City Hall and a building permit. That is a long story that I won't get into, but I'll just say that they were intentionally making things difficult and we never found out why. It was many months of back and forth, during which time we could not continue with the construction. I did keep quite busy during those months, however, working with the Dominican National Association of the Deaf (ANSORDO), the University of Rochester, Deaf Worlds, and a Dominican university called Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra on a Deaf census project. I had been interpreting virtual meetings with this project for nearly a year, and it was finally time to do the field work. We traveled to six randomly chosen provinces and surveyed nearly 3,000 households in different randomly chosen sectors of each province. It was such a cool experience that allowed me to see so much of the country, including extremely remote areas. We even got stuck in the mud in the middle of no where one day. This was the first population-based census of the Deaf population in the Dominican Republic, and quite possibly the world. The papers reporting the results are currently being written up for publishing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9Q4mvtI3b_S0uNxD4Cdy0N597fNiWZrTUe7t3ePQLRCFyvkLo4eZHbWsRlstQ-giKSdPpBzM_FZf0yps6vOQqlCm1OGdb9vrp_2FEy7uimsDg-We0OaiSg5DQLvy5Bo2Fd0DW72r8u3HYAzKXQKA-S8AD8Uj3Md3GJxVdyMl5FR7tnwoYakxhnhQ/s4032/IMG_4608.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9Q4mvtI3b_S0uNxD4Cdy0N597fNiWZrTUe7t3ePQLRCFyvkLo4eZHbWsRlstQ-giKSdPpBzM_FZf0yps6vOQqlCm1OGdb9vrp_2FEy7uimsDg-We0OaiSg5DQLvy5Bo2Fd0DW72r8u3HYAzKXQKA-S8AD8Uj3Md3GJxVdyMl5FR7tnwoYakxhnhQ/s320/IMG_4608.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RhHMtiUmwtwRTBKyMoHVhKJs943MLe0jeKGQ_koED_P7F5oKlWWsQP9reHTsREbpMXwQZ_wLtn8Z38cxDI5FWh45pGQhfhMW7HAAdC8Mfi-oNwFdLLUOVOsYPAo5TlxfJgMGG_3bEiB8NK7yq9asHjAuIQOWOLbHYmb-GryHq0VPYT0sAZeakZd7/s4032/IMG_4706.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RhHMtiUmwtwRTBKyMoHVhKJs943MLe0jeKGQ_koED_P7F5oKlWWsQP9reHTsREbpMXwQZ_wLtn8Z38cxDI5FWh45pGQhfhMW7HAAdC8Mfi-oNwFdLLUOVOsYPAo5TlxfJgMGG_3bEiB8NK7yq9asHjAuIQOWOLbHYmb-GryHq0VPYT0sAZeakZd7/s320/IMG_4706.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq8GE0UCe8A46RvKSNcS_HkaWWQ1zdLhufVG8BiHwTZhxB04Mcy4l5cBxcwZXLaKlR4f2ubjLCJhCq2Omv-m4r6EOosJeRuTZj12cTeivMfcCeCMzAIlLjdaZSHbrncDk_6HmapU5n5Y_k9OggCf7UDVcWn3svbcH44_b5zQ6WoGSMKP2Xkm1R_Rm/s3648/IMG_4794%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq8GE0UCe8A46RvKSNcS_HkaWWQ1zdLhufVG8BiHwTZhxB04Mcy4l5cBxcwZXLaKlR4f2ubjLCJhCq2Omv-m4r6EOosJeRuTZj12cTeivMfcCeCMzAIlLjdaZSHbrncDk_6HmapU5n5Y_k9OggCf7UDVcWn3svbcH44_b5zQ6WoGSMKP2Xkm1R_Rm/s320/IMG_4794%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In December, we had our annual Christmas celebration. Because we have been raising money for the church construction, we were thinking about having a small celebration this year. We were going to prepare a few small food bags and just have a gathering with those who had been regularly attending church (a growing number, but still recovering from the pandemic) without serving lunch. However, God basically slapped me on the wrist for my lack of faith when He began to touch people's hearts both here in the DR and in the States to donate money, food, clothes, and shoes. We ended up having one of our most amazing celebrations to date with really big food bags for every family, a prepared lunch with so much food that many people took seconds home, toys for each child, and enough clothes and shoes that each individual left with 2-5 articles of clothing. It was absolutely incredible and so much fun!! What an amazing blessing and testimony to how faithful God is!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhfSvRvdNwJz3k9QoGjsJ2iix1p7MMQIzju8gruddllTJ3JocOYJ7rRc5ngH_lFtIq3GQMGLIKbuINGRLBBc0y2SnqfyetXWns5trDs_sjix3VFE9vY0OYaoZUb_iTmarmCE20cVPcfMnHOoUuB5W3Iqa4RQtBaR64cEerQVSb812g_WEsF94Kof-/s4032/IMG_0392%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhfSvRvdNwJz3k9QoGjsJ2iix1p7MMQIzju8gruddllTJ3JocOYJ7rRc5ngH_lFtIq3GQMGLIKbuINGRLBBc0y2SnqfyetXWns5trDs_sjix3VFE9vY0OYaoZUb_iTmarmCE20cVPcfMnHOoUuB5W3Iqa4RQtBaR64cEerQVSb812g_WEsF94Kof-/s320/IMG_0392%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1Af24MHdFepVB739-pQwr8kMb2c7jeMi4AR0xJdLf2CIBe_RSZ9i0texpqaV-ie8smmSpy8W7mS846l3YTCBn-uDs7kAF-K40rP7sdBTxjNGxpR_PRAlU8I-pWb_yKEHCmK3ArRy_rqka5AHfe1lK0gZx8VuADpt4h7pHF-FZDflYOiQQAU9mjUZ/s1600/a0487550-e9fb-4f88-90f6-d828cc2b74a7%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1600" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1Af24MHdFepVB739-pQwr8kMb2c7jeMi4AR0xJdLf2CIBe_RSZ9i0texpqaV-ie8smmSpy8W7mS846l3YTCBn-uDs7kAF-K40rP7sdBTxjNGxpR_PRAlU8I-pWb_yKEHCmK3ArRy_rqka5AHfe1lK0gZx8VuADpt4h7pHF-FZDflYOiQQAU9mjUZ/s320/a0487550-e9fb-4f88-90f6-d828cc2b74a7%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36aXiQ23-bNF70nOoOIcEcLYW2kXYp3Fk7KplyAWhicu79ryuO6w_9RDUQiTCFjaiCKnY9TykEds9Sc2fpv5KZS08DsI8WzfFHXlwGkUwJmo5ia00CCbrCuWyM7D3AvSKF4-WO2BTh_R-FFR2QMYcVoBODYSOTR4YBD07Ui2axpXz8kXnCU6eObym/s1600/69eaabb3-8b65-44fc-948c-c9969d00280c%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36aXiQ23-bNF70nOoOIcEcLYW2kXYp3Fk7KplyAWhicu79ryuO6w_9RDUQiTCFjaiCKnY9TykEds9Sc2fpv5KZS08DsI8WzfFHXlwGkUwJmo5ia00CCbrCuWyM7D3AvSKF4-WO2BTh_R-FFR2QMYcVoBODYSOTR4YBD07Ui2axpXz8kXnCU6eObym/s320/69eaabb3-8b65-44fc-948c-c9969d00280c%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-nDFqs8L9O6wWnsUdPMVUx5V3A8BppwSM4lc1NGHnp-Wlnx2igT-RpjEjV-udX4yJJ_3GKss12b3mXSAOjVQEBozH6Zp4XPLUf3PTuJpqqJ5Sd_9pH9-g6FRiUsy7-8sBoM9bj3C2e45bKWUQvY3UfL0zuOwQvV_91upKJHyQRMNznYsxlzQMF5f/s1600/9b1b3390-0fb8-47d3-9612-0f52db72aeee%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-nDFqs8L9O6wWnsUdPMVUx5V3A8BppwSM4lc1NGHnp-Wlnx2igT-RpjEjV-udX4yJJ_3GKss12b3mXSAOjVQEBozH6Zp4XPLUf3PTuJpqqJ5Sd_9pH9-g6FRiUsy7-8sBoM9bj3C2e45bKWUQvY3UfL0zuOwQvV_91upKJHyQRMNznYsxlzQMF5f/s320/9b1b3390-0fb8-47d3-9612-0f52db72aeee%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, in late January, we got our building permit and were able to start building again! Things have been moving so fast since then! I have been in awe watching each step of the building process. The way these guys have such a well-oiled system to work quickly and precisely is amazing. The next step is to pour the concrete for the ceiling of the first floor. Unfortunately, building anything right now is crazy expensive. Building materials have nearly doubled in price in the last few months. Numbers that we crunched just two months ago are now not even close to the prices we are having to pay. When we priced concrete a couple of months ago, it cost about $80 per cubic meter. Now it costs $120. We thought we had raised enough money to get the first floor to a point that we would be able to use it for our church services, but we now find ourselves quite short. It took a month to get the wood and rebar structures ready to pour the concrete. The wood belongs to the people who put it up, and they are saying that they are going to need it back very soon. If any of you have considered donating but have been waiting for the right time, or if you have already donated and might consider giving something more, now is the time. You can donate by clicking the "Donate" button on the right hand side of this page. We have some Dominican donors who have committed to donating toilets, windows, doors, etc., but we need to get that concrete poured before we can do anything else. <br /><br />I know that God's timing is perfect and that if He wants this church built now, that He will touch hearts in order to provide exactly what we need and exactly when. I have been told that God is never late, but He is rarely early. He is always exactly right on time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Check out these pictures of the building process so far!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC1BgORoMmcgV8H0pzLEBfMVIEv91punbLntarTwXBYSfIbGd8JYe63q7rGkW-ilIuWixA57dbmkPq50mKBSsfoXUSR8jHaQWsq9jeTNG3FviZCZtqz46oWV9__dcyK9Gfu-nGC1uzfLquHV-ocYme3VtrniE5SR2tUMyIIFsGrg8BBvBDhcyQQqi/s4032/IMG_5638%202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC1BgORoMmcgV8H0pzLEBfMVIEv91punbLntarTwXBYSfIbGd8JYe63q7rGkW-ilIuWixA57dbmkPq50mKBSsfoXUSR8jHaQWsq9jeTNG3FviZCZtqz46oWV9__dcyK9Gfu-nGC1uzfLquHV-ocYme3VtrniE5SR2tUMyIIFsGrg8BBvBDhcyQQqi/s320/IMG_5638%202.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As always, I thank you all for your interest in this ministry and for all of your prayers and donations. None of this would be possible without each and every one of you.</div></div></div></div><div class="B6fmyf" style="height: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="TbwUpd" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; display: inline-block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 1px; text-size-adjust: none;"><cite class="iUh30 tjvcx" role="text" style="font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.3; padding-top: 1px;"></cite></div><div class="eFM0qc" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; display: inline-block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-top: 1px; visibility: visible;"></div></div>Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-17200034900852670532021-09-21T14:34:00.007-07:002021-09-21T14:36:01.722-07:00Breaking Ground<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We broke ground! We are officially building! As soon as we had the blueprints for the first floor in hand, we found a contractor (after going through a few) and he got started that very day. God really does work everything out perfectly. The contractor we settled on is married to the woman we are currently renting the church from, and they live right around the corner. Some of our Deaf church members have experience in construction, and he has agreed to include some on his work team. This church that will be such a blessing for so many has already become an economic opportunity for a few families.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUbxW_jR7M06DTX_gRyajKzjpVckbT3V6aqTj5UMrKTAw73dbhZGaKic27juBDP49JtGuvh_TXLTxh3le0ZMWMTwcSHtWi8T7cO-oh6Sjc4PEBlYrHRxwNuS2XfbX3oLH6YrrCMHpgAo/s1600/IMG_3803.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUbxW_jR7M06DTX_gRyajKzjpVckbT3V6aqTj5UMrKTAw73dbhZGaKic27juBDP49JtGuvh_TXLTxh3le0ZMWMTwcSHtWi8T7cO-oh6Sjc4PEBlYrHRxwNuS2XfbX3oLH6YrrCMHpgAo/s320/IMG_3803.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are currently starting work on the foundation, which is the most difficult and most expensive part of the whole construction. This will be a 2-3 story cement block building in a country where earthquakes and hurricanes are pretty common occurrences, so we want to make sure we build a strong foundation with good quality materials. Once the foundation is ready, we will focus on the first floor, which will include the church sanctuary, an office, a kitchen, bathrooms, and a couple of small storage rooms. With this, we will be able to move our church services into the new building while we continue fundraising and building the second floor, where we will have classrooms.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj0OCm-O1cTDefIDTLaEfn-TaYkFfBsxagVBna_rp3cNCeZOaN62p1nJ8GExoYFICh4j66SnOgWxQ-gnouKnPGhh-cIxQFUn9MGDAtjdIkPIuOtxHQQ01Y2x3__YcOAL5PA8-MA5vGkI/s2048/IMG_3833.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj0OCm-O1cTDefIDTLaEfn-TaYkFfBsxagVBna_rp3cNCeZOaN62p1nJ8GExoYFICh4j66SnOgWxQ-gnouKnPGhh-cIxQFUn9MGDAtjdIkPIuOtxHQQ01Y2x3__YcOAL5PA8-MA5vGkI/s320/IMG_3833.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We have been raising money for a while and had some funds for the initial costs, but we now have some immediate needs. I made a table breaking down the material and labor costs required for the foundation of the church, and I am reaching out to all of you to see how you can help. Every little bit helps. Every bag of cement, every rebar, every cinder clock gets us closer to having our own church building.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlLzUKLP3MmkBACi91rdA1d9lb0wgsL5kYks__xaLJA6gNpSk-uA4HgwP9s6fYACItiJujDryh6_IgKvJCoUUI7em_inc1dituXf5VRSLwzloU_xZDs_MI-z8c-IK8HooglynmkR-i40/s1600/IMG_3804.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlLzUKLP3MmkBACi91rdA1d9lb0wgsL5kYks__xaLJA6gNpSk-uA4HgwP9s6fYACItiJujDryh6_IgKvJCoUUI7em_inc1dituXf5VRSLwzloU_xZDs_MI-z8c-IK8HooglynmkR-i40/s320/IMG_3804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkZ6IF_ZcRPGGV9LfjVkMawuIRy7DJ2kDM4gakKUcwNsXGrP5ZdjgfaHH5Ixpn_pSITd7JNDqgvtV9PWGxYjS1SQn_ySAnkfC-IgU-SIgjgCyiWwzhem3E8S5-tABtqw8BGk6WkJrGlU/s2048/IMG_3835.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkZ6IF_ZcRPGGV9LfjVkMawuIRy7DJ2kDM4gakKUcwNsXGrP5ZdjgfaHH5Ixpn_pSITd7JNDqgvtV9PWGxYjS1SQn_ySAnkfC-IgU-SIgjgCyiWwzhem3E8S5-tABtqw8BGk6WkJrGlU/s320/IMG_3835.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If you would like to donate, you can do it through the “Donate" button on the right hand side of this blog. All donations are tax-deductible. You can even set up a recurring donation. Please note that this button does not show up if you are on a cell phone. You must access the blog on a computer. No idea why that is, to be honest.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As we get close to finishing the foundation, I will be sending out another table breaking down the costs to finish the first floor. If everything goes well, we will reach that point in a few months.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="td1" style="background-color: #b0b3b2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Material</b></p></td><td class="td1" style="background-color: #b0b3b2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Quantity Needed</b></p></td><td class="td1" style="background-color: #b0b3b2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Cost per unit</b></p></td><td class="td1" style="background-color: #b0b3b2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Total cost</b></p></td></tr><tr><td class="td2" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bags of cement</p></td><td class="td2" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">600</p></td><td class="td2" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$6.63</p></td><td class="td2" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$3,978.00</p></td></tr><tr><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Rebar 3/8</p></td><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">296</p></td><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$3.85</p></td><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$1,139.60</p></td></tr><tr><td class="td4" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Rebar 3/4</p></td><td class="td4" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">96</p></td><td class="td4" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$16.00</p></td><td class="td4" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$1,536.00</p></td></tr><tr><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Rebar 1/2</p></td><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">98</p></td><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$7.15</p></td><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$700.70</p></td></tr><tr><td class="td2" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Cut wire C-16</p></td><td class="td2" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">200</p></td><td class="td2" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$2.12</p></td><td class="td2" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$424.00</p></td></tr><tr><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Square meters of sand</p></td><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">36</p></td><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$36.00</p></td><td class="td3" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$1,296.00</p></td></tr><tr><td class="td4" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Square meters of gravel</p></td><td class="td4" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">28</p></td><td class="td4" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$31.81</p></td><td class="td4" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 108px;" valign="top"><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">$890.68</p></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="td5" style="background-color: #b0b3b2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 459px;" valign="top"><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Labor cost</b></p></td></tr><tr><td class="td6" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 459px;" valign="top"><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">$7,068.39</p></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="td7" style="background-color: #53d52a; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 459px;" valign="top"><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>Grand total for foundation</b></p></td></tr><tr><td class="td6" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 13px; padding: 4px; width: 459px;" valign="top"><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">$17,033.37</p></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote></blockquote>Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-9550142013988234362021-07-13T15:23:00.000-07:002021-07-13T15:23:39.906-07:00A Dream Come True!!!!!<p>WE DID IT!!!!! We finally got the land for the church!!! It has been a long and often frustrating process, but it's ours! This is the most exciting, most important day of my time here so far. I almost can't even believe it. I have to admit, this whole process has gone on so long that it sometimes felt like some far-off dream. But we also knew that if this was the land that God wanted for His church, that He would be faithful and deliver in His perfect time. And that He did. Soon, we will start construction. We have raised enough money to get started, but we will now be looking for more donations as well as mission teams who want to come down and help with the construction. If either of those requests touch your heart, you can e-mail me at ashelamer@yahoo.com for more information.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbnfV1mxstJWhYsx0YPByLAm-LVH6UtiSaEsx71OeH0pG2_HVcrD8D90UnpYbradQRB2kqcMv-v_qrP4g3iCmHKbeTmMPhowUMXJcXQBm1IZ2TgsbEl2GUKMCKLTz2le4kyqcCDGYGOE/s2048/IMG_3093.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbnfV1mxstJWhYsx0YPByLAm-LVH6UtiSaEsx71OeH0pG2_HVcrD8D90UnpYbradQRB2kqcMv-v_qrP4g3iCmHKbeTmMPhowUMXJcXQBm1IZ2TgsbEl2GUKMCKLTz2le4kyqcCDGYGOE/w400-h300/IMG_3093.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While we have been sorting everything out with the land, we found a little place right across the street from the lot available for rent. We opened church in-person in late April. We have continued to do our Friday afternoon Bible study online, but we are holding Sunday morning church in that small space. I have to be honest, I thought we were going to have a hard time figuring out how to fit everyone in there. However, we have had a much harder time than expected encouraging our members to develop the habit of coming to church again. We have a strong group of faithful Deaf leaders who have really stepped up to lead the services, supervise the protocols (COVID numbers have peaked here once again), and encourage their friends to come back to church. A large part of the problem is that the van broke down...again...and we have not been able to pick up the young ones or those who live further away and can't afford public transportation. Not to mention the risk of packing a bunch of people into a small van. We are strategizing and praying for solutions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5TrilLlhHgZTaeztTaCGM4_61jEvKXvMZi1Bs5DrM863vUfyfVV68FSOwZ1-Ig1WAwnzyIfZZLjPPYUhkjtjqD30jFu5gPawKipfHqVlqjBTCS6PhVSNwgypJ-KDHha5ejwZOO6Z44M/s1600/3d99a5c2-9df5-49f9-9736-a9eced0dc9c2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5TrilLlhHgZTaeztTaCGM4_61jEvKXvMZi1Bs5DrM863vUfyfVV68FSOwZ1-Ig1WAwnzyIfZZLjPPYUhkjtjqD30jFu5gPawKipfHqVlqjBTCS6PhVSNwgypJ-KDHha5ejwZOO6Z44M/w400-h300/3d99a5c2-9df5-49f9-9736-a9eced0dc9c2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJ-h0FodqcPwUYwLbucev3-0D_-613yghpDCr5jT7pmpt6iOs442o6592hRzxSt7ax8sF66AojH0LRKoMbeYmGA6tq0szxcJGOn-VhxX7akt0hgdS7tl1FyaYtwolzpE1kM0yyLha834/s1600/f9e51d4f-2f19-4e82-b694-68654fc0f948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJ-h0FodqcPwUYwLbucev3-0D_-613yghpDCr5jT7pmpt6iOs442o6592hRzxSt7ax8sF66AojH0LRKoMbeYmGA6tq0szxcJGOn-VhxX7akt0hgdS7tl1FyaYtwolzpE1kM0yyLha834/w400-h300/f9e51d4f-2f19-4e82-b694-68654fc0f948.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the Bible translation, we decided to work on Luke 22-24. No, we haven't translated chapters 6-21 yet. But with this section, we will at least have the birth of Jesus, the start of His ministry, five of His teachings, and His death, resurrection, and ascension. A good overview for people to use while we continue to work. As I have mentioned before, it is a slow, complex, and extremely interesting process. We have an amazing team, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When the COVID numbers started to go down for a bit and after we got vaccinated, we started to take some short trips to different places around the country. The DR really is such a gorgeous country with so much to offer. It has been a real blessing to see more of it this past year or so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCxSDhoXTBv3SkVhesVk8sSn46mr-XmmT40zydtDL6a7szp8w1u0k0UFdCJdVuyp3YsYtI1QvniDSdvovvTA3-hImwFJmw3x-MTPzR7p-MN0s5TBz_TGtyryP8nPq3vDXkruHcZQaRh8/s2048/IMG_0136.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCxSDhoXTBv3SkVhesVk8sSn46mr-XmmT40zydtDL6a7szp8w1u0k0UFdCJdVuyp3YsYtI1QvniDSdvovvTA3-hImwFJmw3x-MTPzR7p-MN0s5TBz_TGtyryP8nPq3vDXkruHcZQaRh8/s320/IMG_0136.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fpL-4KXa0yBVnq1aOjIFl2-K3CHi66Uxtu_x7ak1fupKNiGaD0sUsGUox_-KZREKtcq4ZfA50joyEeTA5l_f-k03xgWenjsUEFJ9z9lS1CESQxjNbvp-JV0iAMgtjSxVa2sckOm07_g/s2048/IMG_0326.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi_FN2U5ov9mvmgupcNec91vn_6C1TDnqIicD04LuezY1aHDimr3FNOnMTviRJ3eOm8IgkPrdRl99VG0nIuJSUIlXqx0XohJO7S9ics6ks9YeuNCLO0ADTTmC4B0j7v7FIZkxS7Ab5Eo/s2048/IMG_2970.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi_FN2U5ov9mvmgupcNec91vn_6C1TDnqIicD04LuezY1aHDimr3FNOnMTviRJ3eOm8IgkPrdRl99VG0nIuJSUIlXqx0XohJO7S9ics6ks9YeuNCLO0ADTTmC4B0j7v7FIZkxS7Ab5Eo/s320/IMG_2970.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBiZmJ9SpHTcl-CPXGaAaKSlSpGp591aBc64cJdlX8QqLU7Zp4wNRd9T1f44Kp18gEXGzS_JRe2YkuMw5hQ1z-cq_TEj0HBxHIMm4geG-3TM24ij-RoHs1U34VV_3x_NJVWbsdNeT1A8/s2048/IMG_9557.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBiZmJ9SpHTcl-CPXGaAaKSlSpGp591aBc64cJdlX8QqLU7Zp4wNRd9T1f44Kp18gEXGzS_JRe2YkuMw5hQ1z-cq_TEj0HBxHIMm4geG-3TM24ij-RoHs1U34VV_3x_NJVWbsdNeT1A8/s320/IMG_9557.HEIC" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqu5-IYdRB58LZlJ0fmc9gvKogvhjJPJ4XeVhS3XyoWYws7Ihk0tHp4rimLLscXhrWDw2Z5xzOsk8MW31-j9OOIvPqRcmejQxtzHEq0fC_vjSNsRoD46gaPxURlWK2wOfbjB963kv2Iw/s2048/IMG_9600.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqu5-IYdRB58LZlJ0fmc9gvKogvhjJPJ4XeVhS3XyoWYws7Ihk0tHp4rimLLscXhrWDw2Z5xzOsk8MW31-j9OOIvPqRcmejQxtzHEq0fC_vjSNsRoD46gaPxURlWK2wOfbjB963kv2Iw/s320/IMG_9600.HEIC" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On a personal note, these last few months have been very difficult. My grandfather got very sick in late March, and I went back to the States for six weeks to help care for him in the hospital. Thankfully, a lot of my work is still virtual, so I was able to be with my family without having to abandon everything going on in the DR. They actually opened in-person church without me! Our amazing pastor and group of fantastic leaders moved us into the new space and opened church the same week that I left for the States. That was very encouraging to me because it showed that all of our work up to this point has paid off. That they can do it without me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My grandfather started to improve significantly, so I returned to the DR. A couple of weeks later, he got another infection and his heart gave out. This has been a very difficult loss for me and my family. I am so thankful that I was able to travel back to the States for his celebration of life and to spend a couple of weeks with my family and especially with my grandmother. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I'm back in the DR and we were immediately able to purchase the land. As always, I thank all of you for your prayers and your support. None of this would be possible without all of you. I am so ready to get started building this church!!! If you are interested in supporting with your gifts, you can donate online (tax deductible) by clicking the "Donate" button on the right hand side of this page. If you are interested in supporting with your service, you can contact me at ashelamer@yahoo.com.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-50717444018614576942021-02-08T13:59:00.002-08:002021-02-08T14:06:46.327-08:00Our 2020 in a Nutshell<p>Happy New Year, everyone! Well, here we are on the other side of 2020, tentatively hopeful. It has been a long year that has been interesting, sad, blessed, different, difficult, wonderful, infuriating, and maybe if we keep adding all of the adjectives we can come up with, we'll be able to describe it. I will try to summarize the important topics and events to catch you all up since I've been so undisciplined about writing.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>COVID:</b><br />The pandemic experience was quite different here than it was in the U.S. for many reasons, but let's not get political right off the bat hahaha. Things here never got as bad as they could have. The government acted quickly and decisively. There were maybe 100 identified active cases in the country when the government shut everything down: borders, businesses, schools, government institutions. Pretty much everything. The total shut down lasted a couple of months, and since then things have slowly gotten back to "normal". There are still many restrictions in place, including mandatory masks and a nightly curfew nation wide. There was a two week period during the first peak when the hospitals here in the capital and in Santiago were completely full, and it has been a problem again since the holidays as cases and deaths have risen dramatically. </div><div dir="ltr">As for the impact on the Deaf community, infections have been surprisingly low, and there have been very few serious cases. I have heard of a few that passed from COVID and COVID-related complications, but none that I know personally. Seeing how the virus has impacted the country, it is honestly a miracle the way that God has taken care of the Deaf community.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>Education:</b></div><div dir="ltr">The country has opted to start the school year virtually. I personally think this was a wise choice because a lot of the public schools do not even have running water. Most families can't afford to buy masks even weekly for the students. Keeping things clean and safe would be very difficult.</div><div dir="ltr">However, the virtual option has also proved difficult because of the large number of students who don't have access to electronic devices or internet. This digital gap has been somewhat dealt with by a government program that started two years ago in a school by school process of providing tablets or laptops to each student and teacher in the public school system. Almost every student and teacher in the country has received their devices at this point, including the schools for the Deaf and where Deaf students are mainstreamed. The internet is still an issue. Those who have a device and internet receive their classes via Zoom. However, many families do not have/cannot afford to install WiFi in their homes, and others live in areas where there is still no infrastructure to support internet connections. To address this, classes are being recorded and televised daily. The classes for hearing students are also played on the radio. The classes for the Deaf students started late (for many reasons, but let's stick with because they require certain adaptations that took more time), but they have turned out beautifully. A wonderful step towards making an effort for accessibility for the community. The elementary level classes are created separately and completely in Dominican Sign Language. The middle and high school classes are being interpreted using the classes for hearing students.</div><div dir="ltr">Each student receives a workbook monthly and must use their classes (Zoom or televised) to complete the workbook and turn it in at the end of the month to be reviewed by their teachers. It certainly isn't a perfect system, but I think it has been a very creative and appropriate solution to the difficulties and barriers of keeping education alive this year.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>Living conditions:</b></div><div dir="ltr">Not much has changed for most of the Deaf people I know personally in the way of living conditions. Those who work for the government as teacher's assistants (many of our church leaders) have continued to receive their salary normally throughout the pandemic. The ones who don't work haven't been very affected. The government has provided multiple programs since the start of the pandemic, and some members of the Deaf community have been beneficiaries of these programs (delivering food bags to millions of low-income homes on a regular basis, a $30 USD budget for food monthly, programs to support employees who were sent home, etc.)</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>The current church:</b></div><div dir="ltr">Early on in the pandemic we had to turn in the keys for our old location. The owner was being (well, always has been) very difficult and it just wasn't feasible anymore. We are currently storing the church's possessions in an empty house owned by a family member for a low monthly price. We maybe could hold services there, but the house is not very big, not in great condition, and is a pretty good hike from the main roads where public transportation routes run. We have been reluctant to open because of this and also because of health concerns for our pastor and our church members. Another factor is the difficulty of organizing our members in groups to limit the number of attendees. This is much more complicated than it may seem...</div><div dir="ltr">We still hold our church services via Facebook Live on Sunday mornings and Bible study via Zoom on Friday afternoons. We get pretty good attendance, but a lot of our members and regular attendees have fallen away because of connection issues, electricity issues, loss of interest, and the like. Many of our members really enjoy the Friday Bible studies because they are able to participate, sing, pray, and ask questions. Doing church virtually has also allowed Deaf people from all over the country to take advantage of and participate in our services and Bible studies. In the capital, there are a good number of church options for the Deaf community where sign language is included to differing extents. However, in the other provinces, there are significantly fewer options. Most of the provinces are lucky to have one church. Many Deaf men, women, and children have no knowledge of or are unable to get to the nearest church that is accessible for them. The pandemic forced us to do things virtually, which made church accessible to so many more people! We can never doubt that even in the darkest of times, God is still working in and through it for the good and the glory of His Kingdom! If you are interested in seeing how our services have functioned, you can visit our Facebook page: Fundación para Sordos Manos de Dios.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3ZOaVib00ZhiD2WEkKOs-THpYKEIB2ibvJ-F22AiNXvaG1bUqt4WIniIABZPldk3DCuxEX7areWvbbOBAaqKIdMGoSHlxKIOoEmHo6GJU4FfEH6gwNH1dYPlMxXbGjQhZYIuquLVWxw/s1136/IMG_5652.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3ZOaVib00ZhiD2WEkKOs-THpYKEIB2ibvJ-F22AiNXvaG1bUqt4WIniIABZPldk3DCuxEX7areWvbbOBAaqKIdMGoSHlxKIOoEmHo6GJU4FfEH6gwNH1dYPlMxXbGjQhZYIuquLVWxw/s320/IMG_5652.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>The new church:</b></div><div dir="ltr">We have our eyes on some land and we have the money to buy! All we would need would be four walls and a roof to start holding church in person again, and we should have enough money left over to at least lay the foundation and get started. We are just waiting on the owner of the lot to get all of the legal papers together. This process has been slow because of the pandemic, but we are hoping and praying to have land very soon! We have a Deaf architect who has agreed to draw up the plans for the new church. We are very excited to construct a Deaf created, Deaf friendly space! If you are interested in donating to the construction project or would like more information, you can e-mail me at ashelamer@yahoo.com.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>What I've been up to:</b><br />I have been crazy busy this past year. Thankfully, most of my work was able to be transitioned to virtual. I even decided to set up a little studio in my room with a ring light, a white background, and a green background. We continued working on the Bible translation project. This year, we completed our translation of Luke chapters 1-5. We did everything but the actual recording virtually, which was a challenge because sign languages are visual and spacial languages. We were only able to get so much done this year because the pandemic had us all working from home, which allowed us more time to focus on the translation process. </div><div dir="ltr"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYoXQHt6fA7xYtGf3_FvgAA0XU2yLYRIpZY1bZJ8XvKgw25KMA2n_ebLQRysbAjRDKQ0I7dApH7fQrCii_wxEIXuvFSZqQdlvoQ4D1zKwXTuQpQtsBjT3krT278GltOR4hc17BAgfvKs/s2048/IMG_3953.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYoXQHt6fA7xYtGf3_FvgAA0XU2yLYRIpZY1bZJ8XvKgw25KMA2n_ebLQRysbAjRDKQ0I7dApH7fQrCii_wxEIXuvFSZqQdlvoQ4D1zKwXTuQpQtsBjT3krT278GltOR4hc17BAgfvKs/s320/IMG_3953.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoP3Dyjkk400qYl9cPv0BNODFf70YUVx5W0EGhyphenhyphenwgta6VpirGUw0f4k8Dt1fzH1ahWzYg7tAkXCHBfGADreEbZjVlLG0ZCLjnpIjH85FGbme27A7EnHOSQMkdWeGDsTmzWhS35DQelIE/s2619/ddc73470-fc62-45de-9518-02b74227ed94.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoP3Dyjkk400qYl9cPv0BNODFf70YUVx5W0EGhyphenhyphenwgta6VpirGUw0f4k8Dt1fzH1ahWzYg7tAkXCHBfGADreEbZjVlLG0ZCLjnpIjH85FGbme27A7EnHOSQMkdWeGDsTmzWhS35DQelIE/s320/ddc73470-fc62-45de-9518-02b74227ed94.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div>Doing things virtually also allowed us to include the Deaf Christian leaders from every region of the country in some steps of the process. Much like spoken languages, sign languages have regional dialects. Including the Deaf leaders in the process of standardizing name signs and checking the intelligibility of the translation for each of the regions was very important. We are organizing the distribution process of the DVDs and USBs now!</div><div dir="ltr"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYKWSDHBzv5JtqvkvKUjuUmPRLczLK2C6Oxd1CTmFfpo1F4rID_kh-Ol-rSll7NEaSOy804dnwRqgd9l62FF7Z3A4-HzaTSzmQ0N8taI9zIfxKKeOSidQoVfPBlOy12vpyy7w6eA2iiE/s2048/IMG_7682.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYKWSDHBzv5JtqvkvKUjuUmPRLczLK2C6Oxd1CTmFfpo1F4rID_kh-Ol-rSll7NEaSOy804dnwRqgd9l62FF7Z3A4-HzaTSzmQ0N8taI9zIfxKKeOSidQoVfPBlOy12vpyy7w6eA2iiE/s320/IMG_7682.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>I also did a lot of virtual interpreting for many people and institutions, including the National Association for the Deaf of the Dominican Republic (ANSORDO). For the first four months of the pandemic, the Minister of Health gave daily press briefings and they were not interpreted. I decided to record a signed summary of the daily information and post it on the church's social media. This was a perfect hook to bring people to our page where we transmit and post our live services and Bible studies as well as short weekly devotions. The following on our Facebook page has increased dramatically, which means more people are being exposed to the Word of God.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">If I started to list all of the things I have done this past year, this post would become a novel. I will mention that I was contacted to work as a psychologist for a new crisis hotline that was created during the pandemic to counteract the psychological impact of the pandemic as well as mental health concerns in general. I was hired specifically to work with Deaf people looking for mental health services in Sign Language, but I work with hearing clients as well. It has been such a wonderful and also difficult experience. I receive calls for a whole range of mental health concerns from "sometimes I feel a little anxious" all the way to suicide crises and domestic violence. It has been such an honor to be chosen to take part in this groundbreaking project. Up to now, the country has never had a service like this.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">In summary, things haven't been easy, and sometimes it feels like there is no right answer. We are doing what we feel is within our grasp and possibilities to do, but it often feels like it falls short. We could use a lot of prayers for wisdom and direction! I promise my next post will be sooner, shorter, and will include pictures that aren't from Zoom meetings!</div>Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-65922512129988012142020-01-13T13:10:00.001-08:002020-01-13T13:10:41.471-08:00Deaf Expo, Ecuador Trip, and Christmas CelebrationWhen you sit down to read this post, make sure you have a few minutes. The holidays are always crazy, and the last couple of months have been full of amazing things! I have really been able to see God working in and through the Deaf community in the Dominican Republic.<br />
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My main focus in November was helping the National Association for the Deaf (ANSORDO) plan and hold the first Deaf Expo. It was a crazy few weeks trying to get everything organized. We ran into so many problems like sponsors dropping out, trouble finding people/companies to sell food, the venue dramatically changing the hours we could hold the event, etc. The day of the event arrived and, to be completely honest, I was not expecting very many people to come. Wow, was I wrong! The final ticket count showed that over 700 people attended the event! It was a huge success! Sure, there are a lot of bugs and things we can improve for next time, but we were all very happy with the end result. Many organizations that work with the Deaf community put up informational booths, Deaf people sold homemade products, and we had presentations by both Deaf and hearing (dances, songs, dramas, zumba, games, sharing of experiences, etc.). I was so busy that I totally forgot to take pictures, but someone sent me one of me talking to the community about the importance of standardizing and raising the bar for the interpreter training in the country.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc9w0CA-pIYOntzHaSQGMsieEwmIzjMW3naKd-QEfQDUPXdnD9FmV75-EgETyjYjP0ohKRF5J9-9OxtVGRb6dWGIuigU56mq_QG7_J9JFXfYrSJvVSBNndE10oxenvRfedGt-2uWnM0w/s1600/cb981804-ca36-430c-8b17-eb0dcb7d63e5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1280" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc9w0CA-pIYOntzHaSQGMsieEwmIzjMW3naKd-QEfQDUPXdnD9FmV75-EgETyjYjP0ohKRF5J9-9OxtVGRb6dWGIuigU56mq_QG7_J9JFXfYrSJvVSBNndE10oxenvRfedGt-2uWnM0w/s320/cb981804-ca36-430c-8b17-eb0dcb7d63e5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Biblical Society, which is the organization that is in charge of the Bible translation project that I am a part of, also set up a booth for two reasons. First, to let the community know who we are and what we're doing. Second, to show our translation videos and get feedback from the Deaf community. Do they understand the specific signs used? Does the syntax and grammar match their use and understanding of Dominican Sign Language? Are the classifiers and the use of space done clearly and correctly? Does it match up to what the Bible says? We got overwhelmingly positive feedback. The people who watched it were excited about the idea of having the Bible in a format that they can easily understand, in their own language.<br />
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Two days after that event, the Bible translation team left for a two-week conference in Ecuador. I had the honor of being able to go. What an experience! The United Biblical Societies has Sign Language translation projects in many countries, each team translating the Bible into the respective Sign Language of their country. Eleven translation teams from 11 countries in Latin America were able to attend this conference. A few weren't able to attend because of visa issues or political instability in their countries. The countries that attended were Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, and Costa Rica.<br />
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You may be wondering how a conference with so many different languages functions. Or maybe not. But I'm going to tell you anyway. Each country had a table, the interpreters sitting with their backs to the stage and the Deaf team members facing the stage. The first week, the presenters were two Deaf women from Mexico. They would present using Mexican Sign Language. Their interpreter sat close to the stage, facing them, and would interpret into a microphone in Spanish. The interpreters at each table would hear the Spanish interpretation and then proceed to interpret the message into their respective Sign Languages. I'm sure no information was lost in this process...hahaha...</div>
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If anyone had a question, they would go up to the stage with their interpreter, who would sit next to the Mexican interpreter and take the microphone. The Deaf member would sign the question, and the interpreter would interpret the question into Spanish. The Mexican interpreter (as well as the interpreters at each table, but in their respective Sign Languages) would hear the Spanish and interpret the question into Mexican Sign Language for the presenters to understand. The Mexican presenters would respond in Mexican Sign Language and the chain of interpretation would go back and forth like that.</div>
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The first week, we learned about setting up a recording studio, correct lighting, camera settings, and video editing. There was so much technical vocabulary! Us interpreters were struggling! Our team thought that we had our final product (5 passages from Luke) recorded, edited, and ready to be distributed to the community. In that week, we learned SO MUCH that we had to start the recording and editing process all over when we got back from the conference. Good thing we hadn't distributed the DVDs yet!</div>
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The second week, we learned about Biblical geography and culture. The presenter was a world renowned Bible scholar and Translation Coordinator for all of the Americas, Dr. Esteban Voth, who has participated in various archeological digs of ancient civilizations in Israel. I wish I could carry that man around in my pocket! Is that creepy...? I don't know how so much information can fit into one brain. I was almost too mesmerized by the fascinating information to interpret! We learned about the importance of putting ourselves into the culture and geography of any passage we translate because not doing so will lead to misunderstanding and misinterpreting many parts of the Bible.</div>
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The conference lasted from 8:30am-5pm every day and then we had homework most evenings. We did get one free day, which we used to see some of the tourist attractions in Quito, Ecuador. My favorite was straddling the equator and standing in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time!</div>
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When we got back from Ecuador, we only had one week to prepare for our annual Christmas celebration. We went out and bought all of the food, toys, baskets, decorations, and anything else we would need, which was no small task. On the Friday before the celebration (which would be on Sunday), we asked some of our Deaf church members and attendees to come help us do our annual big cleaning. We were expecting the few faithful to come and do this dirty, difficult work. We were surprised how many found money to pay for their own transportation to come and help prepare their church for the celebration.</div>
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The coolest part to me is that it wasn't just the leaders and old faithfuls who came. In fact, a lot of them didn't. It was mostly the newer regular attendees. I can see new leaders emerging. They want to learn more about God and the Bible, take care of their church, change their lives, and impact their communities. They worked their behinds off to get that church in shape for a large-scale celebration.</div>
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The next day, it was time to prepare the baskets, decorate, put up the tarp outside (we had to have the event outdoors because we can't even fit inside the church on a regular Sunday), and do a final clean up. Another large, hardworking team showed up to help with that. It took about six hours, but we made around 165 food baskets, the decorations were beautiful, and everything was ready. The baskets were about 15 pounds each and included over 20 different types of food items.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MdbYWptHd-vN5p5V9cPiwv9rxr8bJQWeAhBBzzd-7lipKWRD4KddmBs04A-mQf_qDuAFFIHQRQS7xkW8u-wVGY4P4YaBwUdZeXUIWHxQoicSN3QSV9gJVdpb07CKWrzHyZluqfFj7Kw/s1600/IMG_2935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MdbYWptHd-vN5p5V9cPiwv9rxr8bJQWeAhBBzzd-7lipKWRD4KddmBs04A-mQf_qDuAFFIHQRQS7xkW8u-wVGY4P4YaBwUdZeXUIWHxQoicSN3QSV9gJVdpb07CKWrzHyZluqfFj7Kw/s320/IMG_2935.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture does not show even half of the room</td></tr>
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The big day arrived and it started pouring down rain before the sun even came up. We just knew our little tarp had collapsed. We got there to find the whole outdoor area covered in mud. But, we also found a whole new, much stronger and more intricate tarp set up with many more tarps than what we had left there the day before. A wonderful man named Domingo, who is the bus driver for the Deaf school but has not really been involved with the church very much up to this point, had gotten there super early and brought extra tarps and tall poles. He, with the help of some of the Deaf who got there early, had set up a large, covered area. If Domingo had not shown up that day, the event would not have happened. Whenever the rain would let up a bit, a group of Deaf people would show up. We waited a while as they came in waves. One group finished the tarp setup, another the last minute decorations, another got started cooking lunch in the kitchen, another dried and put out the chairs, and many others were busy getting other things ready.<div>
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We began the celebration explaining why we celebrate Christmas, singing, praying, dancing, had a drama prepared, and everything was going smoothly. The children were inside having their own special program and having a great time. As soon as the pastor stood up to start preaching, the rain started coming down really hard. She got about five minutes into the message before the tarps started to give way and the crowd was getting wet. The whole thing had to be cut short because, as the Dominicans like to say, "Satan is dirty and he doesn't bathe." Regardless, we know that the seeds were planted and God will work with them. There were about 200 people in attendance, many of whom asked me about our regular church services and told me they are very interested in coming back.</div>
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We served lunch to everyone in attendance and then gave out the food baskets. We had just enough with a few left over to give one to each family. We also gave toys to each of the children.</div>
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A couple of days later, I headed back to the States to spend the holiday season with my family, which is always such a blessing. I also have had the opportunity to speak to many people about our building project and have received such an outpouring of support, financially and through prayer. We have almost raised enough to buy the land, which is an absolute miracle! We weren't expecting to need building budget estimates, designs, construction teams, etc. nearly so soon, but it's time! We still need about $5000 to buy the lot, so if you or anyone you know feels led to support this project, you can click the yellow "Donate" button on the righthand side of this page. If you are interested in being a part of one of the construction teams who will be coming down to help build possibly later this year, e-mail me at ashelamer@yahoo.com.</div>
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It is crazy to think how we got here. When I arrived in the Dominican Republic in 2016, the church had an average attendance of maybe 8-15 people. When we started the vocational training program in 2017, I hopped in the church van with a Deaf man I knew and asked him, "Where do your Deaf friends live?" He took me to their homes and we told them about the church. Some even hopped in the van right then and there. I then asked them, "Where do <i>your</i> Deaf friends live?" And on we went all day until we had a full van. We took them back to the church and, since that day, the church hasn't stopped growing. We now get no less than 40 on a regular Sunday and up to 200 at special events. Our church comfortably seats 30. If we want to keep making and growing disciples, we need a larger space where they can feel at home and call their own. We are well on our way to reaching that goal.</div>
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-6804643630365802512019-11-11T12:17:00.000-08:002019-11-11T12:22:26.847-08:00Stretched a Bit Too Thin, But I Always Wanted to Be ThinIs it fall? I really can't tell. No pumpkin spice anything, no Halloween decorations, no colorful leaves, no cool fall breeze. But we sure are excited for Christmas! Christmas lights and decorations have already been up for over a month now! I also know it must be fall because it's time to start planning our annual church Christmas party! More on that later.<br />
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The Bible translation is going well. The team will be traveling to Ecuador at the end of this month for more training and to present our pilot project (5 passages from Luke). There will be 13 (I think) other Bible translation teams from different Latin American countries at the conference. We still have a lot of work to do before then and are really praying that we can get it all done! We are now working with the Bible consultant. She told us that we are doing an incredible job with our translations, especially for a brand new team. She has been helping us with historical, conceptual, and language components that we missed or did not represent correctly. We are now ready to do the final filming and editing process!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjb0N5kSJUahp_1jclxGN8LiiMGeAsOLSIoppGsxAFPwrA5Uec_etXsahp0dhvQMKphycQCmLEisv_Qdj5RFzafaRQd8u0JEoVBP4pNDEEWg6mPXRXtftaOkcHNs7lC6PY_xeA0PMLXGg/s1600/0f8f1c92-1643-47f4-bc99-063e5feef14a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1280" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjb0N5kSJUahp_1jclxGN8LiiMGeAsOLSIoppGsxAFPwrA5Uec_etXsahp0dhvQMKphycQCmLEisv_Qdj5RFzafaRQd8u0JEoVBP4pNDEEWg6mPXRXtftaOkcHNs7lC6PY_xeA0PMLXGg/s320/0f8f1c92-1643-47f4-bc99-063e5feef14a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPSoKdH1NsikuMQKSi-FBu8ZH-asRWvK3zO3w8gZY3ECwocLjA4UUR6kFZunLWhXFH96jo8fpJIeXW3wcc2DrlXEEPKXPWdm8fioE-uwCNwza3VvfMsQedXmxuAKNa6gq-Hbm5JhkUkw/s1600/IMG_2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPSoKdH1NsikuMQKSi-FBu8ZH-asRWvK3zO3w8gZY3ECwocLjA4UUR6kFZunLWhXFH96jo8fpJIeXW3wcc2DrlXEEPKXPWdm8fioE-uwCNwza3VvfMsQedXmxuAKNa6gq-Hbm5JhkUkw/s320/IMG_2032.JPG" width="240" /></a>For the past couple of months we have been offering financial planning and responsibility/basic business classes at the church. We have had a small but faithful group. The organization putting on the class is a cooperative called Coop Aspire. Cooperatives are basically banks, but each one specifically serves a particular type of person (teachers, lawyers, single mothers, vulnerable populations, etc.) They offer savings accounts and low interest loans. The ultimate goal of this class has been to teach the participants how to save and responsibly handle their money. We have also been working with them to develop small business ideas and are trying to get loans for the ones who have developed more concrete plans so that they can buy the equipment they need to get started. Some of the ideas have been to buy and sell cellphone accessories, a car wash, a barber shop, a hair salon, professional make up, and an empanada stand. I am really hoping that we can secure loans for at least a few of them and help them to get their own businesses started.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYSggGcTi5ZqDjDtRv3xA88bknlXAUMXqhE8iRLmajIT8sudCmT5vF33ZhYMhkcLJt9Etiyvd9SvhTGFlncAB2vidq9G7xj84FrU-YqOPqAU5eXd9fQwcRDoLDaV-fhRpeUfE9kpACWU/s1600/aafd4ab4-c39f-427e-a5bc-14e4a7ba80bd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYSggGcTi5ZqDjDtRv3xA88bknlXAUMXqhE8iRLmajIT8sudCmT5vF33ZhYMhkcLJt9Etiyvd9SvhTGFlncAB2vidq9G7xj84FrU-YqOPqAU5eXd9fQwcRDoLDaV-fhRpeUfE9kpACWU/s320/aafd4ab4-c39f-427e-a5bc-14e4a7ba80bd.JPG" width="320" /></a>I had the honor of interpreting a personal finance workshop that was put on by one of the most popular banks here, BanReservas. ANSORDO (the national association for the Deaf) saw that BanReservas was going to be holding the workshop and got in touch with them. They agreed that it would be great if some members of the Deaf community could attend. We were expecting maybe 30 Deaf people, but 60-70 showed up! There were more Deaf than hearing people in the audience! If I interpreted it well (which is in question because the workshop lasted over two hours and I was the only interpreter hahaha) the Deaf participants were able to learn a lot. BanReservas is really making an effort to be more accessible. They are constructing ramps in numerous offices, holding sign language classes for their employees, putting braille on their signs, and more stuff that I can't remember now. The country really is making some incredible strides.<br />
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I also am part of the team that is organizing the first Deaf Expo, which will be Saturday, November 23rd. We are hoping that this will be a huge event bringing visibility to the Deaf community, their culture, and their language. It will be an all-day event with presentations, dances, songs, etc. from various Deaf schools and organizations that work with the Deaf community. People will be given the opportunity to sell different products that they make, there will be games and competitions, and it will just be a really fun day. There is still A LOT of planning and preparation to do and very little time to do it! <br />
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Following the formal agreement made between the Scouts and Infoiles (Institute for the Formation of Sign Language Interpreters), a small group of Deaf young adults were invited to participate in a Scout camp this past weekend. I was asked to go as their interpreter, along with another woman. None of us were really sure what to expect. One of the Deaf participants thought we were going to a fancy hotel. She was in for a shock! We spent four days sleeping on the floor in a school and doing tons of activities from 5:30am-12am every day. It was one of the most exhausting experiences of my life, but it was also a huge success. The group of Deaf men and women were able to participate with the Scouts without a language barrier. The Scouts really went out of their way to include the Deaf participants in everything. We planted trees, picked up trash, built a concrete structure to support a coral reef, gave presentations to the community, went to the 27 charcos (see the caption under the picture), participated in an afternoon of workshops and also held one of the workshops ourselves, had a bonfire, went to the beach, and much more. The hearing Scouts were so excited to have us there and so eager to learn how to communicate with the group of Deaf participants so that they could better include them in everything. It was a fun and heartwarming experience.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Planting mangroves</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">You can't really see it, but there are A LOT of bags full of garbage that we picked up in the area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Los 27 Charcos de Damajagua is a place for people who like adventure. You follow a river down the mountain. Parts of it you walk, but other parts have a platform that you have to jump off of (as seen in the picture above) or water slides that are naturally made in the rock. The highest jump is 25 feet! It was quite exhilarating!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsn0rcdnwr1ZUvfbMIkPUJMH1gDFPttThXMuxhGpSq1Od3D8alOlxn-UwYLZYEv0Kf9gnKFiMG8D4t5QR4pTAN1ya0AnIXFuN-aSEboKHk0_eHOj7At0NTpOPqgH-anh0A9qsPOMZ65s/s1600/9c8f09c4-dbc0-4020-be75-b06da4cb97eb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsn0rcdnwr1ZUvfbMIkPUJMH1gDFPttThXMuxhGpSq1Od3D8alOlxn-UwYLZYEv0Kf9gnKFiMG8D4t5QR4pTAN1ya0AnIXFuN-aSEboKHk0_eHOj7At0NTpOPqgH-anh0A9qsPOMZ65s/s320/9c8f09c4-dbc0-4020-be75-b06da4cb97eb.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Giving a workshop about the Deaf community, sign language, and inclusion.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuluZzGToGbMsY0sj4zRiVRuxY4QnAN_36iImC0Eioi2iSsD2WdS75VZ_vMeGW6JsZJqErYAMrvJsebDXRWRlqriSNKzm-i-BeguU_is4fABEvppJHWfiQy9sGKk_PEV0bOk9cPD4l3t8/s1600/IMG_2277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuluZzGToGbMsY0sj4zRiVRuxY4QnAN_36iImC0Eioi2iSsD2WdS75VZ_vMeGW6JsZJqErYAMrvJsebDXRWRlqriSNKzm-i-BeguU_is4fABEvppJHWfiQy9sGKk_PEV0bOk9cPD4l3t8/s320/IMG_2277.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">This is Clan 7, the group that took us under their wing for the weekend, signing the number 7.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76VPX7kJ6-ITAdsGMhBUjiEgGZUUFQE5PKehfObH12YdWr5AM3ei1Ueudd_Z8-0PesIECtU5qUzJuGszj6OMMS0u4FoCzht0n_1d6OnwXuFPgkI3IBE0VlKoLQGm7sTu5-sZLgNKTno0/s1600/IMG_2283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76VPX7kJ6-ITAdsGMhBUjiEgGZUUFQE5PKehfObH12YdWr5AM3ei1Ueudd_Z8-0PesIECtU5qUzJuGszj6OMMS0u4FoCzht0n_1d6OnwXuFPgkI3IBE0VlKoLQGm7sTu5-sZLgNKTno0/s320/IMG_2283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am very hopeful that this alliance will be a success and that more Deaf children, teenagers, and young adults can become Scouts. They teach so many important values, the importance of serving others, what to do in emergency situations, and much more. All of this is information that most of the Deaf community misses out on because there are so few people who can teach it to them in their language. Learning these lessons and incorporating the values could make a huge change in the Deaf community.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ19Yf_QRipxPaMzQ1NhBivb5HrmXdD2cC21yfMzfvCvy4UMs0ktVwJ47RjNEsqyQXJmnU82Pw13Z1GoX6WUDz2WqwT-eK73LqjH13JWlr_yD738xFW-cgR0RHm5hXWcci0HCXMgMXCU0/s1600/IMG_2319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ19Yf_QRipxPaMzQ1NhBivb5HrmXdD2cC21yfMzfvCvy4UMs0ktVwJ47RjNEsqyQXJmnU82Pw13Z1GoX6WUDz2WqwT-eK73LqjH13JWlr_yD738xFW-cgR0RHm5hXWcci0HCXMgMXCU0/s320/IMG_2319.JPG" width="240" /></a>Obviously, church isn't all about attendance. However, the more people who attend, the more people who are reached. Due to the consistent attendance, we are seeing significant positive attitude and behavior changes in some of our members, and many have expressed to me that they would like to be baptized. How are we managing to get consistent attendance out of a group that is generally pretty unreliable? A while back, I started taking attendance during our church services in a little book. It was mostly just for our records. That way, we would know how many people attend each week and who they were, if someone has missed a lot of weeks and needs special attention, etc. It also helped us pick out who gets to go to camp. Some of our attendees began to question the book method, saying that it is too easy for me to make mistakes and no one would know. My solution? A big poster board stuck to the wall in the church so that everyone can see. This has been a significant motivator...When they show up to church, the first thing they do is count the number of "checks" they have and compare it to others! They then make sure I give them their check for the day. People I have never met before are showing up to church asking me to put their name on the list. We started adding hearts if they help out in the kitchen and stars if they help with general clean up. It has been rather hilarious and very effective. We are considering making a separate attendance list for Bible studies hahaha!<br />
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With Christmas right around the corner, the time has come to start fundraising for the party. As many of you know, most of our church members are very poor and cannot afford a proper Christmas dinner with their families. During our party, we prepare and serve a traditional Christmas meal to all who attend and we also give out large food baskets that help them prepare their own Christmas dinners and also include snacks and other such food goods. Toys are also purchased and given out to the children, who often do not receive any other gifts.<br />
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Last year, over 150 people showed up to the party. For many of them, this is the only time during the year that they learn about Christ. Some of them come back, some don't. Nonetheless, it is an opportunity that we cannot miss! If you would like to donate, you can click the yellow "DONATE" button on the right hand side of this page or here is the link <a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=DdlkOZe6JJ8g1o77HTUboUeZRjdrIOB9vsATspcL5Rg4W09_r4gWidBjIXWfeiXi9R_TVW&country.x=US&locale.x=US">https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=DdlkOZe6JJ8g1o77HTUboUeZRjdrIOB9vsATspcL5Rg4W09_r4gWidBjIXWfeiXi9R_TVW&country.x=US&locale.x=US</a>. We would really appreciate it! If you would like more information, you can e-mail me at ashelamer@yahoo.com.<br />
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Also, we haven't had much luck raising funds or finding a bigger place to move the church. Everything in God's perfect timing! Keep praying!Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-54493218245166569032019-10-03T10:01:00.000-07:002019-10-03T14:46:02.661-07:00Growth and ExpansionSince getting back from my summer vacation, I have had to start using an agenda because I can no longer keep track of my schedule. I am working with so many different people and in so many different things. The first thing that I jumped into after vacation is a project aimed at training psychologists and interpreters who are interesting in working with Deaf clients. An organization called INFOILES (Instituto Nacional de Formación de Intérpretes de Lengua de Señas) has the goal of training professionals working with the Deaf as well as interpreters in specific areas. I have been asked to head up the psychology branch of these training ventures. I have been doing tons of research and am working on creating two different curriculums: One is aimed at educating psychologists about Deaf culture, basic Sign Language, the psychological reality created by being Deaf in a hearing world, therapeutic strategies for working with Deaf clients, etc. The other is for training people who are already interpreters how to be effective and ethical in the therapy environment as well as be knowledgeable in psychological terms and concepts in both Spanish and Sign Language. Needless to say, just preparing for this has kept me quite busy!<br />
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In September, various organizations came together and held the third International Symposium for Deaf Education. The symposium included parent education workshops in numerous cities throughout the country; two two-day workshops for teachers, assistant teachers, principals, psychologists, and interpreters who work with Deaf children and adolescents; and a four evening workshop for psychologists. Those were two extremely busy weeks! I first attended the two-day workshop here in the capital. I was warned that I might be called on to help the interpreting team, but was later told that I wasn't needed and simply sat back and enjoyed the presentations. That was day one. Day two in the afternoon, I was asked to help interpret. Heart beating out of my chest, I stepped up onto the platform to interpret in front of 300 people. I must have done alright because they asked me to be a part of the interpreting team for the two-day workshop in Santiago.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvMv7QQZ_rNZYXbawMCr3Iy-Gp4D7ewY67QTPexeYzIdUfw5HVI06RIs9iyxCMdQhg3b1LN-rdgqqOo8X7TzFZbLDyzLkw1G9CItL1kZZ72EZA8dMLgQVbukNOLzY3divOJ6AKfr_Rxo/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvMv7QQZ_rNZYXbawMCr3Iy-Gp4D7ewY67QTPexeYzIdUfw5HVI06RIs9iyxCMdQhg3b1LN-rdgqqOo8X7TzFZbLDyzLkw1G9CItL1kZZ72EZA8dMLgQVbukNOLzY3divOJ6AKfr_Rxo/s320/IMG_1762.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's not me interpreting, but that's the room I interpreted for.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXdCdjfYvH9SMDhv5ugY0BBB0OdrW6a04YX7vLrtp7QNKyuKlNYsB1MdG4YoDVQWid7kMieDXi-TPzZQxMnwlcyuFFUWuKLUO8bfwiGbCnmoMXhWLOTWZBphJj_1ucOGQNWXf7gG2wBQ/s1600/9b373cfe-e69e-418c-9b60-d7397557cc29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXdCdjfYvH9SMDhv5ugY0BBB0OdrW6a04YX7vLrtp7QNKyuKlNYsB1MdG4YoDVQWid7kMieDXi-TPzZQxMnwlcyuFFUWuKLUO8bfwiGbCnmoMXhWLOTWZBphJj_1ucOGQNWXf7gG2wBQ/s1600/9b373cfe-e69e-418c-9b60-d7397557cc29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="606" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXdCdjfYvH9SMDhv5ugY0BBB0OdrW6a04YX7vLrtp7QNKyuKlNYsB1MdG4YoDVQWid7kMieDXi-TPzZQxMnwlcyuFFUWuKLUO8bfwiGbCnmoMXhWLOTWZBphJj_1ucOGQNWXf7gG2wBQ/s320/9b373cfe-e69e-418c-9b60-d7397557cc29.JPG" width="151" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaCvXgwxyHwCBYbTkJLfbtT0uvCBIGoUGeFBq0P7FafDqfeGy6wwgOc1wrmP0i3xXkMBKVK-hYE55oYTRGgt8rTXj429B-5kYzhIv64O_pS9J5_-PDsmzJNh7Pi9-Obe5F4OsKbm5si4/s1600/4da45fb1-7036-4306-ad04-47a65f341045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaCvXgwxyHwCBYbTkJLfbtT0uvCBIGoUGeFBq0P7FafDqfeGy6wwgOc1wrmP0i3xXkMBKVK-hYE55oYTRGgt8rTXj429B-5kYzhIv64O_pS9J5_-PDsmzJNh7Pi9-Obe5F4OsKbm5si4/s320/4da45fb1-7036-4306-ad04-47a65f341045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second workshop in Santiago<br />
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The week after the two-day workshops, one of the psychologists (a Chilean man with Deaf parents who has been working with the Deaf in the field of psychology for many years) stayed an extra week to teach a four-evening workshop for psychologists interested in working with the Deaf community. I figured this would be a great opportunity for me to learn, to make friends with a real expert in the field, and also get contacts for more psychologists who may be interested in the training that I am preparing. It was very interesting, but not as informational as it was intended to be because the participants just couldn't get out of the mindset of deafness as an illness or a disability rather than a socio-linguistic minority that is disabled by the hearing society in which they live. The speaker was never able to get to the points he really wanted to make because the questions asked by the participants kept the conversation in the same circles. It was still a good experienced and was informative as I now know where I have to start when I begin to teach.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbAlTlBHhuXQTaj6mE5qIWYsDavaZPpaqiI8EriohdUJ8Ett-_0YOsDPnPjq52mjEIGLDor3nTLO2MrsHH6DP9OX8Y03djn100Z2s3R4XkDW2eyGSm9_w7vKa2gSmxD-Fc6qF4VSuSbc/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbAlTlBHhuXQTaj6mE5qIWYsDavaZPpaqiI8EriohdUJ8Ett-_0YOsDPnPjq52mjEIGLDor3nTLO2MrsHH6DP9OX8Y03djn100Z2s3R4XkDW2eyGSm9_w7vKa2gSmxD-Fc6qF4VSuSbc/s320/IMG_1889.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were probably 25 more people behind us</td></tr>
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I have also been doing some other random interpreting:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVh1eKBsCRMvEdUWfhnUO2JE7AM7dXx6HL6wvWtxnTIm1ptCqqIkmiOMI6L65HQa2CtmZyhRo5szHpilj9n4ZUSz-mwLn3NP8La0bWUCIy7qIMUNfazPd31xtmBlXz2koNdUUpiM9nas/s1600/IMG_1885.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVh1eKBsCRMvEdUWfhnUO2JE7AM7dXx6HL6wvWtxnTIm1ptCqqIkmiOMI6L65HQa2CtmZyhRo5szHpilj9n4ZUSz-mwLn3NP8La0bWUCIy7qIMUNfazPd31xtmBlXz2koNdUUpiM9nas/s320/IMG_1885.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me interpreting the news report about an event that I was interpreting in person hahaha!<br />
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This is a formal agreement announcing that the Scouts (like mixed-gender boy and girl scouts) will be opening their doors to Deaf children, teens, and young adults.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqXwhh_2OIE-bhZ4EJjJZEpzeR8hZJUD_3jgeQHLqexGWs8FwMolFI46Zv0KPP3ZZqDfVfd39F69tTsEuP3zJTDGSqnjqefysZ9VOWB2JDL9sVShZkHmaHPr5OuF3C0mJUiNEv93YyGw/s1600/062208af-ea82-4491-b9a5-09f087bf45b7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqXwhh_2OIE-bhZ4EJjJZEpzeR8hZJUD_3jgeQHLqexGWs8FwMolFI46Zv0KPP3ZZqDfVfd39F69tTsEuP3zJTDGSqnjqefysZ9VOWB2JDL9sVShZkHmaHPr5OuF3C0mJUiNEv93YyGw/s320/062208af-ea82-4491-b9a5-09f087bf45b7.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing some voice interpreting for a video created by the National Association for the Deaf (ANSORDO)</td></tr>
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Though I haven't been able to be at the church nearly as much during the week, things are going very well. Attendance was down during the summer, but we are now back up to 40-50 Deaf attendees on Sundays and 15-25 for Bible study on Fridays. They seem to be really motivated and interested in learning more about God and His Word.<br />
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We are trying to teach them the importance of service, and as a part of that, I took a group to visit a young Deaf woman who was in the hospital. It was such a heartwarming experience to let them take the lead and watch them share God's love. They talked with her, comforted her, told her about Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins, invited her to church, and prayed with her. It was absolutely beautiful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzZNEgSEXg6QbzXUkCfOVfFBL5Gxetxu_uo9VnSe5Q_xzNoDbdveUFeFbZspHULwIbtRhMOiI6Jph9NkPq_-9VMAvd2Ov6prMzEr9VYBgqSbhEd5QUX1rQB6d46jTvTBA4DKZWUx7jvQ/s1600/IMG_1471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzZNEgSEXg6QbzXUkCfOVfFBL5Gxetxu_uo9VnSe5Q_xzNoDbdveUFeFbZspHULwIbtRhMOiI6Jph9NkPq_-9VMAvd2Ov6prMzEr9VYBgqSbhEd5QUX1rQB6d46jTvTBA4DKZWUx7jvQ/s320/IMG_1471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We have finally reached the point where we can no longer stay at our church location. We simply do not fit. Every Sunday, there are multiple people standing against the walls and others watching the service through the windows.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD73mdxkQ2tgtwBH0b31aE1i8boahLmjb3KNlx5FPx-0HbnsSnGt-GBSFIedwDfdvnQB-AqK0gqfs8b1quen1ukj9S7pBGrTsohF1Z6hAj8OWDOmH6E_ydxq-oQKXIPKCkM9pPdv8mZvg/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD73mdxkQ2tgtwBH0b31aE1i8boahLmjb3KNlx5FPx-0HbnsSnGt-GBSFIedwDfdvnQB-AqK0gqfs8b1quen1ukj9S7pBGrTsohF1Z6hAj8OWDOmH6E_ydxq-oQKXIPKCkM9pPdv8mZvg/s320/IMG_1789.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The empty chairs are people who were currently at the front asking for prayer requests</td></tr>
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We have decided that we will have to find a new church building. It has been very difficult to find a place that meets our needs (Deaf friendly and large enough for a church and office space) that is in good condition, in the area that we want, at an affordable price. We are continuing the search but have come to the conclusion that we will need to buy some land and construct a church. The church cannot pay rent forever. This is obviously a long-term goal, but we are beginning the fundraising process. We have done some research and looked at some plots of land in the area. It looks like the plot of land will cost around $20,000 USD. This number is a little disheartening, and we are looking for more affordable land, but we landed on this number as a good goal because it will hopefully leave us a little bit to begin constructing. We know that God will provide! If you feel that God is leading you to contribute to this cause, you can donate to our non-profit at <a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=Ae94Q953-EQK1borj5oECdGCQNCDdmPEFellCaQkZcjkHypd2x79NXjLYdjzE1Nq6oIP50&country.x=US&locale.x=US">https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=Ae94Q953-EQK1borj5oECdGCQNCDdmPEFellCaQkZcjkHypd2x79NXjLYdjzE1Nq6oIP50&country.x=US&locale.x=US</a>. Please share this with your friends, as we will need a lot of support and fundraising ideas!Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-53023887629657699872019-08-13T13:07:00.001-07:002019-08-13T13:07:01.039-07:00The Summer Catch-up Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Basically, since I posted last, camp and vacation have happened. Since I have been so bad about keeping up with the blog these past few months (and since you all probably don't care much about my vacation), I will try to wrap everything up as briefly as possible.</div>
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Pre-camp was mostly camp preparations, interpreting, and Bible translation meetings. We also got some American visitors before camp, which is always fun. They helped me with my work, taught a physical education class, went to various meetings with me, did a little sight-seeing, and got a bigger picture look at what is going on in the Deaf community as well as the interpreting community here.<br />
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The Bible translation project is going really well. Pre-camp we finished the gloss for 4 out of the 5 teachings of Jesus that we decided on for the pilot project and finished the last one after camp. We are now in the recording stages. We managed to film and edit The Good Samaritan before camp and took advantage of the gathering of about 275 Deaf people of all ages from over 10 provinces. We showed the video in chapel one night to see if everyone understood the signs that were used, and the feedback was very positive. Which was very encouraging!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah helping interpret the photoshop and video editing training because my brain was so tired!</td></tr>
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We also received training on how to use photoshop to add color to the drawings that will be used in the videos and how to professionally edit the videos. Fortunately, the two Deaf members of our team are really good at that stuff and I don't have to mess with it/mess it up haha!<br />
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We kind of put it all on pause during the month of July, and now we're back at it trying to finish up those five stories. Everything will be sent to a Bible consultant who will make sure that our translation is true to the original, intended message. And we keep going, step by step! It is a lot of work, but I'm having so much fun with this.<br />
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One of our Deaf team members got the opportunity to move to the States and will no longer be participating in the project. It is a great loss for us, but a wonderful opportunity for him. Please be with us in prayer as we choose the person who will take his place.<br />
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In my interpreting adventures, I ended up on TV again. Only this time, I knew ahead of time that it would be on TV. This one was a little different because rather than being a presentation, it was a TV interview with the National Association of the Deaf (ANSORDO). So, I would listen to the question from the interviewer in Spanish and interpret it into Sign Language, then see the response to the question in Sign Language and interpret it into Spanish. Going back and forth between languages like that was not easy! But it was a cool experience. However, I'm really hoping not to make a habit of this being on TV thing...<br />
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Leading up to camp, we found ourselves with a list of campers that way exceeded our budget and logistical abilities. We were looking at over 600 campers, 300 at the kids camp and 300 at the young adult camp. We were able to lower that to 500, but we still weren't sure how we were going to make that work with so few North American team members. How were we going to control groups of 50 campers as they rotate to their various activities?? It is an understatement to say that I was nervous.<br />
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Needless to say, as always, God provided and took care of things. Camp went very well. The Dominican leaders (most of whom used to be campers themselves) stepped up and made the whole thing possible. It is so cool to see the Christian leaders they have grown up to be.<br />
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We ended up with about 230 campers for the kids camp and about 270 for the young adult camp. Just like in our church, we have run into a very good problem with camp: too many people want to come! Camp Hands of Joy has become famous throughout the Deaf community here in the DR and everyone wants to attend. Moving forward, the camp leadership will have to prayerfully make some very big and difficult decisions about how to handle this good problem moving forward. Please pray that we make wise, God-led decisions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel during the kids camp. About half of the room isn't show.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dramas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discussion groups. These are so important because it ensures that the campers understood what was taught in chapel and allows them to ask questions and discuss.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">This summer, I took the liberty of a month long vacation. I felt like I needed to get away for a while and really disconnect. However, I only got to disconnect to an extent because while I was gone, our church hosted a hearing aid operative. I organized as much as I could before leaving on vacation, but ended up talking to a lot of parents and organizing quite a bit from out of the country. Thank God for everyone on the Dominican side who stepped up and worked their butts off to make it possible!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hearing aids were given to about 60 Deaf students from three different schools here in the capital. That was such a blessing! Not only were the children blessed by the donations, but now all of those parents know that there is a church here where their Deaf child can see and understand God's Word. Most of these children either do not go to church or attend a hearing church with their parents where they understand exactly 0% of what is being said. I am hoping to get more children in church now! Pray for that as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Before heading back to the States, I spent two weeks in Colombia with my Dominican sisters. We went to Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, and some smaller towns surrounding those cities. We had such a blast! For anyone who wants an incredible and affordable international vacation, I definitely recommend Colombia. Of course, one has to be careful and aware, but it is no longer the dangerous country that it was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After two weeks in Colombia, I then spent two weeks in the States with my family and friends. As always, it is so nice to be home-home. I did very little relaxing, as two weeks is not much time to be back and spend sufficient time with everyone, but it was great. It is always hard to leave, but I'm also anxious to get back to work! Quite a bit of stuff accumulated in that month that I was gone!</span></div>
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-86613887154895115532019-05-10T12:06:00.001-07:002019-05-10T12:06:52.846-07:00Does This Mean I'm Famous?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had the opportunity to do some more traveling! I went to the southern part of the country for the first time. This island is so interesting! The majority of the country is tropical with lots of green jungle and rain. However, the southwestern part as you get closer to Haiti is extremely arid. I was shocked to see dry mountains (see the picture below) and desert landscapes. I thought I had seen poverty here in the capital, but things are even worse down there. Water and food shortages and almost no rain to grow anything. Interesting how on such a small island, the climate can differ so much!</div>
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However, the south does also have its beauty! We visited a really beautiful, secluded villa with like 20 waterfalls! We had a great time, and I was able to see a part of the country I had never seen before.</div>
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The Bible translation project is going really well! It is a lot of work and very tedious, but also a lot of fun! We are starting with some of Jesus' teachings from Luke. Our team (two Deaf and two hearing) currently average about two verses an hour. But that's without filming, editing, etc. The interesting part will be when we show our work to Deaf communities in different provinces for revision of the signs used and the clarity and comprehensibility of the signs. Many Biblical names and terms do not have established signs here. Each community, and sometimes each Deaf church within that community, has come up with their own signs. Some match up and some don't. So, once our team translates a passage, it will then be passed on to a Biblical consultant for revision, then a linguist, and then various provinces. Any necessary changes come back to us, and we rework it. Then, once each level has approved the passage, on to final recording and editing. It is going to be a lengthy process! But I am beyond excited to be involved.</div>
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The annual Book Fair took place last week. This is not your average school book fair. This is a huge book fair that attracts people from the whole country with countless stands from numerous institutions giving workshops and conferences. Oh, and they also sell books, I suppose haha. I was asked to interpret three workshops, which was a cool opportunity.</div>
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One afternoon, I got called to interpret a conference at the book fair because the interpreter who was going to go wasn't able to at the last minute. I figured it was the same deal: small to medium-sized conference room, the presenter speaks Spanish and I interpret in Sign Language. This, I can now do relatively proficiently. However, I arrived to a few surprises. The presenters were Deaf! That means they would present in Sign Language and I would be interpreting in voice in Spanish!!! This is so much more difficult!!!!! Already, I'm freaking out. Then, they lead us to the conference room, which was a huge auditorium. I'm now breathing very rapidly and starting to sweat. And then...a woman approaches me and says, "Are you Alyssa? Good, come with me to get your make up done for the cameras." I'm sorry...WHAT???? Yes, that's right. I had to interpret IN VOICE, IN SPANISH, ON LIVE TV AND RADIO. Cue heart attack. It wasn't perfect, not even very pretty, but I managed. THAT was a new experience for sure...<br />
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Every day is a new adventure. Sometimes, I think I have my day planned out and then I get a call and have to change everything to go do something else. I never get the chance to be bored!</div>
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Church and Bible study are going very well! We keep growing, some want to be baptized, and some are interested in becoming Christian leaders! We will soon have to start collecting funds to find a bigger church and to buy a new church van (I think we have spent more fixing all of the problems our current van presents than it would cost to buy a new one). We are getting more children (Deaf and hearing children of Deaf adults), and I am really hoping to get a kids' program started!</div>
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We are making more progress on the mystery project! But it is not ready to announce yet...Soon!</div>
<br />Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-9016008507696890652019-04-02T10:34:00.001-07:002019-04-02T10:34:42.973-07:00A Possible Change in Direction?We haven't had any classes running these past couple of months, but I have had the chance to do some tourism, planning for camp has begun, and I have gotten involved in various new projects. I haven't even had time to hold classes with all the running around I've been doing! God is so good that He provided me with a car and then started sending me all kinds of opportunities that would have been very difficult for me to participate in using public transportation.<br />
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A couple of weeks after my last post, one of my favorite people on earth came to the Dominican Republic on a business trip. So, I drove out to Punta Cana to see him (I hadn't been to Punta Cana before) and took him to the Montaña Redonda. We then did some more driving around and spent an awesome day together. It was such a blessing to get to show him the country I'm living in and spend some time with him.<br />
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My Dominican family and I also went to Samaná to go whale watching. Samaná is considered to be one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales. Thousands of humpback whales travel to Samaná Bay every year from Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and other areas of North America to give birth. None jumped out of the water, but we did see the backs of about five whales. It was such a beautiful experience. Minus the people puking while we sat still rolling over pretty large waves!</div>
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After whale watching, we went to a small island in Samaná Bay called Cayo Levantado, which has beautiful beaches, and we spent the afternoon there. I put on sunscreen three times and still got terribly burned!</div>
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We then took a short hike through the woods to a river to cool off and wash off all the sand. It was such a beautiful and fun day. The Dominican Republic is an incredibly gorgeous country.</div>
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On the mission side of things, the National Association for the Deaf (ANSORDO) held a workshop in our church for some of the Deaf that live in this area. It was the same human rights workshop that I attended a couple of months ago in a different location. ANSORDO is taking what they were taught by the World Federation of the Deaf and Discovering Deaf Worlds and sharing this knowledge in various locations throughout the country. This sharing of information is so important because it is the only way most of these Deaf adults will receive it. They are not able to take advantage of incidental learning (overhearing conversations between informed people, for example) and the majority of them did not receive adequate educations and cannot read. The only way that they will learn about their rights, politics, and most other topics is if someone intentionally presents it to them in their language. This is exactly what ANSORDO is trying to achieve through these workshops. The more knowledgable the community is, the more opportunities they have to progress.</div>
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There is a new project here in the Dominican called Proyecto Protégeme which is giving workshops and educating people on how to protect children from sexual abuse. They invited Deaf and hearing people who work with Deaf children from all over the country and provided one of the workshops for them here in Santo Domingo and also in Santiago. I was able to attend both of them and take advantage of the large gathering of people who work with Deaf children to announce Camp Hands of Joy. The workshop was very informative. I am hoping to work with them and be able to replicate the workshop for the Deaf who attend our church and hopefully provide the workshop they created for children to the students at the Deaf school. The rates of child sexual abuse are insanely high here, and even more so among Deaf children. I was inspired by what those involved in this project are doing.</div>
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Now that my Spanish skills have improved somewhat, I have been able to start doing some interpreting. I have been able to interpret for doctor's appointments, family issues, meetings, presentations, and workshops. I feel honored to be the voice for these Deaf people and assist them in living independent lives. Without going into too many details, I will give an example of why this is so important.</div>
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One of the Deaf women involved in our vocational training ministry video called me one day very distressed. She told me that she was going to die if she didn't get a particular surgery and that her family refused to do anything to help her. She explained to me her symptoms and said she had gone to see a doctor with her mother (this is a grown woman with an adult son, but she is unable to access medical services on her own due to the communication barrier), but her mother doesn't know sign language either. The woman had gestured and used drama to describe to the doctor what was going on, the doctor ran some tests, told the mother the results and diagnosis, and prescribed some medicine. But no one had any way to explain to the Deaf woman why she was experiencing those symptoms and what the prescriptions were for. What she understood from it all was that she has cancer and needs surgery in order to live. The mother kept telling her no, but the woman understood that her mother was simply refusing to get her the help she needed.</div>
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I called the mother, who explained to me the situation from her perspective. I explained to her the other side of the story that I had received from the Deaf woman. We all agreed to visit the doctor again, but with me present as an interpreter. The Deaf woman spent the entire week leading up to the appointment completely distressed. The doctor once again explained to the Deaf woman and her mother the results of her lab tests, why she was experiencing those symptoms, and what the pills she had prescribed were for. But this time, the woman was able to understand it. She was also able to explain more specifically her symptoms, which led to changing the prescription that the woman had already been taking for two weeks. This woman is now on the correct medicine, understands her diagnosis, and is at peace.</div>
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This is not a unique story. The lack of interpreters and the Deaf community's inability to pay for them have led to so many unfortunate and tragic situations. There are many people in the country working to improve this situation, but there is still much work to be done.</div>
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I was also able to interpret a couple of meetings between ANSORDO and the National Council for the Disabled (CONADIS) who are currently working together with the Ministry of Education in order to create the first real dictionary in Dominican Sign Language. I'm hoping to continue my involvement with that project! Establishing the national sign language would be such a huge and necessary step for this community.</div>
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Our Deaf church was selected by the Biblical Society to participate in a project to translate the Bible into Dominican Sign Language in video form. I am so excited to be a part of this project. There are many countries in Latin America who are also working on translating the Bible into their various sign languages. A small group of Deaf and interpreters from here (no, I didn't go) travelled to Ecuador along with teams from the other countries in order to receive training on how to go about this. It is a project that will take probably twenty years at least, and there are many things we need to do before actually beginning to translate, but I am so honored to be involved with this for as long as God calls me to.</div>
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I am also working on another project, but that one is currently top secret. I'll tell you all more about that one in a couple of months.</div>
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On top of all that, I think I have found some leads and connections that will allow us to start up one to three business where we will hire an all Deaf staff.</div>
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This post probably seems extremely sporadic, and that's because I have so many things going on that showed up all of a sudden, and I honestly have no idea where God is leading me. I feel like the Israelites wandering through the desert. God leads me to something, I follow and do that thing until He moves the cloud to a new thing. I follow and do that thing, and so on and so forth. Though I have no idea where the destination is or when I will get there, I know God is with me as He leads me to different places and things. All I have to do is trust and be faithful and obedient. Much easier said than done sometimes. Pray for me!</div>
Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-36514544999271057052019-02-05T12:18:00.002-08:002019-02-05T12:18:30.437-08:00When God does a "God thing"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, here's a cool story. One of those "God things". Back in October (I think it was), our mother church told us that a group of American missionaries was going to speak at their church one evening that week, the Deaf church was invited, and that they were going to give out water filters to those who attended. These water filters would allow the users to filter tap water, rain water, river water, or anywhere-they-can-find-it water into clean, drinkable water. One 5 gallon water jug costs about $1.40, so it can get very expensive to keep drinking water in the house, especially for larger families. The filters would be a huge financial relief for this impoverished community. </div>
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We passed along the information about the service, took a group of 36, I was able to interpret from English to sign instead of Spanish to sign for once (sooooo much easier on my brain!!!), and it was great! Except...there had been a miscommunication somewhere along the chain. The organization giving out the water filters wasn't ready to hand them out yet. So, we explained this to our group. There was some complaining, but we explained that I had written down the names of everyone who had gone that night and that we would hand them out when we received them.</div>
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In late November, we got the call that the filters were ready to be picked up and that Paulina (the pastor of our church) and I would attend a short workshop in order to learn how to assemble, use, and clean the filters so that we could teach the recipients. We arrive, learn, go to get our filters..."Here are your 13 filters." Uh oh...</div>
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We ashamedly asked if it would be possible to find a few more to give us, but did not specify how many. They said maybe. We looked at the list thinking, "well, obviously each household only gets one, so that will cut down on how many we have to give out!" Almost none of those who had attended shared a household. We still needed 33 or we were risking a small riot on our hands.</div>
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No word...nothing...waiting...on Christmas day (no joke) the pastor of the mother church called and said they had gotten 20 more filters for us! The EXACT number we needed! God is soooooooo good! And not only that, but a couple of the American missionaries and their daughters were able to come out to our church and personally teach the Deaf how to use and clean their filters. They also gave us a few extras that we can give to those who did not attend but really need them.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are not all of the filter recipients. This is the group that attended on the day we officially handed them out. I have been meeting up with those who didn't go that day as I can and giving them to each person, but haven't been taking pictures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I also attended a couple of awesome workshops in January. The first one was organized by Fundación Humanidad. There was a part for psychologists who work with Deaf clients and then there was a part for parents, family members, teachers, etc. of the Deaf. Fundación Humanidad (the organization that put on the international symposium that I wrote about a few posts back) invited a handful of experts from various countries who talked about the importance of an accessible home, the importance of sign language acquisition at an early age and for the hearing family, discussed the cochlear implant debate, and things of that nature. These events are so very important because access to information about Deaf studies, Deaf culture, sign language, Deaf role models, etc. is very limited here. It was a great day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The second workshop was organized by the National Association for the Deaf in the Dominican Republic (ANSORDO), Discovering Deaf Worlds (DDW), and the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD). The two co-executive directors of DDW and the president of WFD spent a couple of weeks here in the Dominican working with ANSORDO to create this workshop and further the fight for Deaf rights in the country. The workshop was held in Santo Domingo and then in Santiago, and MANY Deaf men, women, and adolescents attended. We learned about the different organizations that fight for Deaf rights throughout the world, what human rights are, and why they are important. This, also, was a great workshop. These connections between organizations are so vital as this community becomes empowered and moves toward equality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This past weekend, we held a one-day medical clinic for the Deaf community and their families. How we got connected to the medical team is also such a "God thing"! In 2008, a group from my home church (I didn't go) went on a medical mission with a couple of American missionaries living in the Dominican and their organization, Corazón del Siervo. One of those clinics was at a church which housed a Deaf school in its basement. Long story short, through that first encounter, camp Hands of Joy was born. Through my experiences at camp Hands of Joy, I received my calling to become a missionary here. So, chain of events, I'm really here because of that couple of doctors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Well, through the missionaries giving out the water filters, I got the contact information for some missionary doctors who might be willing to do a medical clinic with our church. Turns out, SAME PEOPLE!! Everything came full circle. God is just so cool!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Each person went through triage, a consult with a doctor, some lab tests were done, and there was a pharmacy as well. Through donations we had collected, we were able to provide all of this free of charge. We served 120 people between the Deaf and the family members who came with them. The majority of the time Deaf people (even adults) go to the doctor, they go with a family member, act out what is wrong with their bodies or simply let their family members explain it for them, never understand what the doctor said or what their test results were, are given pills to take, and never even know what those pills are for. This was an opportunity (a first for some of them) for the Deaf to speak directly to a doctor (through an interpreter), understand what the doctor was saying, and know what their medications were for. Each person was given a pill to kill parasites, vitamins, and any other medications that they needed. Everyone seemed really happy with the experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In addition, throughout the day I had some of our church leaders give small sermons and sing worship songs. One Deaf man accepted Christ, and many others were exposed to the gospel for the first time. We are praying that we see some of them on Sundays in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I had (have) a nasty cold and was not in good shape on Saturday, but God gave me the strength to make it through the day and, most of all, provided me with an incredible team of doctors, interpreters, and helpers who made it all possible. What an amazing day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The most highly requested vocational class I have received in the past year and a half is a beauty salon class. However, the equipment to hold a class like that is rather expensive. If you are interested in donating to make this class possible, you can click on the "Donate" button in the right-hand column. Most of all, please continue to pray for this ministry! Every life we are able to touch makes a difference in this world.</span></div>
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-91053789736743556202018-12-24T09:00:00.001-08:002018-12-24T09:03:48.821-08:00Christmas Party and Activities!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2-PilrVnwq29KQCvDXd-3FYAl6w707giwPj3l1vn_c_ISMvoBi6KN8yhKtNJaRzQR4QWTP6g7Dac_hW22D4eus88OigvF6JmKzcS8InPgMm3jc3-tDQUxJmJqOJOpSe5mARyG9OxKbg/s1600/IMG_7285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2-PilrVnwq29KQCvDXd-3FYAl6w707giwPj3l1vn_c_ISMvoBi6KN8yhKtNJaRzQR4QWTP6g7Dac_hW22D4eus88OigvF6JmKzcS8InPgMm3jc3-tDQUxJmJqOJOpSe5mARyG9OxKbg/s200/IMG_7285.JPG" width="150" /></a>What a busy couple of months we've had! Very busy, and very exciting! (Warning, this post will contain LOTS of pictures.)<br />
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The Christmas doll-making class was a huge success! Each person worked very hard to hand make various dolls. We then decided that we were going to sell them so that, at the end, we could divide the money and each member of the class would be able to walk away with some Christmas cash.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They turned out really beautiful!!!</span></div>
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We sold them to their family and friends, people in my sign language classes, people we work with, and I even sold some out on the street!<br />
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In the end, we managed to sell almost all of them, and even had to make more of the angels because so many people wanted them. Each person who participated in the class walked away with almost $40. In the Dominican Republic, they celebrate Christmas by having a big family dinner on Christmas Eve. It is culturally very important (even in the lower classes) to buy new clothes to wear for this dinner. Many of the Deaf adults who received the money expressed to me that they were so happy that they would be able to buy their Christmas Eve outfit and also contribute some money toward their family's meal.</div>
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In the midst of all of this, we also had another class, which I personally enjoyed very much because we got to eat all of the product. The participants learned how to make what is called "picadera". These are various snack foods that are purchased (or made) and served at any and every kind of party or celebration. They learned how to make little sandwiches, pasta salad, friend yuca balls with cheese, pastelitos (basically little empanadas), quipes, and croquetas. Being able to make these snack foods will allow them to make and sell them to others and/or to make them for their own celebrations and save money.</div>
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Our last activity of the year was our church Christmas party. This event took about a week of all-hands-on-deck preparation. <span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Many of the Deaf leaders of the church stepped up to help prepare the baskets, clean the church, serve the food, and do anything that we needed in order to make the activity run smoothly. It was amazing to see them take responsibility for their church and give back to their community.</span></div>
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The party went better than we could have imagined. With the help of various generous donors (both Dominican and American), we were able to prepare 110 food baskets, give out toys to around 30 children (some Deaf and some hearing children of Deaf adults, or CODAs), and serve lunch to everyone who attended. The baskets weighed about 25 pounds each! With the food in those baskets, the recipients would be able to make Christmas Eve dinner for their whole family and probably have some left overs. They contained about eight pounds of rice, three pounds of beans, five pounds of sugar, two pounds of powdered milk, pasta, tomato paste, canned sardines, canned sausages, cooking oil, salami, Christmas fruits (apples, grapes, and raisins), juice, cornmeal, oatmeal, crackers, cookies, coffee, hot chocolate, and candy.</div>
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As for the party itself, it was amazing! About 120 Deaf men, women, and children showed up. About 30 of those come to church and Bible study every week, 40 come to church occasionally, 30 show up once or twice a year, and 20 I had never even met before! Many of them brought their children, and a few even brought their parents. In all, there were around 150 in attendance.</div>
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We started off with a church service. Many of the new people had never been to church before, or had been and never really knew what it was about because of the language barrier. We had a time of worship, a time of prayer, and a message about the true meaning of Christmas. For me, if even one of those who came for the first time starts coming to church regularly and is saved, it was all worth it.</div>
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After church, we had a time of food and fellowship. We prepared and served food to all 150 attendees. We then gave out the food baskets and toys. We had enough toys for all of the children and enough baskets to give out one per family. It was such a joyous time. Well, if I'm being honest, also quite stressful! I barely even had time to take any pictures! But I really could not have asked for anything more.<br />
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I am now back in Florida for the holidays, very much enjoying time with my family and friends. The crisp air is also a nice change! Thank you all so much for supporting this mission, whether it be through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, or your service. People tend to put me up on a pedestal as the "missionary", but we are all a part of this mission. Yes, I am the one on the ground doing the work there, but I could not do any of it if it wasn't for all of you here. Like it says in 1 Corinthians 12, we are all parts of the body of Christ, and no one part can stand alone. God has, and will continue to, use every single one of you to make everything you see and read in this blog possible. Thank you, all! Merry Christmas, happy new year, and God bless!<br />
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-57169508691306867962018-11-02T12:19:00.000-07:002018-11-02T12:19:06.931-07:00Fall in a Nutshell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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During the course of our barber class, we were invited to a community event where many professional barbers gave up their day at work to provide free services to a poor community. Hundreds of men and boys came out to get a free hair cut. Our group had the opportunity to go, watch, and even practice cutting hair. Our group of women also got to learn how to apply facials. Everyone had a great time. It was a very cool experience for everyone, as our group had a great learning experience and the hearing community was exposed to the Deaf community as well.<br />
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After two months of learning and practicing, five men proved that they could be certified as barber's assistants (one is not shown in the picture because he was out of town on the day of the graduation). We are currently making the arrangements for them to begin apprenticeships at a few barber shops so that they can finish their training and become certified professional barbers.<br />
We concluded the class with 15 hours of life skills workshops, which five women also participated in. It was the perfect way to finish off the class and was very interesting and educational.<br />
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I was lucky enough to take part in the Second International Symposium for Deaf Education. Experts in Deaf studies, Deaf education, and psychology for the Deaf (both hearing and Deaf) came from various countries, including the United States, Chile, and Costa Rica. It was a three day event with lectures for parents of deaf children, teachers of the Deaf, psychologists who work with the Deaf, and the Deaf teaching assistants. People came from all over the country to take part in this event. We were all able to learn from some very prominent and knowledgeable people. These sorts of events are so important here in the Dominican, as there are so few experts and so little access to accurate information about the Deaf.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ftwMFHdYv_59Bq3m8k77KY7FKCuAizTFtsBcTJhjiwiICj5Ni4676BPiFNSYPpEicKUVjJBfKDOn-7wpykOnQbvkkZN1cEJgzpuqXwd14KlW9USebplKsV6CvAOb-wMexU98-8YmaNc/s1600/IMG_6677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ftwMFHdYv_59Bq3m8k77KY7FKCuAizTFtsBcTJhjiwiICj5Ni4676BPiFNSYPpEicKUVjJBfKDOn-7wpykOnQbvkkZN1cEJgzpuqXwd14KlW9USebplKsV6CvAOb-wMexU98-8YmaNc/s320/IMG_6677.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Deaf presenter communicated in Chilean Sign Language, which was translated into Spanish, which was then interpreted into Dominican Sign Language!</td></tr>
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The Deaf community celebrated the International Week of the Deaf with a march through the city. Hundreds of Deaf people and hearing allies, young and old, came to bring awareness to the community and communicate their needs. It was a hot but fun day organized by the National Association for the Deaf in the Dominican Republic (ANSORDO). We started at the Senate building, marched to the Ministry of Education, and then ended in the National Theater for some speeches and dance performances. The event received quite a bit of press attention. I must say, I was impressed that there were no injuries. So many people walking next to traffic looking at each other's signs instead of where they were walking! Haha!</div>
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As far as the church itself, our church services have a relatively steady attendance of between 30 and 45 people and our weekly Bible study gets around 20. It is awesome to see so many people dedicated to learning about God and spending time in worship. We are also getting some hearing people from my sign language classes attending church and Bible study as a way to get involved in the Deaf community and practice sign language. We are faced with the good problem of having to look for a bigger place because we simply no longer fit in our current location! We often have people standing outside and watching the church service through the windows because the church is so full! Please join us in prayer as we look for a new location, with the ultimate goal of buying some land and constructing our own church.<br />
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We have now turned our sights towards Christmas! This past week, we began a Christmas decorations class, where the participants will learn how to make various beautiful Christmas decorations that they can easily sell to make extra money during this holiday season. We also have begun planning our Christmas celebration, for which we are expecting at the very least 150 attendees. We are gathering donations in order to give out as many food bags as possible to the families in need, provide toys as gifts for the children, and serve a delicious meal at the celebration. If you would like more information or would like to donate, you can contact me by e-mail at ashelamer@yahoo.com.Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-22733651961242456082018-08-24T09:28:00.001-07:002018-08-24T09:28:16.167-07:00Camp, Vacation, and Back to Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been bad about keeping up with my blog, so I'm going to attempt to quickly sum up the last few months.<br />
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At the beginning of June, we got three really special visitors. Two of them I have gotten to know through camp and one was a friend of theirs, and is now a friend of mine. They came a few weeks before camp to get a different perspective on how the Deaf live here and to help out with my vocational training program. It was so much fun to have them here with us! Not only did I get to speak soooo much English, but we also got to show them around the city, and I put them to work.<br />
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One of them spent a week teaching a Spanish literacy class. The majority of the Deaf here are illiterate due to a lack of education. For some of them, it is due to not spending many (if any) years in school. For others, the techniques used to teach them when they were in school were ineffective. There is still so much they need to learn, but it was great to give them at least a week to gain some knowledge they didn't have before.</div>
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I also took advantage of the other two to teach soldering and welding. These are skills that could earn those men a little extra money fixing phone and computer cables and stuff like that, or they can find little side jobs doing some welding. The men really enjoyed learning these skills.</div>
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During these few weeks, we also had a woman come in and teach the women how to make rugs that they can sell for between $30 and $50 a piece. She also taught them how to make different types of bows they can sell.</div>
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Two of our newer members (a married couple) got baptized! They have been faithfully attending church and Bible study for almost a year now and they felt that God was leading them to get baptized. They got baptized with a larger group from our mother church (all hearing), and the husband was given the opportunity to share his testimony about how his life has been changed since coming to know Christ. He spoke about how he, his marriage, and his family have been touched. The ceremony was beautiful and moving. We are so happy to have this amazing couple as our new brother and sister in Christ!</div>
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I also had one of the most touching things happen. The Deaf men and women who have been attending our classes organized a little surprise birthday party for me. They tricked me into leaving for a few minutes to buy something we needed for a class and quickly decorated with balloons. They bought me a cake, and some of them even used the little bit of money they had to buy me presents. It was sooooo sweet! I'm not a person who cries, like, ever, and I almost shed a few tears. Then, a few hours later, some of the Deaf and a hearing teacher from the school came by with ANOTHER CAKE and I had a second little birthday party! I can't even begin to describe how full my heart was that day. It was so reaffirming to see the effort they all put in to show me how much they care and that they are grateful for the work I do.</div>
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Finally, it came time for camp. I say finally because I was so sick of the word "camp" by the time the date arrived! The amount of work and preparation that goes into that camp on this end of things is CRAZY! So the time FINALLY comes, but we ran into some serious last minute issues with permissions for the children and leaders not wanting to take responsibility for their groups due to fear of legal ramifications and such. These same concerns were voiced by multiple groups from around the country. Due to all of this, we ended up with less campers than we had last year. But we got between 115 and 140 campers for each camp, so it was still a good amount! And God knew what He was doing because the North American staff team was significantly smaller than in previous years. So everything worked out perfectly. The campers and staff alike enjoyed chapel time, dramas, singing, discussion groups, science, sports, crafts, and pool time. The theme was service and being good servants, which is a relevant and necessary message for the Deaf community here. Everything went smoothly, and a total of around 60 campers went up to the altar to accept Christ! </div>
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My perspective this year was VERY different. In past years, I have been a group leader or a station leader. This year, I don't know who started the rumor that I know everything and am in charge of anything, but my name very quickly became the most used in the camp. I was approached with an incredible range of problems and questions, by campers AND staff members! I couldn't even complete one mission without being stopped on the way at least once with another problem to solve! I'm not sure I'm cut out for this whole being a leader thing. It's EXHAUSTING! But we all survived.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRz8yrx1uMq9vreGjE3MJDmJfAy3VdjOX9OxB4OtA-PEDDuBm9nbUm2kkE1GS6qPFLfGcqt9q-d8KrzL03A1XdvtwzB7Mc5Vqy9mxIjCIhD6PQvwKJyyDBaZFzq2oe3IkT9RoIIplBY0/s1600/36635918_10216533365916728_7059493811491176448_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1504" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRz8yrx1uMq9vreGjE3MJDmJfAy3VdjOX9OxB4OtA-PEDDuBm9nbUm2kkE1GS6qPFLfGcqt9q-d8KrzL03A1XdvtwzB7Mc5Vqy9mxIjCIhD6PQvwKJyyDBaZFzq2oe3IkT9RoIIplBY0/s320/36635918_10216533365916728_7059493811491176448_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group picture from one of the camps</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP8jSmUvhvduSKiiCyl5reneecMjnflVIN0OLFqyTMmazYH6WLeH_hQEaZgQm8J90AOCtH8d4iNEZVD5SdJbI8YKDPns0AyDL9pDD4ha2PqqKNL1YThw-pMclQiGyiHK_UvjiNWner90/s1600/36578397_10216532532855902_7045743525232640_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1504" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP8jSmUvhvduSKiiCyl5reneecMjnflVIN0OLFqyTMmazYH6WLeH_hQEaZgQm8J90AOCtH8d4iNEZVD5SdJbI8YKDPns0AyDL9pDD4ha2PqqKNL1YThw-pMclQiGyiHK_UvjiNWner90/s320/36578397_10216532532855902_7045743525232640_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dramas to help explain Bible stories</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8v1FOkab-z-_v74bDIUxs3srmvVqGIxdNJ8x61bVQZCk_CDQnVgH1QJDuMxN-8IDdWY0bDvKUjEHK501-1LmWIObkSCMGT0rf0bm7oMfERKyy6TTs2rRxDHYmMFf7gmUK1vu5XKxZRY/s1600/IMG_5897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8v1FOkab-z-_v74bDIUxs3srmvVqGIxdNJ8x61bVQZCk_CDQnVgH1QJDuMxN-8IDdWY0bDvKUjEHK501-1LmWIObkSCMGT0rf0bm7oMfERKyy6TTs2rRxDHYmMFf7gmUK1vu5XKxZRY/s320/IMG_5897.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my sign language students leading a worship song!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5E5TMCPNG5J3V1zrjiDTy9Pa78OdKomcvutPpO_X1JJknUCdxUC0RXHSlaaRyeQW4OsthNJTeRnuFnzRbNeng_09E-YbEDKGZoVn9JmicmbcK5D86J3PYlHUQjS9D3-vNDTxsb9pk_w/s1600/IMG_5905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5E5TMCPNG5J3V1zrjiDTy9Pa78OdKomcvutPpO_X1JJknUCdxUC0RXHSlaaRyeQW4OsthNJTeRnuFnzRbNeng_09E-YbEDKGZoVn9JmicmbcK5D86J3PYlHUQjS9D3-vNDTxsb9pk_w/s320/IMG_5905.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning about the lungs in science</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoI0h_-i6JJkjfJpYFrqu237WIRfA6nM6Fd-R8RWQY6S71MV6YWOkeqb2q9yAGED2_W1cqBn42dd8uwIjtqTF3FVkTDjr3h3SyzElzHdebXfNIz5XdnmKtKT5a3xIrthGW-ZrfVCY-qI/s1600/IMG_5913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoI0h_-i6JJkjfJpYFrqu237WIRfA6nM6Fd-R8RWQY6S71MV6YWOkeqb2q9yAGED2_W1cqBn42dd8uwIjtqTF3FVkTDjr3h3SyzElzHdebXfNIz5XdnmKtKT5a3xIrthGW-ZrfVCY-qI/s320/IMG_5913.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discussion groups to emphasize what was learned in chapel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ftisRydzWCuLhBTOAflFFQqHgUqYAWxa_nEsav6MXMZzmTRnipgVYhyphenhyphenWK2GL2Ot2BwNfw2HOsI9eUZjEt27SOdoa0VB1-XFViG2sM0muGXR-TfYA6pTrHHN8HwUA3rjnyUXsStXLEwg/s1600/IMG_5918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ftisRydzWCuLhBTOAflFFQqHgUqYAWxa_nEsav6MXMZzmTRnipgVYhyphenhyphenWK2GL2Ot2BwNfw2HOsI9eUZjEt27SOdoa0VB1-XFViG2sM0muGXR-TfYA6pTrHHN8HwUA3rjnyUXsStXLEwg/s320/IMG_5918.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sports</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_7SDXO6bUNwaWxnlbKn17nrnJebxs-UaCcibf7SGd-Fnu973C9hpqgiyD3hWW0fEggFG9ZepDsOCRyDyGvZnHk-olVznJfcNpRa_MSqKDss3SSU9mM5WsoSOoJH4PJ1qC-vePnatqd8/s1600/IMG_5977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_7SDXO6bUNwaWxnlbKn17nrnJebxs-UaCcibf7SGd-Fnu973C9hpqgiyD3hWW0fEggFG9ZepDsOCRyDyGvZnHk-olVznJfcNpRa_MSqKDss3SSU9mM5WsoSOoJH4PJ1qC-vePnatqd8/s320/IMG_5977.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamwork activity</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD8N0dCwE4E8itpAn1RzEU73cZDmR4E6Z1-fFcciAKUS5gbUGVLj-yzPY_1oZYNZvATwxTBPeCs0mo7n1Ujr9ibj71ZbxSc9fb2HHJ3-r-kX7wi8I2dn0XS6TL5KKGZQoYUDrMgLcbDs/s1600/IMG_5982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD8N0dCwE4E8itpAn1RzEU73cZDmR4E6Z1-fFcciAKUS5gbUGVLj-yzPY_1oZYNZvATwxTBPeCs0mo7n1Ujr9ibj71ZbxSc9fb2HHJ3-r-kX7wi8I2dn0XS6TL5KKGZQoYUDrMgLcbDs/s320/IMG_5982.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our new church members leading a worship song in chapel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fV2g2HBbQnSXdKKM4LvHQSWFA1aYtEJPal0R5s2Uo1jvI1griBcjiHBwimftuENJ10bpNL6152MrBhIxy5XvRgBVxk92sj6TVXQtj1Qgoxi3wzvZBH-N7HwAu2YcUDFqXj-2urLPD3g/s1600/IMG_5927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fV2g2HBbQnSXdKKM4LvHQSWFA1aYtEJPal0R5s2Uo1jvI1griBcjiHBwimftuENJ10bpNL6152MrBhIxy5XvRgBVxk92sj6TVXQtj1Qgoxi3wzvZBH-N7HwAu2YcUDFqXj-2urLPD3g/s320/IMG_5927.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many campers went up for the altar call!</td></tr>
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Almost immediately after camp I left to go visit family and friends in the States for a couple of weeks. My Dominican sister went with me. After two years of seeing what her life is like here, I had a great time showing her what my life is like in the States. I got to spend some awesome quality time with my family and with some of my friends, and even got to go to Epcot for free! Between 4th of July fireworks, kayaking, a butterfly rainforest, checking out wineries in North Carolina, learning how to build furniture, Wonderworks in Orlando, bowling, Epcot, pool time, a lot of delicious food, and just sitting around hanging out, I had an amazing vacation. Though, not very relaxing!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I got back, I took a week or so to actually rest and then got back to work. We had some college students come and teach how to make simple wallets and purses out of felt.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGnJTkx374SkUbnWg3BSIjkGxoeuWsWdM0Akvyp-DlxdBoNPk_zlO_wojZ_wBCKUSPIrRy4i7Gix4oNvC3T83u6z5siyRD2meBy869Am3c5_U6jBrtDOW3fDTHTgING9h6qnBEDsZB3E/s1600/IMG_6180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGnJTkx374SkUbnWg3BSIjkGxoeuWsWdM0Akvyp-DlxdBoNPk_zlO_wojZ_wBCKUSPIrRy4i7Gix4oNvC3T83u6z5siyRD2meBy869Am3c5_U6jBrtDOW3fDTHTgING9h6qnBEDsZB3E/s320/IMG_6180.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHMY8ToeS2q-3qrZ3n2d-0WqXp8oxKLUMLqKdqQu2I_IXLLWYnPHElxmspAmGUEhvqnj9v2B2sf8GPumfOu46RVuMUNf9AoKZsDXw6Csbte9YXn5GV6CBpWcHte2dcneyrMBbmVwpSro/s1600/IMG_6188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHMY8ToeS2q-3qrZ3n2d-0WqXp8oxKLUMLqKdqQu2I_IXLLWYnPHElxmspAmGUEhvqnj9v2B2sf8GPumfOu46RVuMUNf9AoKZsDXw6Csbte9YXn5GV6CBpWcHte2dcneyrMBbmVwpSro/s320/IMG_6188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also got a barbery class going! A lot of the Deaf men have been requesting this class for a long time, and we were finally able to make it happen. ACOPRO, the organization who has been working with us in this process of vocational training, got us hooked up with the barbers' association for this area. The president of the association promised us that those who complete the class and show promising skill will be immediately placed in barber shops to start working! I really hope they keep that promise...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6skqLu4nCI4qjS13tacWxmV0Cnju0xYbRra1iWzttJLdsS33x_5qax-56FgFyqfDApRLUzaivJocGiUOmniM2mdq0TzfNMIO9xZu8YS52rWduN81o06zDfB5ueoQW3K4t7JCe1NEbL8/s1600/IMG_6302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6skqLu4nCI4qjS13tacWxmV0Cnju0xYbRra1iWzttJLdsS33x_5qax-56FgFyqfDApRLUzaivJocGiUOmniM2mdq0TzfNMIO9xZu8YS52rWduN81o06zDfB5ueoQW3K4t7JCe1NEbL8/s320/IMG_6302.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFJvD2_os94lXYk7Klgj3OQjfHIeT1kaMNgRxqTf2KiPQjHX012fP4-xntI961hTTsnqUBX9E5HkWOdX_lYZBI9n9vJbtDASAvhYwucmjhC-vlTkzviDS8km-pJo3k2wQg7yQJX24FFk/s1600/IMG_6296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFJvD2_os94lXYk7Klgj3OQjfHIeT1kaMNgRxqTf2KiPQjHX012fP4-xntI961hTTsnqUBX9E5HkWOdX_lYZBI9n9vJbtDASAvhYwucmjhC-vlTkzviDS8km-pJo3k2wQg7yQJX24FFk/s320/IMG_6296.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUy8yGNMfei_YCUkGBooSINVX_mu2rlbRSlLtZ4QtQK9GxUe52EQ3e7zdmPxXbxBN1_Jk7DAvQ1NNQAXpiIouUz2xU1A7Ab7QH8e0nNAkPXzGUw-bk-cNaR9kUrfvSU6K_PH5QGIvazM/s1600/IMG_6303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUy8yGNMfei_YCUkGBooSINVX_mu2rlbRSlLtZ4QtQK9GxUe52EQ3e7zdmPxXbxBN1_Jk7DAvQ1NNQAXpiIouUz2xU1A7Ab7QH8e0nNAkPXzGUw-bk-cNaR9kUrfvSU6K_PH5QGIvazM/s320/IMG_6303.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmfY8pV0FO9H4WIubuHrrcHdzlbZyNu9RpNVHVzufA7dn2-Zhyj36u6f6poFQFApwRDV9ccnbpCIjx3B8bKGtAzxaSvex_0eVGt-XjzPH0_E83E8rmKMHoRaQZMQ3DaY3ILBthbDzdDA/s1600/IMG_6407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmfY8pV0FO9H4WIubuHrrcHdzlbZyNu9RpNVHVzufA7dn2-Zhyj36u6f6poFQFApwRDV9ccnbpCIjx3B8bKGtAzxaSvex_0eVGt-XjzPH0_E83E8rmKMHoRaQZMQ3DaY3ILBthbDzdDA/s320/IMG_6407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz7V1bwyG_wly16DQFyZ_9azQ8OyZmnfdMWaTJV5RtTkMU0IBrfv9MGwGpp-4-1lkHMm7qL0Y3l7VkIHAFknIj44Zuku0h8_LQ1qMLKlko83Ma_sUGPhcUCwrYyqNzSr2-My5yIUwX-0/s1600/IMG_6401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz7V1bwyG_wly16DQFyZ_9azQ8OyZmnfdMWaTJV5RtTkMU0IBrfv9MGwGpp-4-1lkHMm7qL0Y3l7VkIHAFknIj44Zuku0h8_LQ1qMLKlko83Ma_sUGPhcUCwrYyqNzSr2-My5yIUwX-0/s320/IMG_6401.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz85yuJ-67jpmiKTJ-BUUu1tVszcD_zQiMGavwedoylztOfbccu0Ktd8aWv-nOJ86kD0vEAEhIG3Np_W3t-_CW9jpMbEUFRCLbBk_NaB6W7WDW2rYXhuUSkubqVNfRdKiPFVcS8ST-GDE/s1600/IMG_6327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz85yuJ-67jpmiKTJ-BUUu1tVszcD_zQiMGavwedoylztOfbccu0Ktd8aWv-nOJ86kD0vEAEhIG3Np_W3t-_CW9jpMbEUFRCLbBk_NaB6W7WDW2rYXhuUSkubqVNfRdKiPFVcS8ST-GDE/s320/IMG_6327.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another new development is that we just started a singing class/choir group this week. Many Deaf men and women have approached me saying how they want to lead worship songs in church, but that they don't know any songs and that they don't know how they can learn. So we started a class where they will be taught Christian songs and can then form a choir, if they would like. They seem to be pretty excited about this. We'll see if it works out!</div>
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I also decided that those who stuck with my sign language class have learned enough to incorporate themselves into our Bible study for the Deaf. There isn't much more they can learn in the classroom setting, and now I am forcing them to get involved in the Deaf community so that they can practice and learn more from the Deaf themselves. I have a whole list of people who didn't or couldn't start with the last group and have been waiting for me to start a new class, so I will be doing that as well.</div>
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For those of you who are interested in seeing more of what my day-to-day is like, one of our before-camp visitors made an awesome video that you should check out!</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=N0uqfHpArqo&u=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2MG3CPdI0fo%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded">https://www.youtube.com/attribution_link?a=N0uqfHpArqo&u=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D2MG3CPdI0fo%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded</a></div>
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Please continue to pray for this ministry, this church, the Deaf community, and for me. It's not easy work, and there are times when I get really down and homesick, but there is truly nothing better than knowing that you are doing the Lord's work. And there is nothing more humbling than to know that He chose you to work through to touch others.</div>
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-64508740934220214312018-05-22T08:32:00.001-07:002018-05-22T08:32:30.489-07:00Frustrations and Victories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back in February, I took a group of Deaf men and women to an organization that was fitting people for free hearing aids. I ended up having to bring about half of them back another day because, as it turns out, they were only fitting people for new hearing aids, not taking repairs. Both experiences were rather disheartening for me, for a few reasons. These people work with the Deaf population on a regular basis, but the employees (the majority) know very little sign language, and they did not have a single interpreter. Both days my group arrived at 7:30am, and the line and process were so long that we left at 4pm. I was the interpreter for every Deaf man and woman who showed up. Which I didn't mind doing, but it was rather exhausting. It was mostly frustrating because these people should have enough respect for this population to hire interpreters when they know that they will have many Deaf clients. Everyone had to wait outside until it was almost their turn, and then they could come wait inside. How did they advise people that it was their turn to come inside or get serviced? THEY CALLED OUT THEIR NAMES IN VOICE! They did not wait to get the attention of the Deaf clients, finger spell the names, or anything. If the Deaf clients didn't hear their names called or one of the hearing people didn't step up and say, "this guy was here before me" or something like that, they simply missed their turns. This apparently happens often.</div>
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Regardless, we survived it, and the hearing aids finally came in a couple of weeks ago! Many volunteers from multiple different countries came to give out and fit the new and repaired hearing aids. I took my group on one of the days that they were giving out the hearing aids, and guess what. NO INTERPRETERS! Not only were their no interpreters, but there were multiple stations: a little presentation explaining the whole process, an area for ear cleaning, a waiting area for those with clean ears, multiple stations for fitting and testing the hearing aids, workshops explaining hearing aid care and the organization's repair policies, and a station where they gave out the batteries and bags. My group got sent in all different directions. I spent the entire day running around between stations trying to interpret for my group and other Deaf men and women who had arrived from other places. It was, once again, a very exhausting and frustrating experience for everyone. But, many people are now enjoying their new hearing aids.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4aFrIIO7_otvp1ivGaYrM1GYUzatonV0Fd9p1Lbk-c9lnjAN1ZDNuK2eReU0aWg24rlvuincR9AhZk-xHsBk2Wbdpu61mqk14Ibd7Cp3-7B6YmKfFaxWjOu3anrHmrQxQOLNKmEgutg/s1600/IMG_4848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4aFrIIO7_otvp1ivGaYrM1GYUzatonV0Fd9p1Lbk-c9lnjAN1ZDNuK2eReU0aWg24rlvuincR9AhZk-xHsBk2Wbdpu61mqk14Ibd7Cp3-7B6YmKfFaxWjOu3anrHmrQxQOLNKmEgutg/s320/IMG_4848.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People from many different countries came to help</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH0YERqScH84wleYlPwDLWXrBXt6rIU8Qh2CqCMFoLWz4YfH1yWnmvzrsIBtffJRW1YDEOOYi9jTtakHbhUH4d53588Ka7jnIxs384JK9MJ3fLoUumgTGaK5V-38TdZYhpu8NbcrMuV8/s1600/IMG_4852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH0YERqScH84wleYlPwDLWXrBXt6rIU8Qh2CqCMFoLWz4YfH1yWnmvzrsIBtffJRW1YDEOOYi9jTtakHbhUH4d53588Ka7jnIxs384JK9MJ3fLoUumgTGaK5V-38TdZYhpu8NbcrMuV8/s320/IMG_4852.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jIGl69FsK5rAvk57fQVw4TMK0g1A12-Zw1ot_srkeH1wTtAEgiS3nedYAoEJcuZucWTGZMuqg4qV5vdN-I6KKEW7q3O-jscySxrT1UWwPEmtWe1dDScFDltyaSAnqdCMde8e2wsrdkQ/s1600/IMG_4853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jIGl69FsK5rAvk57fQVw4TMK0g1A12-Zw1ot_srkeH1wTtAEgiS3nedYAoEJcuZucWTGZMuqg4qV5vdN-I6KKEW7q3O-jscySxrT1UWwPEmtWe1dDScFDltyaSAnqdCMde8e2wsrdkQ/s320/IMG_4853.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One waiting station. There were so many people!!! Probably 300 people in all.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Et9aggXEdJSIRAz1QCWOb6nuxMNCqi-h9peSThGvsRhEJwHSIcK-JQera2PhSHrn-38ZULqI_drjGyxqw0hIwDyPLt_TB2I0BcTm0s5MpSzvIdIn5hMsrVyD6Gb67t1RxKm-9YArDZc/s1600/IMG_4855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Et9aggXEdJSIRAz1QCWOb6nuxMNCqi-h9peSThGvsRhEJwHSIcK-JQera2PhSHrn-38ZULqI_drjGyxqw0hIwDyPLt_TB2I0BcTm0s5MpSzvIdIn5hMsrVyD6Gb67t1RxKm-9YArDZc/s320/IMG_4855.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2mK-4h0FH2QoC-fNkj-7BXVt2AYpPQdc6EPu29oayyilkM0LZEo682K7Y1rviIITamctvuN0vOUhJpfRNV9d4WcfbqsQycGsvMgABugCChtHcADH28fl3pFiNv_cNHfCEAfrmRghL68/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2mK-4h0FH2QoC-fNkj-7BXVt2AYpPQdc6EPu29oayyilkM0LZEo682K7Y1rviIITamctvuN0vOUhJpfRNV9d4WcfbqsQycGsvMgABugCChtHcADH28fl3pFiNv_cNHfCEAfrmRghL68/s320/IMG_4858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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In Santo Domingo, there is an annual book fair, and many different companies and organizations put up booths, workshops, etc. The Ministry of Education has many booths at the book fair, including one for the special education department. They requested that some of the women involved in our vocational training project participate in the booth in order to show and teach others a skill they have learned. We decided to go with the decorations using recycled material class, as it was the most recent and affordable. The women who finished the class went to the book fair and taught hearing people of all ages how to make some basic decorations and household items out of newspaper. Experiences like this give the Deaf community more visibility and show hearing people that these Deaf men and women are intelligent and possess many skills.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmQPVcRk93a9OCd2HgtOsh-j-FX1sUYrkR1PLUkcL8nCExfhSTjch7pu1gaKQ-Ojd4ku0hlth3H0QGxdllcctUAKNKf9CNEYuULLXOJN7Y9yxcO3ENc-vJbATFkkIT996lPLunUWRlQo/s1600/2c4893aa-c281-40bf-88fc-f85107f54b2c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmQPVcRk93a9OCd2HgtOsh-j-FX1sUYrkR1PLUkcL8nCExfhSTjch7pu1gaKQ-Ojd4ku0hlth3H0QGxdllcctUAKNKf9CNEYuULLXOJN7Y9yxcO3ENc-vJbATFkkIT996lPLunUWRlQo/s320/2c4893aa-c281-40bf-88fc-f85107f54b2c.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRC9GPPc__KWcaMoKPN-vRxMghNPvnxNpPcKNAj1V1XPGtQZBt7xEkhJejRScwduofXRdLpGKwrVexeUIAoyXNwzb5Iyxmc71mcMEtIQJIoJeFpmnw97B3PJMkItujoRW141f3wPTYuI/s1600/4d75a1d2-0e13-4af8-9046-6fa0484bc43b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRC9GPPc__KWcaMoKPN-vRxMghNPvnxNpPcKNAj1V1XPGtQZBt7xEkhJejRScwduofXRdLpGKwrVexeUIAoyXNwzb5Iyxmc71mcMEtIQJIoJeFpmnw97B3PJMkItujoRW141f3wPTYuI/s320/4d75a1d2-0e13-4af8-9046-6fa0484bc43b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiag7UDpZ1kt9ibq81JOTlg5Dpjb8oo9yUuKJXUXx_IxSVL0DXlyfy1TQU-yyo1kosBch2YNhHcklQYqnhOk26xAEIyIryhNl22vPrv1qnJeVHEs8v0noEj6_2XXtedw-WEjLUwp83b8DY/s1600/5d3cfaf7-aff9-4fe2-883a-375428f138bc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiag7UDpZ1kt9ibq81JOTlg5Dpjb8oo9yUuKJXUXx_IxSVL0DXlyfy1TQU-yyo1kosBch2YNhHcklQYqnhOk26xAEIyIryhNl22vPrv1qnJeVHEs8v0noEj6_2XXtedw-WEjLUwp83b8DY/s320/5d3cfaf7-aff9-4fe2-883a-375428f138bc.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We have also been continuing our math class, which these adults LOVE. They are so excited to improve their math skills, and love to practice them. They even request homework to practice throughout the week! We had a fun day of life skills math practice last week. I made fake money and put prices on some of the toys that we have. I assigned a few people to be vendors and others to be customers in order to practice adding up prices and making change. After a while, we switched out the vendors until everyone had a chance. Many of them had informed me that they get cheated when they buy from the colmados (corners stores), because they don't know how to make sure they were given correct change. Only when they go home and ask someone who has these math skills do they find out that they have been cheated. This skill will also be vital when we start their cafeteria business!</div>
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Our weekly Bible study has been going very well. Many of the students and Deaf assistant teachers from the Deaf school nearby come, as well as many Deaf adults and a handful of hearing people interested in learning more sign. They are all interested in learning about the Bible, ask questions, have intellectual discussions about what they are learning, and are clearly growing in their faith.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-enx8XKtQOQ91ambYW8vuIB_xTmCm7-cG8UPtEpLQSv3DqhyphenhyphenN_b6zIT7fu3jEbu_NvIc2RK8SrQrUKtI-_0MSg9a3uzK1aNd7mmypICni0HLTbp-Wxta6paTOHwHKhySgjetZYX7f4yE/s1600/bc0f801c-e0f0-44af-952c-af5c7e4a33c7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-enx8XKtQOQ91ambYW8vuIB_xTmCm7-cG8UPtEpLQSv3DqhyphenhyphenN_b6zIT7fu3jEbu_NvIc2RK8SrQrUKtI-_0MSg9a3uzK1aNd7mmypICni0HLTbp-Wxta6paTOHwHKhySgjetZYX7f4yE/s320/bc0f801c-e0f0-44af-952c-af5c7e4a33c7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpDNWi5mEdr-F6YXhivSNql8kvHizkY1dGW_5JBEBffv3G5bPaLJMm8_1TFZ_Nh3B8q2VJUt8Y00EzPVDBhwk9cfh78ltDoJaIXZuGHw2PV9xMO-O-uvfZ60uvR3MUDwaQKFH_5UgDW4/s1600/IMG_5440.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpDNWi5mEdr-F6YXhivSNql8kvHizkY1dGW_5JBEBffv3G5bPaLJMm8_1TFZ_Nh3B8q2VJUt8Y00EzPVDBhwk9cfh78ltDoJaIXZuGHw2PV9xMO-O-uvfZ60uvR3MUDwaQKFH_5UgDW4/s320/IMG_5440.PNG" width="180" /></a>Some of the hearing students from my sign language class have been getting involved with our activities here, and have grown so much in their sign language skills as a result. I am shocked at how quickly they have picked it up! They are so passionate about getting involved in Deaf ministry and preaching the Gospel to this community. One of them even led the Bible study a couple of weeks ago!! In sign language! She did an AMAZING job! I was sooooo proud of her.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFs0NXY4CqXVFxcLyxXLWtMvjz5l5tKBuBXSzSLMGC-mndStUtOjbHs8mXpDxdhMst_STy5BvSMfYMNdYLxiiVw4_TEHqqzPTveAcQJwRMd-kTjk-tnV_Ng3TsVpfw6_zEajUPP9X9PWo/s1600/IMG_5442.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFs0NXY4CqXVFxcLyxXLWtMvjz5l5tKBuBXSzSLMGC-mndStUtOjbHs8mXpDxdhMst_STy5BvSMfYMNdYLxiiVw4_TEHqqzPTveAcQJwRMd-kTjk-tnV_Ng3TsVpfw6_zEajUPP9X9PWo/s320/IMG_5442.PNG" width="180" /></a>The other very cool thing that is happening is that some of our new Christians are stepping up and volunteering to pray and sing at church and Bible study. They either memorize songs that we sing regularly or even make up their own songs, which I find to be so awesome. There are Christian leaders being raised up here, and I am so excited to see what the future holds for this church and for this community of Deaf Christians.</div>
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Currently, our biggest problem (which is an amazing "problem" to have), is that we need a larger space to hold our church services. We no longer fit in our sanctuary. Some of the Deaf members have to sit outside because there is no room inside. And the church is continuing to grow. We are praying for some kind of resolution for this "problem". I'm not sure if the answer is to find a new, larger (more expensive) location to rent or if we should try to buy this location and construct a larger sanctuary upstairs or what. Please join us in praying for God's direction in resolving this issue.Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-27429293625217957462018-04-23T12:27:00.000-07:002018-04-23T12:27:41.085-07:00Working on a Business Plan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The fundraising activity (selling homemade foods in order to raise money to start a business) wasn't really an economic success, but it was a success in another sense. Leading up to the event, these Deaf men and women were extremely intimidated and nervous. They kept asking, "How are we going to communicate with the hearing customers? How will we understand what they want? What if they ask questions?" In order to address these issues, we created a menu with the images of the signs.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZMrRpGFly0LwjDlTB3OleOAQrV900eE-8okk3MJk4RofLOmHPhWdyByuqAgNzCXHFMV59dkQBto2rcRpUZ5y3191X4sQAQOowjpcmcxo_xZQ2HgsXxz1XuhIlpTcQBzf2tDYFVRvJRc/s1600/IMG_4179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZMrRpGFly0LwjDlTB3OleOAQrV900eE-8okk3MJk4RofLOmHPhWdyByuqAgNzCXHFMV59dkQBto2rcRpUZ5y3191X4sQAQOowjpcmcxo_xZQ2HgsXxz1XuhIlpTcQBzf2tDYFVRvJRc/s320/IMG_4179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The hearing customers would first consult the menu, learn how to order what they wanted, and then placed their orders in sign language. Not only did the hearing customers love it, but the Deaf men and women working the fundraiser realized that with the right adaptations in their work environment, they can do anything!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1R9dQO-zUd_N28oMAq-L85LbrGdlBWqT7tiuhI8_poMX2yJQI1EK32p6BLTj8Zcyn0cTIBgOj1OnreEYuA8rCF4BWXKgeN3588f9SHAPAHq_42Kmm_ek_Tat2OM_Jiz0j8CdETpMpC7w/s1600/IMG_4184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1R9dQO-zUd_N28oMAq-L85LbrGdlBWqT7tiuhI8_poMX2yJQI1EK32p6BLTj8Zcyn0cTIBgOj1OnreEYuA8rCF4BWXKgeN3588f9SHAPAHq_42Kmm_ek_Tat2OM_Jiz0j8CdETpMpC7w/s320/IMG_4184.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Customers learning how to place their food orders</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujK_88kRDAznKCFzMWB-48RNpf_Fm-qYHNOPL8jU8U2Gx2rTY0gUyjfIYA2CRbomAezCkRUqDSw6SP-O8tU1yzE3zzZZtbmCx0t3Ul-9k_vw9CRix2_RO12vQDxPpUjHnYphuvbPHMBY/s1600/IMG_4177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujK_88kRDAznKCFzMWB-48RNpf_Fm-qYHNOPL8jU8U2Gx2rTY0gUyjfIYA2CRbomAezCkRUqDSw6SP-O8tU1yzE3zzZZtbmCx0t3Ul-9k_vw9CRix2_RO12vQDxPpUjHnYphuvbPHMBY/s320/IMG_4177.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwEvW74zO3mPN4nrTfnNwTwCnqqIqq3E2N_RUdKwg4mouccWb3VDlkhuYOjxjfrw2Y70ro3MOrAXTdXDToM9AkqCuxjxhygqAOfEf0rgPgqOSi5pFFnD4-njK3s5kP47mQh5BpgxbeTI/s1600/IMG_4165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwEvW74zO3mPN4nrTfnNwTwCnqqIqq3E2N_RUdKwg4mouccWb3VDlkhuYOjxjfrw2Y70ro3MOrAXTdXDToM9AkqCuxjxhygqAOfEf0rgPgqOSi5pFFnD4-njK3s5kP47mQh5BpgxbeTI/s320/IMG_4165.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnI3H4AT1zlg1Wv1PT3ujEGIwjLAK7akaNupdLH6MesFUINXRXmpEQgxhFtVzRqJKmNWLtfms3-9rRxIDn-RvyWkvvUKVSSyyB-F1kjqAmK3xOhb_F5-VSJhrZMUjFyT0SzOyMOJZQJXI/s1600/IMG_4178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnI3H4AT1zlg1Wv1PT3ujEGIwjLAK7akaNupdLH6MesFUINXRXmpEQgxhFtVzRqJKmNWLtfms3-9rRxIDn-RvyWkvvUKVSSyyB-F1kjqAmK3xOhb_F5-VSJhrZMUjFyT0SzOyMOJZQJXI/s320/IMG_4178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Using the money made during this activity, we plan to hold other fundraising activities (as well as look for donations) until these men and women have the money necessary in order to start their own business. We have two ideas. 1) Rent a space to open up a coffee shop. 2) Buy a food truck and establish the first Deaf-run food truck in the Dominican Republic. This way, they will have the freedom to sell in different locations and at different activities. This will give the working Deaf population more visibility. I imagine activities where everyone excitedly tells their friends to go buy from the food truck run by the Deaf! It is something unique, which gives them an advantage. However, this is a work in progress.<br />
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Working toward this end, we started a business administration class, which quickly has turned into more of a math class, as we are seeing that there are certain common weaknesses. All of the participants are very enthusiastic to be learning math, which I find to be quite strange. But they love it! This will be important so that they do not allow themselves to be cheated by their customers, to help them learn how to buy their products and supplies wisely, to make and follow through with a budget, etc.<br />
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Most of these adults, for one reason or another, did not make it past an elementary or middle school education. And that education that they received was sub-par. The new generation of Deaf children and adolescents are getting a better education, but these adults have been forgotten about. One day, I would like to provide an adult education program. But one step at a time.<br />
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We also finished the decorations using recycled material class. The final products turned out great! However, due to the extreme patience required to make these products, we finished the class with only four participants hahaha!! </div>
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These are just a few of the finished products.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwAF9Txf4TBdpPyYbaLwkm4mec7PxalQRh0nYsgBo8mdN12E5jOJVMi-HhEL3fUunCS39f2mcLXIe6mkd5AjRRA-mP-Ae7jHPyBVjiYmQ9-GlDI0_tAjJyUimuvLgylq6i9m9TnYaFoE/s1600/IMG_4295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwAF9Txf4TBdpPyYbaLwkm4mec7PxalQRh0nYsgBo8mdN12E5jOJVMi-HhEL3fUunCS39f2mcLXIe6mkd5AjRRA-mP-Ae7jHPyBVjiYmQ9-GlDI0_tAjJyUimuvLgylq6i9m9TnYaFoE/s320/IMG_4295.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4PltVg-wI9f_nQYUswtKN83dbMz5XeegJDYXnoDhcObuNG4Hxsh3jcOKUtu3F7NjoxsOflLaN00aQ80qIDDDf7GAesRm5tjH9E_rBLCEor82B6orQNylMhfOJpR1nrOFZ4cf9WTXlhA/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4PltVg-wI9f_nQYUswtKN83dbMz5XeegJDYXnoDhcObuNG4Hxsh3jcOKUtu3F7NjoxsOflLaN00aQ80qIDDDf7GAesRm5tjH9E_rBLCEor82B6orQNylMhfOJpR1nrOFZ4cf9WTXlhA/s320/IMG_4294.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I just cannot explain how exciting it has been to watch this program develop. And yes, I do feel as though I'm simply watching because everything that we need arrives at our doorstep. I never have to ask or go looking for anything. Each class leads to another one through the same organizations (ACOPRO, CONCERTA, Ciudad Alternativa, etc.) and people who are touched by what we do and share the vision with their friends. I have learned a lot about living by faith and finding the balance between faith and action. I certainly don't have it figured out, and I probably never will. But I am learning more and more every day. I am so thankful that God has chosen to use me in his plan for the Deaf community here in the Dominican Republic.<br />
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On a personal note, I finished my Master's degree! I am so relieved to be done, so thankful to God for giving me the strength to get through it, and so ready to not have that hanging over my head hahaha!<br />
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-49654321635929656392018-03-12T08:29:00.001-07:002018-03-12T08:29:52.497-07:00Pretty Smiles!This past weekend, a group of dentists from the mother church came to our church in Sabana Perdida to clean and pull teeth for the Deaf community. So. Much. Blood. And. Saliva. Many of the men, women, and children in the Deaf community here live in extreme poverty. They do not have the means to keep up with their dental hygiene. So many teeth were pulled. There were some who we had to buy breakfast for because it had been so long since they had eaten that the tooth-pulling process made them nearly pass out. It is times like this when you see just how desperate and difficult the situation is for so many of the people in this community. It makes my heart ache when I am reminded of just how many needs this community has and that there is no way I can possibly meet them all. Fortunately, our God can.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdqhNlF9ZOxSSbZB53BHxdHOa19J2e6Fdcdb4tGFYwAosQQsQxf_YeZn8zwgPPo7Qx2GEGkBBBKm0bwwMHan84_zh11xgslfABJRb93azC0gXYPNHj5gegSxnHW0Gh8ujWa0xTI5EZfM/s1600/IMG_4015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdqhNlF9ZOxSSbZB53BHxdHOa19J2e6Fdcdb4tGFYwAosQQsQxf_YeZn8zwgPPo7Qx2GEGkBBBKm0bwwMHan84_zh11xgslfABJRb93azC0gXYPNHj5gegSxnHW0Gh8ujWa0xTI5EZfM/s320/IMG_4015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our young Deaf leaders (Darimil) giving a devotion</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning how to maintain dental hygiene</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe36LxWb_84eC6rZLlimLkAU3QRjURMd34huLFPoJW_6-ZBrX_S5ebpiVx_xskBmJJKkSJww6FJyBtSXoAvFTnpPZ3nPbOmS2qF36NZGsw20cerZRGkA0RV57Sjbn_LHgEnhouKq0izic/s1600/IMG_4023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe36LxWb_84eC6rZLlimLkAU3QRjURMd34huLFPoJW_6-ZBrX_S5ebpiVx_xskBmJJKkSJww6FJyBtSXoAvFTnpPZ3nPbOmS2qF36NZGsw20cerZRGkA0RV57Sjbn_LHgEnhouKq0izic/s320/IMG_4023.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Are we providing a service or torturing them??</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9K7KpDLBfAFsSQHVyzzEDBksMfE0Aws_jJVhAJc1khp5lmCah0qXpKI3Jxc6591LSwuyx6Q6l5ZTuWV65magz9Wzq1Ndmi4roCH_CkefWjR5VLvy8TpbDfToK-dYOR3P4i2uQk2Dedg/s1600/IMG_4026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9K7KpDLBfAFsSQHVyzzEDBksMfE0Aws_jJVhAJc1khp5lmCah0qXpKI3Jxc6591LSwuyx6Q6l5ZTuWV65magz9Wzq1Ndmi4roCH_CkefWjR5VLvy8TpbDfToK-dYOR3P4i2uQk2Dedg/s320/IMG_4026.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9K7KpDLBfAFsSQHVyzzEDBksMfE0Aws_jJVhAJc1khp5lmCah0qXpKI3Jxc6591LSwuyx6Q6l5ZTuWV65magz9Wzq1Ndmi4roCH_CkefWjR5VLvy8TpbDfToK-dYOR3P4i2uQk2Dedg/s1600/IMG_4026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each dentist had an interpreter</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children playing while waiting for their parents to see the dentists</td></tr>
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We served about 50 Deaf men, women, and children. I was honestly expecting a larger turn-out, but I forgot how much people hate going to the dentist. Nonetheless, I am so grateful to every person who came to help make this day possible. Each of the dentists normally works in their own clinics on Saturdays and chose to sacrifice the money that they would have made in their nice, air conditioned clinics to work for free in a hot, cramped environment. We also had seven women give up their Saturday to come and interpret for the dentists, help organize, lend support, etc. Without them, none of this would have been possible. There was a group from the mother church who were not dentists, but helped with the planning beforehand and the set-up and organization on the day of the operative. Each of one them, as well as the dentists, left with their hearts touched. Some in tears. I truly believe that many doors will be opened for this church and ministry because of this operative. And I can't forget our Deaf leaders who stepped up to clean the church before and after, make coffee for those who were working, handle the list of names as people arrived, keep things organized, etc. It was wonderful to see these leaders taking initiative to support their church and serve their community.</div>
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If you would like to see a live video of this activity, check out our FaceBook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/manosdediossordos/?ref=bookmarks">https://www.facebook.com/manosdediossordos/?ref=bookmarks</a></div>
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We have also been continuing with our decorations using newspaper and business classes. The women are learning to make many cool products with cheap material, which is a perfect way for them to earn some extra money from their homes. (None of the products have been painted yet, but that is coming.)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This will be a purse</td></tr>
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The business class, thus far, has mostly focused on teaching these women that they are capable of anything that their hearing peers are and ways to overcome the communication barrier. These women have spent their whole lives being told that they can't do this, that, or the other because of their deafness. They have expressed such a desire and motivation to work, be independent, improve their lives, and provide for their families. But every attempt thus far has been met by resistance and discouragement from their families and communities. Many of them have accepted the negative messages as truth and feel that they are incapable. Lack of experience has left many of them with little work ethic or skills. However, we have finally pinpointed our niche. With the help of multiple organizations, these women are in the process of opening their own Deaf cafeteria. They will serve things like coffee, juice, sandwiches, pasteles en hoja, empanadas, etc. <div>
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This Friday, we are having an activity where each woman is responsible for bringing a dish to sell to the community in order to raise money for this effort to start their own business. It will be held in an institution that provides vocational classes to hearing young adults, so there are guaranteed customers. Please be praying for the success of this activity!</div>
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There is a NASTY cold going around that no one seems able to avoid. It is quite debilitating. I spent a week and a half struggling to do any of my work because of it, finally felt better the last few days, and seem to have come down with another cold today. Please also send prayers for health!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-7031209125616614512018-02-13T07:26:00.000-08:002018-02-13T07:26:14.225-08:00A New Start for a New YearHey, everyone! We have had so many exciting things happen in the last month! I don't know how I will fit it all into one post. But here it goes...<br />
I was fortunate to be able to visit my family and friends back in the States for Christmas and New Year's. It was a relatively short visit, but such a blessing to me. For many reasons, I almost didn't go. Fortunately, my family pretty much forced me to! It is always bittersweet coming back after a visit. I am always at the same time anxious to get back and sad to leave.<br />
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When I did get back, we requested (somewhat demanded?) that the owner of the church building make some very necessary repairs. We got the piping fixed in the bathroom, all of the faucets replaced, got the kitchen floor fixed, replaced the very broken door knobs, got a new lid for the cistern.<br />
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We also made some improvements to the place ourselves! We painted the inside walls, put up mosquito netting on all of the windows, did some DEEP cleaning, purchased three computers and three sewing machines (for future classes and general use by the Deaf community), and put up a sign with the church's name out on the street so that people can find us more easily.</div>
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Once the renovating was done, we had a make-up class, which the women enjoyed a lot! There was some definite improvement between the first and last days of the class. We have also begun a class where they will learn how to make beautiful decorations out of newspaper (a great skill because they can find newspapers for free rather than buying materials) and are also doing a business class. The goal of this business class is to teach them how to start and maintain a business. Soon, ACOPRO (the organization that is sponsoring the class) plans to help this group of Deaf women put this knowledge into practice and actually create a business where they can work making and selling the products they have learned in our classes here so far! I am so beyond excited about this opportunity. We will finally be able to help these women become money earners in their households and, in doing so, allow them to live better lives.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making a napkin holder out of newspaper</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Business class</td></tr>
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However, one of the most exciting things that has happened is that we are now receiving a monthly donation so that we can provide transportation for church on Sundays. There are many in the Deaf community who want so badly to come to church, but live far and/or simply can't afford the transportation to get there and back. We are now able to run a route on Sundays in order to pick up and drop off these men and women. We have been doing this for almost a month now and are regularly able to bring 8-15 people who would not otherwise be able to come to church. This is such a blessing! Even some Deaf children are attending church now! We may have to find a new location soon, because the church is growing faster than we could have anticipated and we barely fit in the room that we use as the sanctuary! We get between 30 and 40 Deaf men and women every week, a huge jump from the 7-15 we used to get. We are also providing a small breakfast for those who come to church, as many have to wake up early to make it and/or don't have food in their homes to eat for breakfast. My Methodist upbringing taught me "give them food and they will come!" And it seems to be proving true!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We barely fit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our kids leading a worship song</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group that utilizes the transportation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group picture with the van's snazzy new banner</td></tr>
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After the Christmas party, we had a few bags of food left over and were trying to decide what to do with them. One of the Deaf women, who is a leader in the church, suggested that we donate them to some very poor hearing families that she knows. I was so touched by this notion and we all agreed it was a great idea. The Deaf community here is used to receiving free things and not very used to giving or serving. That is something I would really like to work on with this group, and this leader has on in her heart as well.</div>
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In the midst of all this craziness, I finally got to go do something tourist-y! We went to Montaña Redonda near Miches in the eastern part of the country, rode in the back of a truck up a mountain, and got to enjoy some beautiful views. We had a great time, and it was just the little escape that I needed.</div>
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As always, I ask for your continued prayers. This community has so many needs and so few people working to meet them. Please pray for me and for the leadership of the church and also for the Deaf community as a whole here. Recently, many Deaf people here have been killed and have been committing suicide. This community needs God and needs your prayers. Thank you!</div>
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-38803045218292122502017-12-27T14:45:00.001-08:002017-12-27T14:46:53.413-08:00Whether Your Needs are Big or Small, God Knows Them AllMerry Christmas, everyone! I have so much to catch you all up on so I will try to be brief. Everything can be summed up in this statement: God truly is the perfect provider. He cares about every little detail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNKEYI0leJnY13B9ecNfCw0cazTLAKwCCSfbHBku-dkh7jLWtLz4NWJ80fIm4jHnQgQ6Iza0hH6PPbaCm1Lgs_gKwqlslCKiagfHRLVAgu60faCz8MM_OHKsjv8plvPA5Sd5pZcZSMu4/s1600/IMG_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNKEYI0leJnY13B9ecNfCw0cazTLAKwCCSfbHBku-dkh7jLWtLz4NWJ80fIm4jHnQgQ6Iza0hH6PPbaCm1Lgs_gKwqlslCKiagfHRLVAgu60faCz8MM_OHKsjv8plvPA5Sd5pZcZSMu4/s320/IMG_2106.JPG" width="180" /></a>Our men finished up their power inverter class. They assembled a power inverter themselves and also learned how to troubleshoot and repair power inverters. These concepts are extremely advanced, so they certainly still have much to learn. However, we were able to provide them with a base of knowledge and skills and also certification. This should help these men to find jobs in this field or at least do some work on the side for their families, friends, neighbors, etc.<br />
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The women have completed two classes in the last couple of months. We had a jewelry and accessory-making class and a manicure and pedicure class. In the jewelry and accessory-making class, the participants learned how to make some beautiful products, which some of them have already been making and selling out of their homes! They also learned how to perform manicures and pedicures so that they can either find a job in a beauty salon or make a little extra money by giving manicures and pedicures to their families, friends, and neighbors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuCzM_LNrnQdSzDOWvQCZUt_NM9iriZ9ff-AeKMUc3TcnDMtLCESeg1lcl9K4KXXZqxAahfJD9QyWKIA2kXOD-s56XOQcZOFI0-Re7twGqEgoj0j3clh-mN-8SQ-sj7Orq0BIch_6F4o/s1600/IMG_2142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuCzM_LNrnQdSzDOWvQCZUt_NM9iriZ9ff-AeKMUc3TcnDMtLCESeg1lcl9K4KXXZqxAahfJD9QyWKIA2kXOD-s56XOQcZOFI0-Re7twGqEgoj0j3clh-mN-8SQ-sj7Orq0BIch_6F4o/s320/IMG_2142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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During the manicure and pedicure class, one of the women asked the teacher (who regularly attends our sign language classes at the church) how much it costs to buy everything she would need to begin doing this work independently. The teacher responded that it had been a long time since she had purchased these items and wasn't sure. She told me that she would call the pastor of her church (who also regularly attends our sign language classes) to ask if she knew. The next day, the pastor showed up for the sign language class with a large bag. She handed it to me and said that she had purchased manicure and pedicure kits for every participant in our class. She told me that she had been wanting to bless us with an offering and that this was the perfect opportunity. I was so touched! God truly even takes care of the little things! The women were so grateful to receive this gift, as many of them cannot afford to buy these tools. Now they can start working!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1RBOePXHxRLXoioFCx5KFkZMZvvUkxdxmGXKTnNW_tfEzCgckLpPC01HEJw-ezglcq3TredF8Zlesk95rH7-RclsecV_K41dprYqjxfdZ9C1PUahJ57Kxdye8o3h2ZoTmH8AV0ZrY6o/s1600/IMG_2203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1RBOePXHxRLXoioFCx5KFkZMZvvUkxdxmGXKTnNW_tfEzCgckLpPC01HEJw-ezglcq3TredF8Zlesk95rH7-RclsecV_K41dprYqjxfdZ9C1PUahJ57Kxdye8o3h2ZoTmH8AV0ZrY6o/s320/IMG_2203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8uN4c8Gzppdx8plZljY-AZ-e552KZyL5avx8ArOIg8IQgmz_VB5M9Ka2q3BeCdc1x-WzReYFiwG8pm0lyHerpUZeI8pB5dw8RflhAIlyMp1zCeMZ0oVoSwB_hphy9cFo4PWUylgZxds/s1600/IMG_2214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8uN4c8Gzppdx8plZljY-AZ-e552KZyL5avx8ArOIg8IQgmz_VB5M9Ka2q3BeCdc1x-WzReYFiwG8pm0lyHerpUZeI8pB5dw8RflhAIlyMp1zCeMZ0oVoSwB_hphy9cFo4PWUylgZxds/s320/IMG_2214.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0AdDPJgvslADSnIBPJ7EssGrXclG1X8PLQ6JEDlTKvQbObKP9d8C0sPh8ZTu71WtUmPh_7Y128o9vGdWW26ukjPJSh5idWPqRZ87CsBRNhiCcKZ_MkrgXFFXmTlKrILr5fGeaGXVnwQ/s1600/IMG_2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0AdDPJgvslADSnIBPJ7EssGrXclG1X8PLQ6JEDlTKvQbObKP9d8C0sPh8ZTu71WtUmPh_7Y128o9vGdWW26ukjPJSh5idWPqRZ87CsBRNhiCcKZ_MkrgXFFXmTlKrILr5fGeaGXVnwQ/s320/IMG_2185.JPG" width="239" /></a>The sign language class is going amazingly well! We have had four weeks of class (just one hour a week) so far, and we have a steady group of 20-30 hearing participants. They are all so enthusiastic and are learning so quickly! Many Deaf men and women come to the class to help teach and interact with the class. The participants are already able to have basic conversations in sign language. It is incredible how God is touching the hearts of so many people in the community to learn this language and support the Deaf Community.</div>
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We have received two visitors in the past month who have been an incredible help to this ministry. Our first visitor was a woman who has been working with the Deaf Community longer than I have been alive! Dr. Jeanne Prickett is the president of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. She gave a one-day workshop to new teachers of the deaf. New special education classrooms for the deaf are opening up all over the country, but the teachers have not been trained in how to teach the deaf, nor do they know sign language! They went through the education program at a university and then were thrown into deaf classrooms knowing no sign language or strategies to teach the deaf. Dr. Prickett flew to the Dominican Republic to talk to these teachers about deafness, Deaf culture, Deaf education, and to teach some basic signs. What really touched me was that these teachers, who spend every day as fish out of water trying to teach students they don't understand in a language they don't know, were so enthusiastic, energetic, and eager to learn and improve. Please pray for these teachers.</div>
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Our second visitor was a good friend from Hands of Joy's annual summer camps. Rebekah is a CODA (child of deaf adults), which means that her parents are both Deaf. She has been involved in the Deaf Community her entire life and was able to come be a part of our work and share her experiences. She had the opportunity to speak to some of the children of the Deaf adults involved in the church and vocational program, and she was also able to give advice and encouragement to many Deaf mothers. I was so thankful to have her with us, even if it was just for a short time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hy_mJKHqVgcg4_vG-8jM3cfCzkPeOuGSyxenBfA4UjEB-CenqCFep6-As3GKQE9rCMVYHLvzXKA_M_4V2b7RmVCOuPNxWlNm46kLBsOJvdzK6xv31YxmH-QokwgJLnMccxs8gJtgwOQ/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hy_mJKHqVgcg4_vG-8jM3cfCzkPeOuGSyxenBfA4UjEB-CenqCFep6-As3GKQE9rCMVYHLvzXKA_M_4V2b7RmVCOuPNxWlNm46kLBsOJvdzK6xv31YxmH-QokwgJLnMccxs8gJtgwOQ/s320/IMG_2178.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDQygejvfovQKtRhewma0xtSOoC9iclPSuLL2HuR5pNK3j_xIgnVQ46TpunGLTKBTdZtWDDJgriZkOPhz1ny8UXwIqrPXjtwRru-9LiMU9rEON4sAztsEhewFCeBHViumzaVkcP77B1I/s1600/IMG_2216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDQygejvfovQKtRhewma0xtSOoC9iclPSuLL2HuR5pNK3j_xIgnVQ46TpunGLTKBTdZtWDDJgriZkOPhz1ny8UXwIqrPXjtwRru-9LiMU9rEON4sAztsEhewFCeBHViumzaVkcP77B1I/s320/IMG_2216.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The biggest miracle of all was the success of the Christmas party at the church. Up until just a few days before the party, we couldn't figure out how we were going to make it all come together. There was no money to put together a Christmas party! Well, God had bigger plans than we could have dreamed. We received enough donations that we were able to have an amazing party and have some money left over to save for future expenses. Over 100 people came to church that Sunday morning, almost all of them Deaf. When you consider that we normally have 20-25 on Sundays, a service of that size is incredible! We had a church service with singing, praying, and a sermon about the true meaning of Christmas. Afterward, we were able to feed lunch to each of the over 100 people. With the help of some of the church members, we also put together 75 food bags. Each family took home a bag of food full of rice, beans, fruit, sugar, pasta, tomato sauce, oil, seasoning, cornmeal, oatmeal, canned fish, cookies, crackers, and much more. This way, even the poorest of these people could make their Christmas dinners. We even were able to buy toys for some of the children (all of the children are hearing. They are CODAs.)! It was just an incredible day. Hopefully some of those people will start coming on a regular basis! Pray for that!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuUqXfqYvrjYZHRhSKnqITMb5Z9u0yBUan9lNZ29GEfDla_cV3iDbPUDAm74o0qMk2Eu4jvVLS9me67pPAhjAvn3knVWShNuq564rVxWuvysMvWPgDZ-FlzWaPNW3CO6ShNlUeAEHyVY/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuUqXfqYvrjYZHRhSKnqITMb5Z9u0yBUan9lNZ29GEfDla_cV3iDbPUDAm74o0qMk2Eu4jvVLS9me67pPAhjAvn3knVWShNuq564rVxWuvysMvWPgDZ-FlzWaPNW3CO6ShNlUeAEHyVY/s320/IMG_2304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture doesn't capture the full crowd. There were more in the back and off to the side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">75 food bags to give out to each family</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving toys to the children</td></tr>
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I am currently in the States spending the holidays with my family and friends. Being with them is such a blessing. I don't want this time to end, but at the same time, I am eager to get back to work. We have many exciting things coming in January!</div>
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If you would like to see more pictures from our classes, events, and the Christmas party, check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/manosdediossordos/ or search manosdediossordos on Instagram.</div>
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Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-80773331037097831872017-11-13T06:57:00.000-08:002017-11-13T06:57:03.877-08:00A Little Down TimeThese past few weeks have been a little bit slower, which has been a nice little break for me. We haven't had a vocational class going on during the week, so I have been taking advantage of the time to catch up on my own classes! Also, the owners of a grocery store chain called Bravo and of a hotel have decided that they want to hire pretty large numbers of Deaf employees. I have spent the last few weeks making, collecting, and sending CV's in hopes that some of these men and women can get jobs. Please send up some prayers for them!<br />
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The power inverter class in going well! God is so good and provided me with an interpreter for this Saturday class, which has allowed me to rest and work on my own studies. These men are learning a lot of really complicated stuff!<br />
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A couple of students from the Deaf school where I used to work got the opportunity to model and give a short presentation about an English speaking country (they chose Dominica) at the English Song Festival for this school district. They absolutely stole the show! They looked great, they modeled great, and they gave their presentations perfectly. These opportunities are so important for increasing awareness of the Deaf Community. Many students, teachers, and important people in the education system got to see these two Deaf students shine and were exposed to Sign Language.</div>
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Speaking of awareness, two Sundays ago, a hearing church nearby brought their children's program to interact with the Deaf and see how we worship God using Sign Language. All of the children and adult leaders were so enthusiastic, copying the songs, asking the Deaf questions about their lives and experiences, and are all interested in learning Sign Language. This experience was so important because I believe that educating today's youth about these diversity issues and sparking their interest in this ministry while young may be one of the best ways to change the future for this Deaf Community.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQhOROo5ANbqSs0FHHw-vsMIwM5MwxRQcSNAGck4O8xJvVILWseVS64ZlYBLGtcrQn-1SiFYKHb_Fel1FJgiL3mcuUxZ5MTova58Ua7fpem3b8_koMnL7nhttM6GY_Do0oK1Iiclj0U0/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQhOROo5ANbqSs0FHHw-vsMIwM5MwxRQcSNAGck4O8xJvVILWseVS64ZlYBLGtcrQn-1SiFYKHb_Fel1FJgiL3mcuUxZ5MTova58Ua7fpem3b8_koMnL7nhttM6GY_Do0oK1Iiclj0U0/s320/IMG_1629.JPG" width="320" /></a>For yesterday's service, we decided to have our church service at a park in town and then spend the afternoon playing sports and enjoying the outdoors. The thing is, the weather has been terrible lately. It has been raining all day, every single day for the last week. But this was the only week we could do it until after the New Year, so we decided to give it a go. We had a very small turn out and right as the service was ending, it started pouring down rain. After eating in a gazebo and waiting out the rain a couple of hours, we decided to call it quits and head home. It was a very pretty service with the lake in the background, surrounded by trees and nature, and the fellowship was good despite the rain. Maybe we'll try again some other time!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drama about the anointing of David</td></tr>
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After months of being pressured by many enthusiastic people, I finally feel ready to start a Sign Language class for the hearing community. I already have a list of 40 people who are interested, and some of those 40 have told me that they have more friends who want to take the class as well. Some of these are people who have Deaf family members, some want to learn in order to preach to and support the Deaf Community, and I'm sure there are some who want to learn just because they think Sign Language is cool. I'm not sure how this is going to work out with so many people and the fact that I have to teach the class in Spanish, but I know God will work it out.</div>
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Please send up some prayers for health! There are some nasty colds and bird flu going around right now, and a lot of people are getting sick. As always, thank you for your support and your prayers. God bless!</div>
Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-47338488834815204852017-10-15T13:00:00.001-07:002017-10-15T13:00:51.786-07:00Celebrate Good Times, Come On!I feel like every time I make a post, I say the same thing: These past few weeks have been filled with so many exciting experiences! But it's always true! There is never a dull moment. International Week of the Deaf was celebrated near the end of September. ANSORDO (National Association of the Deaf Dominican Republic) celebrated by visiting many government institutions to express the difficulties and needs of the Deaf Community. At the end of their tour, they and groups of Deaf people from around the country (probably about 200 in number) all met at the Senate Building to debrief. There are currently numerous Senators who support the demands of the Deaf Community, and there are people working on legislation to give the Deaf more rights in the workplace, access to interpreters, etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas8d9jNDQRce9riMoCDrDBCxs171rYzYiy4NCWODJbnQPkcEFcmrqmEPoPtlZvLY_ipYZwGh1sHEozFbizoxrDcZfF6O6zNr0MlB_jKlmsxjQtQ4XKd7PxGk9jT0lQ08yCbbp3uN_SO8/s1600/IMG_0740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas8d9jNDQRce9riMoCDrDBCxs171rYzYiy4NCWODJbnQPkcEFcmrqmEPoPtlZvLY_ipYZwGh1sHEozFbizoxrDcZfF6O6zNr0MlB_jKlmsxjQtQ4XKd7PxGk9jT0lQ08yCbbp3uN_SO8/s320/IMG_0740.JPG" width="240" /></a>I arrived with my group of Deaf men and women from the church at the time we were told, but that ended up being two hours before the ANSORDO tour would arrive. For those two hours, groups from all over the country arrived. And for those two hours, I was the only hearing person who knew sign language. I had people grabbing me by the wrist and pulling me this way and that to interpret between the Deaf Community and those who work in the Senate Building. Interpreting between my second and third languages is a bit of a challenge, but I sure am getting a lot of practice at it lately!</div>
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Our power inverter class is up and running! The men have been enduring the boring part of any class: the theory, vocabulary, etc. However, we did spend one class learning how to solder and desolder. Apparently this skill is extremely important when working with power inverters.<br />
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Our decorations class has come to an end. It was a very exciting, but also kind of sad day. The women in the class put everything they have made in the last seven weeks on display and we invited their families and friends, people from ACOPRO (the organization that sponsored the class), and also some important community leaders. Everyone, including me, was absolutely stunned at how everything came together. The displays were beautiful! These Deaf women have learned and accomplished so much in the last seven weeks! Yes, they made and put up all of this themselves, with the instruction and guidance of their teacher (NO, not me hahaha).</div>
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If you would like to see more pictures of this event, check out the church's Facebook page Fundación para Sordos Manos de Dios or @manosdediossordos on Instagram.<br />
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These women now have the opportunity to find jobs at event planning businesses or make and sell their craft out of their homes. My job since this class ended has been helping these women make their resumes, as most of them do not have one and it is difficult for them to communicate with professionals to get help making one. We are also currently planning a manicure and pedicure class, which will begin soon.<br />
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However, by far the most exciting update is the growth of the church. The church has doubled in size in the last two months. We may have to start looking for a new building or raise money to construct one of our own because we already barely fit in the building we have! And I know that it is going to continue growing. In the last month, eight adults have accepted Christ and committed their lives to the Lord for the first time. EIGHT! These newcomers are so hungry to learn about God and what He says in His word. In addition, many of them are bringing their hearing children with them to church. This is so important, because these CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults) are this community's future interpreters, teachers for the Deaf, and hearing supporters. God is really using this project to reach a community that was being largely ignored. I am so thankful that God is allowing me to be a part of His work here in this community.<br />
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<br />Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-7987220184777002162017-09-27T12:43:00.001-07:002017-09-27T12:43:53.428-07:00Two Storms and a ShipThis past month has been a non-stop adventure! Between our daily decorations classes, starting the power inverter class, two hurricanes, and numerous special events, this month has been crazy! We were very blessed in that neither of the hurricanes did us any harm. I live and serve in Santo Domingo, which is the the southern part of the island. The provinces in the north experienced some scary winds and flooding. I am very pleased to announce that there was no damage to our home nor to any of the homes of the Deaf community where I work (that I have heard of). We did get some rain and wind and decided to cancel classes for a couple of days with both hurricanes for safety's sake, but neither storm lived up to the hype (THANK GOD!).<br />
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This month a missionary ship called the Logos Hope, part of Operation Mobilization Ministry, has been docked here in Santo Domingo. It is the largest floating library in the world, has over 400 volunteers from 67 different countries, and travels all over the word giving knowledge, hope, and help and preaching the gospel. It was a total God thing how I got connected with them. Our Deaf church is a chapel connected to a much larger church called Templo Calvario. About once a month, we bring our group to the large church and interpret the service for our Deaf congregation. It just so happened that the one day last month that we brought our group to the larger church was the same Sunday that one of the missionaries from the ship visited the church because she had heard that there was a Deaf ministry. I talked with her, and it turns out that she was attempting to plan an event for Deaf students on the ship but had only been able to contact one school. I was able to help her contact other schools and interpreted the event since the common language on the ship is English. The final head count for the event was about 287 people, including the Deaf students as well as teachers and assistant teachers. They did games, dramas, and songs. It was a great success!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a whole other row to the right as well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramen noodle eating contest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sumo wrestling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clown act</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Good, Good Father" by Chris Tomlin performed in ASL</td></tr>
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In addition to us visiting the ship, some of the missionaries from the ship also came to visit our church. We had a special event one Sunday morning and so many people showed up that we couldn't fit inside! Fortunately, we saw this coming and set up a tarp to hold the service outside. Over 50 Deaf came! Before that day, we were averaging probably 13 people on Sundays. Our lovely teacher from the decorations class put up some balloons, an amazing group from a hearing church came and performed a fun song and a very moving drama, one missionary shared her testimony, another missionary preached about the importance of the Deaf taking responsibility for the salvation of their community, and we served a little food and juice. It was a fantastic event!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />We haven't reached 50 again yet, but the master plan is working. Slowly but surely, the participants of the vocational classes are beginning to attend church on Sundays. In the Sundays since the event, we have had around 20 in the congregation. Pretty soon we're going to need a bigger location!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbl2KmWn8oK7K-spiyh1GyiLrczLQb02rOvxd74wJKcGn8CVaxGUz2vqVu70ww_Ep_iRwrvryPFezhJcwuaestcEmXu6HWBkINIK9Sv1j4qWms9wRn9lH9zYDElQn2xqSec2URPS2LtZw/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1136" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbl2KmWn8oK7K-spiyh1GyiLrczLQb02rOvxd74wJKcGn8CVaxGUz2vqVu70ww_Ep_iRwrvryPFezhJcwuaestcEmXu6HWBkINIK9Sv1j4qWms9wRn9lH9zYDElQn2xqSec2URPS2LtZw/s320/IMG_0245.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the kids to wear at a unicorn birthday party.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZLmSjNfIuh2QJ35Yjvqjyc8pNd6CBym2T2CLn56BGUMeXff6WEPA3hATbU-vYwuF0v_L0kFBT92PrfHTTEubgzmvIEpsdSqaSO77XVPZxSP0uEFZn_sExh-VVQkPkrq4-xbuws1BQ20/s1600/IMG_0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZLmSjNfIuh2QJ35Yjvqjyc8pNd6CBym2T2CLn56BGUMeXff6WEPA3hATbU-vYwuF0v_L0kFBT92PrfHTTEubgzmvIEpsdSqaSO77XVPZxSP0uEFZn_sExh-VVQkPkrq4-xbuws1BQ20/s320/IMG_0306.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little shoes for a baby shower</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBBss0N6yDKnLpfY4GDSL4pQRa60QcYEluQUwJg-nxuAcdA3PZDpAL8q-Y8AyW0M3k-8AeufhzufJ5_FRNgso-8tyNc5iN8WvT8aPcEWAMJ2jNQ9oWFMTGz0pLPmhVlNQ7M1Ajt4LmDU/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBBss0N6yDKnLpfY4GDSL4pQRa60QcYEluQUwJg-nxuAcdA3PZDpAL8q-Y8AyW0M3k-8AeufhzufJ5_FRNgso-8tyNc5iN8WvT8aPcEWAMJ2jNQ9oWFMTGz0pLPmhVlNQ7M1Ajt4LmDU/s320/IMG_0333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfsi7tDBp2PRwzeccgdCqjifW4AOt73ZHdi3saqUtl1l5nRYKcuOhG1-LihiH12rdHW6QkOPLEz-OG0JtaezWJQ5b68eY1m02tqwiphgT1dLUNI3ERZv-frKxEYFBMaQ9j_ae6EQUGo8/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfsi7tDBp2PRwzeccgdCqjifW4AOt73ZHdi3saqUtl1l5nRYKcuOhG1-LihiH12rdHW6QkOPLEz-OG0JtaezWJQ5b68eY1m02tqwiphgT1dLUNI3ERZv-frKxEYFBMaQ9j_ae6EQUGo8/s320/IMG_0349.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaLCGv8BdsNjhXDbwxlCfPrnWXB9fO9rvhcjOtIvsfYoxoqFs8wDhuFmBoMCN8_shXJbaJtGXYS0rivvPtSR6CxDozBs5dcnbnLA-T92DEW-4w9yLeB825dFhzCq-K253v62Uu8zq7ig/s1600/IMG_0442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaLCGv8BdsNjhXDbwxlCfPrnWXB9fO9rvhcjOtIvsfYoxoqFs8wDhuFmBoMCN8_shXJbaJtGXYS0rivvPtSR6CxDozBs5dcnbnLA-T92DEW-4w9yLeB825dFhzCq-K253v62Uu8zq7ig/s320/IMG_0442.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are made from toilet paper rolls that I have been saving for the last year and had no idea why!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Pm2_4mWEqd0tEuy-KlICmC7D5lGr5tf6mRJweQc4KVhv3FCT-e7EGpHrfFXg6aPKhAr8rg012VaIs1tPSyAcAjIyeIoEBfoBCjLjjuAy9hCUp1j1qgCDDjuevt93DDTI5JP-0ysNyLU/s1600/IMG_0454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Pm2_4mWEqd0tEuy-KlICmC7D5lGr5tf6mRJweQc4KVhv3FCT-e7EGpHrfFXg6aPKhAr8rg012VaIs1tPSyAcAjIyeIoEBfoBCjLjjuAy9hCUp1j1qgCDDjuevt93DDTI5JP-0ysNyLU/s320/IMG_0454.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fake cake so you can keep the decorations display pretty and make the cake mess in the back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHCNYgGg9Ic8bYobmTVkPL93Yu8ly8jqMIdK3n3mYBJFca5jokaaO42oIvDdUMf5XF1DbJz_dUShc2gP0-hYI8D2pzIkgIvMG1M9Yl6GyUejB-xbfkBpWShWyaehCc7IImpiPMIFrTyE/s1600/IMG_0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHCNYgGg9Ic8bYobmTVkPL93Yu8ly8jqMIdK3n3mYBJFca5jokaaO42oIvDdUMf5XF1DbJz_dUShc2gP0-hYI8D2pzIkgIvMG1M9Yl6GyUejB-xbfkBpWShWyaehCc7IImpiPMIFrTyE/s320/IMG_0460.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piñata</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuSLfBi3-vwfUB59CkpTyMq0KiHzgLW26Dz0laQjG05ctgvEkjYhJv5vEIDrWWMEAadrOJAWInf1n8QRdK6-WpbjYXp8OManApdQkydg2QnMriCoMI6XrXEBPjK2F-wlZcoSTR4hpgSQ/s1600/IMG_0690.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="361" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuSLfBi3-vwfUB59CkpTyMq0KiHzgLW26Dz0laQjG05ctgvEkjYhJv5vEIDrWWMEAadrOJAWInf1n8QRdK6-WpbjYXp8OManApdQkydg2QnMriCoMI6XrXEBPjK2F-wlZcoSTR4hpgSQ/s320/IMG_0690.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another piñata</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeCAux4qJEqGKvRgHx91Vw3cuHXH9_LgmXBUvkDnU8REMy77ndbJG7uAV7tTTTSbf6Rm-phZ0YeBCSDr1Lijj6bBQF1ztBU2z5FF5EGIQjYzQQAREmM_bD8W99TL-PbG3EWwdJ0w8Vd0/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeCAux4qJEqGKvRgHx91Vw3cuHXH9_LgmXBUvkDnU8REMy77ndbJG7uAV7tTTTSbf6Rm-phZ0YeBCSDr1Lijj6bBQF1ztBU2z5FF5EGIQjYzQQAREmM_bD8W99TL-PbG3EWwdJ0w8Vd0/s320/IMG_0518.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wDe2uWKjMCrLi0yx0ybBVGT9UqrmFLU47NZ6RyD74GAPY1ZteMTQ9sukoAczFRlD6Xr04SXFAtvlJON8Mek2MuDYqylD0Q-xMf85Bu9IF50wkHflyodTisddgeXdLdAMKnzHvD-TInc/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wDe2uWKjMCrLi0yx0ybBVGT9UqrmFLU47NZ6RyD74GAPY1ZteMTQ9sukoAczFRlD6Xr04SXFAtvlJON8Mek2MuDYqylD0Q-xMf85Bu9IF50wkHflyodTisddgeXdLdAMKnzHvD-TInc/s320/IMG_0520.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThf2-PKNUKnf3vw9OOCnLOsalnAH1FeWgp22xwqOb-oU7QKjPRuF2yPJwFK4tu4y869PrcFjBs8qzk7x_bIDo03pR0Sk9LNHt-AN75wxjXTsNP4zzqmNlEH_AtCaZSihOiyk6dwX_HEA/s1600/IMG_0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThf2-PKNUKnf3vw9OOCnLOsalnAH1FeWgp22xwqOb-oU7QKjPRuF2yPJwFK4tu4y869PrcFjBs8qzk7x_bIDo03pR0Sk9LNHt-AN75wxjXTsNP4zzqmNlEH_AtCaZSihOiyk6dwX_HEA/s320/IMG_0544.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGhfmGMS55DseaY2wY_BpTnunpyOs0aBwo1ADMu_yKe1E8SXa3cKXeFQhyphenhyphenVpgCCRq521UzpMZ7Px_jzIcnZxN0qQyBCwRVR4WWP7_k9SY7U0qBzHauwKqEPQIwGU3ByHT7HeXdHfCygU/s1600/IMG_0548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGhfmGMS55DseaY2wY_BpTnunpyOs0aBwo1ADMu_yKe1E8SXa3cKXeFQhyphenhyphenVpgCCRq521UzpMZ7Px_jzIcnZxN0qQyBCwRVR4WWP7_k9SY7U0qBzHauwKqEPQIwGU3ByHT7HeXdHfCygU/s320/IMG_0548.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEmV55fwTafOarSwc-RvmhMjRBM6UrIl1dIwlwmc5W02RQBlYyQWWkucUShEwFB8H0JlkYWGTJjIrozfxALMvCsbdAJgsERkR0F0Zirget5eI5DCyIk18zgTUJZa0cyHsAgtIgflYooI/s1600/IMG_0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEmV55fwTafOarSwc-RvmhMjRBM6UrIl1dIwlwmc5W02RQBlYyQWWkucUShEwFB8H0JlkYWGTJjIrozfxALMvCsbdAJgsERkR0F0Zirget5eI5DCyIk18zgTUJZa0cyHsAgtIgflYooI/s320/IMG_0550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OmzM695qCfWx2Fny3oTrSTZ-WtY8rJmBWtkFZPlndO03FgD43IAblWNcGOMxgZIDsMaW4J5XOlugtfCofQHcmDUJZTFv6YDib0mNECLg9GUpS1crSDK-pfFZXz4JhUVP2KzEdPZ-IEw/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OmzM695qCfWx2Fny3oTrSTZ-WtY8rJmBWtkFZPlndO03FgD43IAblWNcGOMxgZIDsMaW4J5XOlugtfCofQHcmDUJZTFv6YDib0mNECLg9GUpS1crSDK-pfFZXz4JhUVP2KzEdPZ-IEw/s320/IMG_0594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyUflNr5JnubkLz_x5sMmLpyS3ItNjxolbM5RCcLmrAiOz_pEsakVXUuHO87jCz63jzD3MSAaBLKCT-6GK7SiP1OhSQfpzIUmrPfzSDbC4ZfR8whM7TZClW387IfUZkTpvl6_QACiT3g/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyUflNr5JnubkLz_x5sMmLpyS3ItNjxolbM5RCcLmrAiOz_pEsakVXUuHO87jCz63jzD3MSAaBLKCT-6GK7SiP1OhSQfpzIUmrPfzSDbC4ZfR8whM7TZClW387IfUZkTpvl6_QACiT3g/s320/IMG_0606.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgK1M-fgjOlZ13esEB8NWdcfqZzfTeSaO3sOCgfKoE7tAWaSoqRM3r4WkC6IHdp4v_qyQ4W_Dzke4GRNgM2kV_gDIo9B5KlySIhqEDhvSGcHmh65XmQwlqrbAyfpyYku8J3c6suIOwHU/s1600/IMG_0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgK1M-fgjOlZ13esEB8NWdcfqZzfTeSaO3sOCgfKoE7tAWaSoqRM3r4WkC6IHdp4v_qyQ4W_Dzke4GRNgM2kV_gDIo9B5KlySIhqEDhvSGcHmh65XmQwlqrbAyfpyYku8J3c6suIOwHU/s320/IMG_0675.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupcake stand for a unicorn party</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSN9jFGEsvoXAAel5tRQNyadL_aH3O96PG4zfF-IKvfchpRrn8q4paMwKyd6YkJ1d_72KE7Oy2D2nOYY219f4_Ikb3dglcHHZyC9FetKYJfqljqLW7zTyp051-LFIAJywkMpyDQEmwtU/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSN9jFGEsvoXAAel5tRQNyadL_aH3O96PG4zfF-IKvfchpRrn8q4paMwKyd6YkJ1d_72KE7Oy2D2nOYY219f4_Ikb3dglcHHZyC9FetKYJfqljqLW7zTyp051-LFIAJywkMpyDQEmwtU/s320/IMG_0689.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupcake stand for a baby shower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkrHgmDHTO-dQyz5jFRM0-xVFoc0IVr_2qatvJ_4RWE82sl2KO4L7_yKLcq44U1OO9_b5QDY5KlW0chFemBl31lvImeoyKrCbOahWHra9Cl7Y5n54WrV6MLtEgECi8sAiUIoLakd1z34/s1600/IMG_0695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkrHgmDHTO-dQyz5jFRM0-xVFoc0IVr_2qatvJ_4RWE82sl2KO4L7_yKLcq44U1OO9_b5QDY5KlW0chFemBl31lvImeoyKrCbOahWHra9Cl7Y5n54WrV6MLtEgECi8sAiUIoLakd1z34/s320/IMG_0695.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cupcake stand for a baseball party</td></tr>
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The power inverter class has been struggling since it is only once a week and the hurricanes have forced us to cancel class for two weeks. We will see how many show up this week!</div>
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All of this progress is happening so much faster than I could have ever hoped for. To be honest, I imagined that I would be sitting alone in an empty building trying and failing to get something started for at least six months. But God has taken control, and in the past two months that we have been open, we have had incredible success and seen so much growth. I am beyond excited to see where all of this leads. I have so many hopes and dreams for this project, but not enough time, hands, or money to make it all happen yet. If God has proven anything in the last two months, it is that He provides everything we need in His perfect timing. Please continue to pray, because your prayers are clearly working!!! Thank you all for your prayers and support.</div>
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If you would like to follow the church on Facebook and Instagram to stay caught up with what is going on, special events, pictures, announcements, etc., you can like and follow "Fundación para Sordos Manos de Dios" on Facebook and search for @manosdediossordos on Instagram.<br /><br /></div>
Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52402835648257559.post-34783962164175382612017-08-29T17:33:00.000-07:002017-08-29T17:33:05.065-07:00Whenever I Doubt HE Works it OutThe first week, we had no more than eight people come each day and we couldn't even start the classes. The organization who is providing the classes for us told me they were seriously considering giving up on this project, as they have strict rules about the number of participants (rules which, in their defense, are necessary in order to make the most of their time and money). Today, we had 25. And I'm not talking about 25 men and women that we know from years at camp, who are in school, and who go to the church. I'm talking about 25 Deaf adults, most of whom I have never met before, who have no jobs, very few opportunities, and sit (SAT!!) in their houses bored and isolated or taking care of their nieces and nephews everyday. I'm talking about 25 Deaf adults who do not have a church home. This is the community that I felt led to reach out to, to support, to empower.<br />
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Some of these Deaf adults are frustrated with the current state things and want to fight for their rights and opportunities. Others expect nothing of themselves because no one else has ever expected anything of them. A few finished high school, most didn't make it past middle school. Some have held jobs before, others have never worked. Some are Christians, others are not. They are ALL fantastic, intelligent, fun, fascinating people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2o9fYc_8Z7xE7o0hTRYpqhL7RsADuF6usdGmJIaFObCVK4DQv96xiZzN0te4gOTKPWn7HtsMyFnuAvUCQX_nXweVeCz-Mxc6TOa3S8o7hNg2z8sNXk5tZ6fs_JtgQpxXXAz8mSp7xic/s1600/IMG_9987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2o9fYc_8Z7xE7o0hTRYpqhL7RsADuF6usdGmJIaFObCVK4DQv96xiZzN0te4gOTKPWn7HtsMyFnuAvUCQX_nXweVeCz-Mxc6TOa3S8o7hNg2z8sNXk5tZ6fs_JtgQpxXXAz8mSp7xic/s320/IMG_9987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group discussions about politics, Deaf rights, language, and so much more.</td></tr>
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We fixed the van (giant sigh) and began going out to the homes of these Deaf adults to invite them and bring them to the church for the classes. We went to the homes of the friends of the few who came in the beginning, and they led us to their friends who led us to their friends. We handed out flyers, talked to families, posted on social media, and definitely did a lot of praying. Slowly, but surely, we have been finding them.<br />
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So many of the parents don't want to let their Deaf adult children come take advantage of these classes because they don't think the adult can go out on his or her own, the Deaf adult is responsible for the cleaning and taking care of all of the nieces and nephews, or whatever other reason that is completely unfair and, honestly, just because they are Deaf. The biggest difficulty is that most of them can't afford the transportation to get to and from the church everyday. The organization providing the classes has agreed to give some money, and I am providing the rest through donations, for gas, and we are currently working out a route to pick up and drop off as many as possible every day.<br />
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We finally got enough participants to start the decorations class. We started with 10 and now we have a seemingly steady group of 19. They have been working hard and learning a lot!<br />
Here's a fun math problem for you all to help me solve.<br />
Fans + paper = paper all over the floor. Dominican Republic heat + no fans = death.<br />
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? + ? = everyone is alive, happy, and able to work</div>
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The women really seem to be enjoying it. So far, they have learned how to make these four decorations!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRoB1udrGTFxts86bfvgN3dFLHBeWqkcllvxGrItYtcbTT8ec4QcCKiPby-m3U_2QO0DNqIpjG6_a_TA008nZErR3M5WOkG3XNc4rGRm4QqOEG-FLD-F_-YzPAdKPX3Q6swnQfGR5goY/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRoB1udrGTFxts86bfvgN3dFLHBeWqkcllvxGrItYtcbTT8ec4QcCKiPby-m3U_2QO0DNqIpjG6_a_TA008nZErR3M5WOkG3XNc4rGRm4QqOEG-FLD-F_-YzPAdKPX3Q6swnQfGR5goY/s320/IMG_0218.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baskets for a unicorn/rainbow themed party.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3dWkKcw_H2BsMUoA9RS9LFVEk78ksvLuvNnnnXV5tQni67vAhx48xeXkwUzjZUxcDUHkVjZ1hCbh3nHgByMC2-hm-glbkGaj-RL47hCZHH4JnZ4UHwJUn2LrkmjTVgR4vZwT-us_2uY/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3dWkKcw_H2BsMUoA9RS9LFVEk78ksvLuvNnnnXV5tQni67vAhx48xeXkwUzjZUxcDUHkVjZ1hCbh3nHgByMC2-hm-glbkGaj-RL47hCZHH4JnZ4UHwJUn2LrkmjTVgR4vZwT-us_2uY/s320/IMG_0167.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_6k05h3GCGRhjseiFy1S2OngL2NcShrevr8z4BqETgeklqrLK8koD3GKW48QGBLrILApXNADE418x6GTgo1fBbqCkguzWrhNB6351DLoScxz4UM66mj4SOrtz-oFF-XhIbMrEXqY1Go/s1600/IMG_0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_6k05h3GCGRhjseiFy1S2OngL2NcShrevr8z4BqETgeklqrLK8koD3GKW48QGBLrILApXNADE418x6GTgo1fBbqCkguzWrhNB6351DLoScxz4UM66mj4SOrtz-oFF-XhIbMrEXqY1Go/s320/IMG_0215.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little backpacks for a baseball themed party.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8-kpoEFNFj7UsfOkC2C8M-x79yoQE_6OEdsLofuJJLJhoLnXBRIIBjYS2LsxLlRrF0z4Ns2M9SVvYP11zoHIhxi0gzazQexvHXsDna9cde-QSO9Is_D0-buxJKj89uyLDxro60ctseo/s1600/IMG_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8-kpoEFNFj7UsfOkC2C8M-x79yoQE_6OEdsLofuJJLJhoLnXBRIIBjYS2LsxLlRrF0z4Ns2M9SVvYP11zoHIhxi0gzazQexvHXsDna9cde-QSO9Is_D0-buxJKj89uyLDxro60ctseo/s320/IMG_0203.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We haven't been able to start the generator class yet because we just don't have enough participants. We are trying to figure out how to make this class work as well. Even though they don't want to take the decorations class and the generator class has not started yet, there is a group of about five Deaf men who come every day just to have a safe place to hang out together. For some reason, I find that to be so awesome.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I6hG7ZO7dDd6buW_uTpVkevqMRpVdEMGi-2fOCdf5YSmlrF9w7t3KoIhF1WNgRw3Xc-0_ymfAxeFeuLEuq1OOEav1V-yKNbh0cHUdvdJ9E_ITX5eKwsTImPPL5q0aN6JqvrhAz9aaaM/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I6hG7ZO7dDd6buW_uTpVkevqMRpVdEMGi-2fOCdf5YSmlrF9w7t3KoIhF1WNgRw3Xc-0_ymfAxeFeuLEuq1OOEav1V-yKNbh0cHUdvdJ9E_ITX5eKwsTImPPL5q0aN6JqvrhAz9aaaM/s320/IMG_0152.JPG" width="320" /></a>There were also two large Deaf events this past week. ANSORDO (Asociación Nacional de Sordos de la República Dominicana) had their re-inauguration ceremony. I went and brought many of the participants from the classes so that we could all be a part of this big night. The organization has been holding workshops for weeks and working closely with DDW (Discovering Deaf Worlds) from the United States in order to figure out how to empower and develop the Deaf Community here in the Dominican Republic. The event was very nice, and various people, hearing and Deaf, shared the history, successes, and goals of ANSORDO. I am so excited to see this group of people (almost entirely Deaf) working so hard to advance the Deaf Community. I also got to meet the leadership of ANSORDO, which was such an honor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PBNsr8phBhCFgOFYyM4hrUBo2SvYIw4DTqBmmz9xdikPJ5FccLn1gfgHdwcWlfqst9CGnZjCH2d2xiRbAo71hyphenhyphenFc_SFKuniYIvjE3Lwuo5kqrx5lUtWwO7EfovzlHD2S1tPlBWVgc4U/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PBNsr8phBhCFgOFYyM4hrUBo2SvYIw4DTqBmmz9xdikPJ5FccLn1gfgHdwcWlfqst9CGnZjCH2d2xiRbAo71hyphenhyphenFc_SFKuniYIvjE3Lwuo5kqrx5lUtWwO7EfovzlHD2S1tPlBWVgc4U/s320/IMG_0177.JPG" width="320" /></a>The next night, my group and many other Deaf ministries from around the city and some from different parts of the country came to a church that has a very successful Deaf ministry to watch a movie that they made entirely in sign language. It was the story of how Thomas Gallaudet brought sign language to America and began Deaf education there. They showed the movie, sang praise songs (voice and sign), and showed a chapter of their current project to translate the Bible into sign language videos. It was a fun night that I was thankful that my group and I could be a part of.</div>
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I'm really not sure how the same exact events can be at the same time encouraging and exciting while also discouraging and stressful, but that is how I have felt for the past couple of weeks. If it's not one problem, it's another. But God has worked out everything that has come our way, and I feel so blessed and encouraged about how much this project has grown in such a short period of time. Please continue praying for this project. Your prayers are definitely helping. And please consider donating for this transportation issue. It was very costly to get the van up and running (it apparently had a lot of issues and it's nothing short of a miracle that we were able to use it for camp) in order to do home visits and to transport our participants, and gas here is very expensive. </div>
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https://www.gofundme.com/vocational-training-for-the-deaf</div>
Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16751843133225127964noreply@blogger.com0