Jessie J - Price tag - Sign Language

What a fun video!

Pleasures and treasures

Three things that have been my privilege to introduce to the deaf here in Ensenada:

• Smores


• Root beer floats (one gal asked us "you came up with this idea?!")


• Taco Salads

God fills in the gaps

Often - and I do mean often - I feel like I am barely getting by.
You know, that you are doing so many things that you are doing little well.
Well, every since my friend Virginia passed away, my efforts towards the deaf women's retreat have been half hearted.
She was my co-conspirator - ya know?

Enough people wanted the women's deaf retreat to happen that I quite literally trudged on. This time planning with a co-missionary interpreter, Yesenia. She also is a mother to three young boys. So between that mother and this one, I'd say our planning and organization could best be described as "winged".

But you know, God filled in every gap where we missed it . . . . the speaker, Yamile Grey, was a deaf, on-fire, spirited Colombian who really really had a heart for these ladies.
We had 7 women come - so including us (Yamile, Yesenia and myself) we were 11. That is Grrreat, really!

The place right on the ocean was beautiful, and God really anointed the classes.
It was thrown together, but came out beautifully.

One special note, back when Virginia and I were first planning this we had said that if we could get a church to sponsor it we'd like to surprise all the ladies to a fancy dinner since our theme was "Come dine with Me."

After she passed away I was able to get that sponsoring so then my next task was to find a restaurant to take them to. I was blessed to be able to work a deal with what in downtown Ensenada is considered one of the more fancy-er places to eat "El Rey Sol". French/Mexican cuisine and french decor - The women LOVED IT! They said they felt like queens!

They kept taking pictures of the entrees as they came in.

I took a moment and pointed out that this is exactly what Virginia had hoped for them. And although we wish she where here with us, we knew she was at a banquet much finer than this . . .

Yesenia said "Thanks for making us cry, Michelle"

It was a blessed time.

Now for pictures!

There is one picture thrown in here of a close up of me - very non-flattering - it is a shot of an allergic reaction I had to who-knows-what that made my eyes swell up. The picture is actually of me doing better, but you can still see the puffiness . . .
And the baby is mine. The only guy allowed on this trip because he's still nursing.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Romans 10:14

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Yesterday, talking with Virginia - my deaf friend - she was lamenting how many of the deaf congregation can not pick up and read the bible for themselves. In church they are asking so many questions, they're hungry for the Word!

If they are able to read, the text of the bible often is just too much for them to understand.
It's a completely other language than sign. It's hard to understand.
She felt that it was unfortunate that in the USA there are several resources for deaf Christians to study and learn the bible in ASL (American Sign Language) but none here.

So what is a deaf christian to do?

That's one of the reasons that her husband, Carlos, the deaf pastor, wants to make a Mexican Signed Bible and other bible study resources on DVD. A huge task, but so necessary.

Until then?

I told Virginia that there are several countries and languages where the people do not read. And back in the bible days there was no bible for them to pick up and read . . . so how did those christian grow? How do the tribal people without written language learn about God?

We tell them!

And may the Holy Spirit be our guide, but we tell them!

!!!!

See what has me shaking my head in disbelief over at Deaf World Missions.

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world do we waste our lives as missionaries? They forget they too are expending their lives and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have lived." Nate Saint, martyr
(found this quote at The Blakes in Thailand)

Wordless Wednesday

In Mexican Sign Language . . . about the classroom pet fish.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thoughts of a Deaf Child

My family knew that I was deaf

When I was only three,

and since then fifteen years ago

Have never signed to me.

I know when I'm around the house,

I try and use my voice,

It makes them feel more comfortable;

For me, I have no choice.

I try, communicate their way-

Uncomfortable for me.

My parents wouldn't learn sign

Ashamed or apathy?

I never cared about the sound of radios and bands;

What hurts me most is, I never heard

My parents' signing hands.

Stephen J. Bellitz, Reprinted from Senior News, July 1991

Baja Compassion Ministries

We have a guest blogger (Carlos Suarez, our deaf pastor) and some good news happening over at our ministry blog.

For those of you who have been praying for this request it will be especially delightful!

What a day!

So remember the dead mouse smell I spoke about here? Turns out it was a dead RAT behind the fridge! Then that night my hubby saw something rat like run into the kids closet.

AAAAAHHHHHHH

Well, needless to say we didn't have them sleep in their room, set some traps and piled everyone into our bed.

Read: mom and dad got no sleep.

So next day I'm sleep deprived and trying to do relay service for the deaf (through instant messaging now, it's kinda cool) and the toilet overflows, then my boy does poop art in the living room . Meanwhile I'm skittish in the kids room since we had no mouse/rat in the traps. By the time Dad got home I was almost in tears.

Bless his heart he took over, even though he was as tired as I was and I got a good nap.

*breath*

And if I could get this baby to stop resting on my lower back I could almost think that we've returned to 'normal'!

But I'm off . . . I'll have to check in with you all later.

Here's a random picture in the meantime.

Our ministry blog!

My Hubby has been wanting me to do this for so long!!!!

Well here it is .!!!

. .a blog dedicated specifically to the daily going-on's of the ministry.

A prayer request

Virginia (pictured with her family here) was over yesterday with her kids.

Both she and her husband, Carlos, are deaf. Carlos is the pastor for our small deaf congregation here in Ensenada.

She did ask me to share a prayer request. A need the deaf congregation has.

They are in need of a camcorder.

Their thinking is that they could then record the Sunday sermons that Carlos teaches and the Wednesday bible studies and create a resource for the deaf here. Otherwise there is really nothing out there for them. And since most are barely literate, if at all, to study the bible by reading is almost impossible, and frustrating to say the least.

So that is the prayer request. It seems like such a big thing to ask for here, but we know that God is bigger.

(My little camera lets me take a minute or so video . . . thought you might like to have a look-see of something we'd love to have more of. . .)

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

The deaf women's retreat

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The angels rejoice because the last lady pictured (Antonia) accepted the free gift of Salvation while at the retreat!!!

And that alone would have made this time all worth the while! But the blessings of it did not stop there . .

We studied Psalms 23.

It was in a small beach house with scented candles, chocolates and little goodies all around . . .

We had good fellowship, relaxed, joked and generally, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Also we made a bracelet that followed the 23 Psalm:

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. - One white bead for "sheep"
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, - a green bead for "green pastures"

he leads me beside quiet waters, - a blue bead for "quiet waters"
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. - a clear bead for "righteousness"
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; - a black bead for "valley of the shadow of death"

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - brown bead for "rod and staff"
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. - another brown bead for "a table"

You anoint my head with oil; - a yellow/orange bead for oil
my cup overflows. - a purple bead
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, - a pink bead

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. - a gold bead for "the house of the Lord"

I don't know about you, but this bracelet helped me to memorize all the this Psalm . . pretty cool if you ask me.

The deaf womens retreat

STARTS TODAY!

The deaf women's retreat that we've been planing since September.

It's been covered in prayer. There will only be 7 possibly 8 ladies there . . . but we know that God works with individuals . . . so we don't need a stadium full!

I'm so nervous I can't think straight!

I leave this afternoon and won't be back until Sunday. I'll take pictures don't worry!

Oh and that's why I haven't been able to visit as many people as I would have liked in the blogging party. Been getting things ready.

By the way . . .did you see over 900 have joined the blogging party! Isn't that crazy!!!!

If you remember me this weekend send up a prayer for the deaf ladies, the speaker and their hearts.
Thanks.

Lizette

Lizette is the tall girl in the middle . . . She's deaf.

When she was 8 years old and I was her teacher someone donated a hearing aid for her. She was SO excited to get it . . .and once we put it on she turned to me and started using her voice "UG BLA SAM UM TIDA".
I signed "I don't understand, I'm sorry, you need to use your sign."
She tried again voicing something and I told her she needed to sign.

At which point her smile turned up side down and she became ENRAGED! She grabbed the hearing aid from her ear and chucked it across the room . . .(she has always been and is a bit melodramatic)

You see, she thought that it would let her be a hearing person who could talk.

Her disappointment in the hearing aid, in herself was so deep . . . she refused to wear the hearing aid at all.



I saw Lizette yesterday. She is 16 now. She's talking of coming to Ensenada once she is done with school.

I remember when I first went to Rancho Sordo Mudo as a volunteer. I felt that was the place I was going to stay - God was calling me to be a permanent point in a place where the staff otherwise has a constant high turn over rate . . .

I remember that towards the end of the year the students would ask "How about you, are you coming back next year?"

I remember distinctly joking with Lizette that I was going to stay, in fact I was going to stay so long I would see her grandchildren.

Well . . . . looks like we just might see her as an adult anyway.

Rita's welcome-baby shower.

This will not interest you if your not into:
- deaf culture
- baby showers

- these people personally
The guest of honor:
Mostly this is for Yesenia who couldn't actually make it to Rita's welcome-baby shower because her own two boys (out of three) where sick. *We missed ya!*

Virginia is holding the almost-two-month old baby we welcomed today, and you will see a sort of "spanglish" signed with both ASL and Mexican Sign Language.

Make an online slideshow at onetruemedia.com

This was a SMALL event. Both Rita and Virginia grew up going to Rancho Sordo Mudo where they teach a sort of ASL, I guess that would be their 'first' language. Next to sleeping beauty you see her brother. It is my opinion that they look exactly alike!

Oh, and even though both their parents are deaf, both these kids are 100% hearing, in case you were wondering.

More about Virginia

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

So I wrote here about how I got to know Virginia, sign language and such . . . well.

So the scene here is one Sunday after the deaf had gathered for church.

First we see Rita and her new daughter, seated next to her is her son, almost two years old. Both she and her hubby are deaf, but the children are hearing.

Then we see Virginia signing in American Sign Language about worship and her daughter understanding it. Then you will see her address me - behind the camera - and she switches to Mexican sign language speaking about the tape of children's praise music I lent to her daughter.

I am excited to be working with Virginia and our friend Yesenia on a retreat for the deaf women. We even got a guest speaker to come! Praise the Lord! We will be inviting deaf women from Ensenada and Tijuana . . . it's, well, as I said, EXCITING!

Life throught their eyes.

I was over at Chaotic Home just now where she spoke of seeing life through the eyes of her deaf boys.

I realised that it's been a loooooooong time since I wrote of something that relates to our ministry here with the deaf. We've still been active in it . . . our lives cross pretty much daily . . . but that's what it has become to us, normal, daily, routine stuff.

And yet at the same time, it's not.

Chaotic Mom said that "They are 'normal'. They just communicate differently."

Bingo!

My thought drifted to my co-worker, and good friend Virginia. We've known each other since we were young and single. She's deaf. She and I were roommates when I first volunteered at Rancho Sordo Mudo, school for the deaf. They were so short staffed at that time that they were doubling up the duties so that the dorm parents were teachers. That was Virginia. That was exhaustion.

I went willing to do whatever was needed. I went down only knowing my "ABC"'s, that's about it! I showed up and -*boom*- the dorm parents took off. They needed a break and I was the baby-sitter! There were about 8 girls at the time and I learned real quick the signs "No!", "Sit down!" and "Go to bed!".

It's one of the best ways to learn sign language. It's called the "sink or swim" method. That and then Virginia would pull me aside almost nightly after the girls were in bed, after the school work and preparations were done and she would force have me interpret Star Trek-of all things!-for her. (The Next Generation . . . for all you Trekkie's out there!)

You explain what a "time warp continuum" is, not to mention Klingon's and Borg and "Q", in sign language when you just got down how to ask where the bathroom is.

I know that Virginia doesn't think of herself as different. Just deaf - kind of like the same way she thinks of herself as Mexican, or brunett, or a woman . . . being deaf is just a part of who she is. The way God made her.

More later.

Thursday Thirteen

Banner by Chaotic Mom (She's got her act together more than she thinks.;-)

Random stuff

1. Finally got a date set for surgery. Dec 6th.

2. It will require a two day hospital stay recovery that in a slightly twisted way I'm looking forward to - can we say sleep deprivation?

3. If all goes well I'll be meeting Heather in real life! Finally. She doesn't live, what I consider, too far away.

4. This whole past week I've been waking up to find a 3 year old in our bed. Sometimes, I can vaguely remember her crawling in, other times I can't. Got to stop this habit.

5. There is this new deaf couple that is starting to attend our church. They believe in God, but don't know much about Him.

6. Hence it has been so much fun to answer questions like "Does God sleep?" (No) And explaining how you pray. (Just talk to Him, no ritual . . .He wants to hear what you have to say.) And my favorite "He can understand me? (Oh, yes! Jesus knows sign! ;-)

7. I wish I could show you pictures of Mission Month . . . But my uncle asked to use our camera for that purpose so, those pictures will have to wait. Did I mention that they had a COW in the church? Oh yes, they did!

8. My little 1 year old signs Mexican Sign language now. "mas", "porfavor", "gracias", "galleta", all the food related signs. In ASL he knows "more", "please", "daddy", "cold", "food", "drink", "milk"and "all done" - he doesn't say anything except a whispery "tanku" for thank you.

9. It's getting cooler her now. Mornings are in the 60's and the days are mid 70's. I'll have to pull out the long sleeves soon.

10. I am constantly amazed and encouraged by how much, how tenderly, God loves us! In spite of ourselves -

11. Kari Jobe is an anointed worship leader. She sings what is in my heart.

12. I join up NaBloPoMo with every intention of posting every day in November but I won't be able to make it since . . .

13. My hubby and I have been invited by friends to join them for a week on a cruise ship!

They got us tickets! I am beyond excited for this last week of November. What a blessing!

Thursday Thirteen

Things I've learned working with the Deaf over the years.

1. Most deaf are uncomfortable in a completely darkened room and sleep with some sort of night light.

2. The way you get a groups attention is by flashing the lights on and off. So in my classroom when I used to teach the deaf, I had a light switch along side the whiteboard at the front of the classroom.

3. A great way to get someone's attention who is a ways away from you is to use a pen-laserlight. Otherwise we used the "relay" system. "Hey, Jon, get Jane to get George, please." You can communicate this through vibrations too, via a stomping floor, or banging on a table. Worse case senario - throw a paperclip or something at 'em.

4. The equivalent of a mad child putting their fingers in their ears to ignore you is for a deaf child to close their eyes.

5. To be able to drive and carry on a deaf conversation at the same time, without getting pulled over by the police, is an art form, indeed.

6. And rear view mirrors are for signing with the people in the back seat.

7. In a concert hall, my deaf friends have enjoyed a symphony, because they were able to feel the music resonate in their chest.

8. When lightning flashed - everyone suddenly got up from their seats at the table and ran to to put their hands on the windows to feel the thunder.

9. Talking with your mouth full is the best way to communicate at a meal otherwise the meal would take too long.

10. In a group, you pray with your eyes opened, and your head up - watching whoever is signing the prayer.

11. One deaf can "whisper" to another by turning their backs to everyone else.

12. A pun is completely lost on my deaf friends.

13. One of the first sounds my deaf friend Virginia will hear is the voice of Jesus.

Watching Two Worlds Collide - King Kong Handicap

Skit about first day at school... Keith Wann is an acclaimed American Sign Language (ASL) performing artist who has been captivating and amusing audiences with his controlled chaos and total pandemonium explosions on stage, often leaving his laughing audiences gasping for breath. As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), he has traveled all over the nation performing for ASL students, various Deaf Communities and other warped CODAs like himself. Born hearing to Deaf parents in California, Keith grew up living in both the hearing and Deaf worlds, and has been able to create unique perspectives on the ways of both worlds. This has evolved into a one-man show, "Watching Two Worlds Collide", which takes a humorous, almost shocking, look at both worlds.