Pause...smile...smile again =)

Tuesday 19th January 2010

Today I helped Ian and Lisa with their contract of employment. *Pause and smile...smile again. I had another commitment at 6pm and I promised to meet them at 4pm and I really did not realise that it was an entire four-page legal document that they wanted me to explain lol.

God is good because it was done. I was able to explain and still keep my appointment! I smile because it is just amazing how peaceful I felt and I never had the urge to complain. I just enjoyed interpreting and it felt so natural as if it was something I was created to do.

Oh how wonderful it is to help those you love!

I feel good

Monday 18th January 2010

I began 2010 feeling spiritually lethargic and I was not happy about it...

Today I feel so good (good good. I feel good, wonderful good) and I really really do!! Praise God!! Well, Azard and Neela came to my home for some help with a handout on communication particularly in preparation for marriage.

I TOTALLY enjoyed spending time with them. It was so fulfilling and satisfying especially when I could tell that they left edified. What a blessing it is to be a blessing!!



Added to all of this, I must say that I am now convinced that the more I deposit into the lives of the Deaf, the more God deposits into my life. I think that it's amazing that while I'm teaching and explaining about communication in marriages based on the information they have been given, I am also learning in the process... it's like a big bonus for doing something you love!! haha

I feel good
I feel love
I feel faith hold
I feel strong
Wonderful
Chatting with Jesus

THANK YOU LORD!!!!!!!!!!

2009 in Review

January to December 2009

THANK YOU LORD for the multitude of blessings in 2009.

I have dreams and when I see God fulfilling those dreams before my eyes, all I could do is just stand in awe of him. I have dreams that I never thought I will even begin to fulfill - seemingly trivial dreams and BIG dreams. The year 2009 was amazing and I feel that when I said "Yes" to God and volunteered at ADC, I also said yes to a whirlwind (I was about to say whirlpool hehe) of blessings... Of these blessings, the following two are at my front burners:

1. Travelled multiple times in a single year: Suriname, Amsterdam, Tobago, Barbados, Costa Rica, Panama, New York, New Jersey
2. Got a motorcycle ride!! whooo hoo!!

Oh yes, and I also

• started driving after 4 or 5 years with my license!
• got another more convenient job!
• had my first pinata and best birthday ever!
• had the best Christmas ever!
• greeted the new year in a foreign country!

I STAND IN AWE OF YOU

NJ with Siquina and Obie

Tuesday 29th - Wednesday 30th December 2009

To Siquina and Obie, a BIG THANK YOU, for your hospitality, the adventure, the laughter and the love!!! I feel so blessed to know you both!

Bess Christmas

Friday 25th December 2009

Thank you to the following persons for giving me a Christmas to remember :D

Papa Bear
Mama Bear
Mommy Bear
Cubbie Bear
Granny Bear

A big 'small lime' at the mall

Saturday 19th December 2009


On this day I met Lisa's lovely mom. I was so happy to meet her and share the experience I had with Lisa during her job interview. I always like to meet parents, family members or guardians of deaf persons because it helps me to gain a greater understanding of that person's domestic life which ultimately leads to a deeper knowledge of that person as an individual.

I was really grateful to share this seemingly common activity of browsing through the mall with Kamal, Lisa and her mom. I am especially happy for these opportunities to have special time with deaf individuals. I want them to know that while they are loved as a group, they are also loved as individuals and spending time with them apart from church and interpreting activities really matters.

I am always mindful of this and so whenever these sometimes brief but always meaningful moments have ended, I leave feeling a sense of joy and contentment, even peace, just knowing that I have just invested in a building relationship. This is how I felt at the end of this short 'lime' with Kamal, Lisa and her mom. I could tell that Lisa's mom was grateful that I was there and that I was willing to help Lisa and Kamal in whatever way I could....how encouraging :) Reader, it was a good day :)

Mayaro

Friday 18th December 2009

Ian and Lisa's job application

Tuesday 15th December 2009

God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

This is a testimony of God's goodness towards Ian and Lisa :D

Day one (1)
After Deaf Church on Sunday last, Ian presented me with a newspaper ad which stated the following:

MOVIETOWNE IS COMING SOON TO CHAGUANAS!

HIRING NOW! Call: 627-2002/4788

Email: jobs@movietowne.com

PRICE PLAZA - CHAGUANAS

He then asked me to respond to the ad via telephone and ask whether or not they would be willing to hire Deaf persons. I agreed to do it.

Day two (2)

The following day, which will be Monday 14th December, Ian texted me and reminded me to contact Movietowne (of course forgetful Jones...or forget Joan that I am...I need these constant texts as reminders lol) Anyway, back to the tory... I called and the woman advised me to visit their Port of Spain branch to fill out an application then the application may be considered. She said that they have never hired Deaf persons before but they were willing to take up the challenge.

So I texted Ian and informed him of what is required and I suggested that we invite Lisa who was searching for a job since August. He agreed and throughout the day, arrangements were made to go to Movietowne, Port of Spain the following day.

Day three (3)

So this is day three. My expectation of this day was that we go, fill out the application form, attach their resumes and photos, leave the application and wait for a response. That was my expectation...but God had a plan lol

First of all, I printed Ian and Lisa's resume with a cover letter addressed to Movietowne, but I forgot it home. I was prepared to return home for them but Omar, our designated driver, suggested that we print it from my flash drive. Later I discovered that I also left that at home but praise God, both Ian and Lisa had their updated resumes and cover letters with a space to insert the employer's name and address.

So God's plan was that we go there, fill out the application forms then have an interview one time!! lol Of course I had no expectations of an interview lol... Anyway, I interpreted for Lisa and Omar agreed to interpret for Ian. We prayed then interviews were in session.

The first thing the interviewer told Lisa was a compliment. Thank you Lord! She admired Lisa's neatness and constantly praised her beauty! Thank you Lord! She was also very concerned about people taking advantage of Lisa and other members of the differently abled community. To be honest, this did not feel like an interview at all lol. I felt as if Lisa and by extension, Ian already had the job and this was just a conversation to ensure that the logistics of the job were understood and any questions or concerns could be addressed lol. Apparently Omar and Ian had the same experience. Well, the interviewer said she will call me and let me know their decision. I guess this was formality because both Omar and I were convinced that they got the job.

Day four (4)
As you know Reader, I have expectations and God's plan always prevails. I expected to be contacted probably later in the week or the following week but God's plan was different. The following two days Thursday 17th December, I received a call from the HR department at Movietowne. Lisa and Ian got the job!! God is so good!

So four (4) days - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - if you want to count Wednesday and say five (5) days... it really doesnt matter! What matters is that God is faithful and next year two Deaf persons will have a job. Ian and Lisa have been working tirelessly making jewellry to sell during this Christmas season and I am so happy for them both :)

Thank you Lord for your favour!!

President's Reception

Wednesday 9th December 2009



What a night! When I think about this night I think about mom mentioning - "When you're with them you just feel a special joy eh". Smile...I will be a liar if I say I don't agree.




I enjoyed this night. I was happy also that my mom was there and she too could experience this joy. Thank you Lord. I was able to dance with a Deaf man that I dont usually see very often and I was glad that I was able to. I always like to do little things to help each person remember that they are special to me.

In a nutshell, we ate, we drank, we ate again, we laughed and everyone bombarded the poor president lololol. I was happy to see them happy and I was ESPECIALLY happy to see Bobby from Mayaro approach the President confidently and shake his hand assertively as he greeted him. I am so happy that he and his wife Mala were able to meet the President. It warmed my heart!!


This was my first night at the President's house and it's because of my Precious-es that I was able to do so!! Thank you Lord!

Costa Rica - La Pura Vida

November 2009

Well mi amiga y yo went to Costa Rica in November for some further linguistic studies. Of the few stories there are to share, one particular testimony stands out. We went there hoping to connect with the local deaf and also attend Deaf Church during the two Sundays that we were there.

Fortunately mi amiga randomly met a few deaf persons on a small trip to the city and discovered their usual Friday 'liming' spot. So Friday evening there was only one place we could be. I had decided before that I would only observe and allow my amiga who is more outgoing, to lead in all conversations.

Well, lol all this changed when we arrived. I was just so completely excited and my heart was bubbling with such joy that it was hard to just stand aside and observe lol. We talked and we laughed and we enjoyed ourselves. However, we had not yet met anyone who was attached to a Deaf Church.

God is so good! It was getting a bit late and my blood sugar levels were beginning to drop because I hadn't eaten. So I was trying to explain that I needed to eat to some deaf persons but they did not understand the TTSL sign for diabetic!! lol I tried explaining what it meant but they looked more and more confused lol. I was feeling really unwell yet they insisted that they must understand what I was saying. So they emphatically lead me to their friend Carlos. They said Carlos was smart and that he will understand and he did. So said so done.

AMAZINGLY, my blood sugar level normalised instantaneously after meeting Carlos. I did not realise this until later that night but God had a plan. Carlos and I began talking and when I told him I was from Trinidad, he told me that he knew some Trinidadian Deaf. Then he began listing all the Trinidadian Deaf that he met some years ago ".....Shevon, Ian, Salina, Roger...." LOL I began to jump!! I was sooooo excited!! I called mi amiga! This was the guy we were looking for. This is the person who would know about the Deaf Church and this the person who our Deaf had already connected with on their previous trip to Costa Rica.


Anyway, my heart was just dancing and I felt as if I could not contain the joy I felt just overflowing within me. Carlos (2nd person from left in pic above) seemed very happy as well. He shared about the local Deaf Church and the issues that they had and the literacy hurdles that they had to overcome. He seemed very educated, he was really friendly and I feel in love with his spirit. He reminded me of Ian and I felt like a bit of home was with me in San Jose that night.

I remembered that I had only spoken to Shevon online the day before and he asked me if I had met anyone that they met when they were here. I was amazed at how God operates and how He connects people globally and what tools He uses to bring people together.

It was a great night and my happiest and most fulfilling moment at Costa Rica.

"My hands are small, I know.."

Saturday 10th October 2009

I'm learning Reader, I'm learning...

I am learning what is truly important. It is love. It is relationships. It is kindness. It is laughter. Is this the secret of the rose bud....?

I feel so renewed...sigh. I have been listening to Jhewel's "Hands" for the pass half hour or so and the words are so powerful. Here's a link to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n-6uyMV9-0 Here are some words that really stood out to me:

"I wont be made useless"
"I am never broken"
"Poverty stole your golden shoes, it didn't steal your laughter"
"In the end, only kindness matters"
"We are never broken"

I just keep thinking about how nothing could break the human spirit... I think about the Deaf women and wives and the power they have within them; that strength that causes them to continue despite because they wont be made useless and they are NEVER broken.

Another thing is that I managed to randomly read one of the comments posted after this youtube video and mention was made of Rachel's Challenge. I challenge YOU to research it at this link http://www.rachelschallenge.org/ You have no excuse now because I provided the link!! I am touched by Rachel Scott's story. THANK YOU LORD FOR MY HANDS.

With these small hands, I will love, I will sign, I will write, I will teach, I will touch lives and_I WILL.

This afternoon some of the Deaf and I went to Logos Hope for a special dinner, tour then persual of the book store. It was an overall success! Yayyyyy!!! Hats off especially to crew members Liz and Jessica for their patience and time and love! *raise hats, smile, nod and replace hats :D Hats off to the wonderful drivers Roger, Kamal and Amena! Hats off to the PRO - Amena who followed through on all calls and ensured that everything was organised well! Hats off to all the lovely ladies who were dressed to impress!! Ok I think we should start clapping cuz ppl hands may be gettin tired from all the "raising of hats.... So finally let's have a healthy, hearty round of applause for all the deaf and hearing people who showed up tonight, ate well, paid attention to the tour guide, asked questions, bought books and left happy like pappy!!! *round of applause :D

Logos Hope brings help, knowledge and hope to people around the world. It's such a simple yet substantial and sustainable vision......errrrrrr which reminds me.... we gotta start working on the ADC vision asap...lol ..not funny :S

Change

Saturday 3rd October 2009

I know it's been a while since I wrote and this could mean two things, namely

1. I am too busy with my Precious-es that I have no time to write; or
2. I am too free doing nothing, that there isn't anything to write about lol

Well, in this instance, the court rules in favour of the former. GOD IS AWESOME. GOD IS AMAZING. I just signed in on my blog moments ago, and I looked at the last post I published and laughed gratefully! Oh how God have been working and initiating change since that day in August!!

I must begin with the first change and blessing since that Monday in August when I wholeheartedly helped Kamal and Lisa and was ever so willing to show them love through this support. Would you believe that during this same week I received a phone call from a woman representing the Ministry of Education, offering me a job as a teacher at Vessigny Secondary School (VSS)!! To make a long story quite short, VSS is much much much closer to where I live than Port of Spain (where I worked before), so since I started teaching in September, I have been more relaxed, more rested, and the best thing of all things is that I GET TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE ADC FAMILY!!! WHOO HOOOO!!!

If this were a blog on my experiences as a teacher, I would say that the students could be challenging at times and from day to day I'm presented with endless opportunities to love the unloved to say the very least. However, this blog is not about my teaching experiences lol. What I would say is that I've taught a few classes sign language, specifically the alphabet :D What I would also say is that in my efforts to teach sign language and a little bit of Deaf culture to my students (in other words, as I deviate from the stipulated curriculum hehe), I meet a young student who has Deaf parents!! I am really excited about that and somehow I am ever so keen to ensure that he is well taken cared of.

As I write this, I am realising how much my 'personal' life and my ADC life are intimately intermingled. To me, there is a seamless interaction between the two and I find it hard to separate them. THIS IS MY FAMILY. THIS IS MY HOME. This is where I feel most comfortable and happiest! LOL I am reminded of an experience that I had two (2) Fridays ago at the hearing church. I think that I am so engrossed in the Deaf world that it just becomes a bit discomforting when I am confronted by so many hearing individuals. It's a strange reality. Unlike school and my average expected daily interactions with hearing persons, this Friday, I think that I was not subconsciously prepared to see so many hearing young people gathered together. I felt so misplaced and very uncomfortable. I was literally longing to return to a quiet and less socially charged atmosphere. WOW! I was shocked at my own reaction...

Anyway, where have we been? What have we been up to? I'm glad you asked Reader! We've been to the Logos Hope, we've been to the children's home in Gasparillo, we've been learning how to care for the brushcutters, we've been cleaning and putting things away not only physically but also structurally in terms of our Board of Directors (I'll say more about this shortly). We're been reaping produce and selling them, we've been working on our accounts and inventory as well as clarifying our partnership with SIL and SFOB. People have also been approaching us with a desire to support the Deaf and of course, we've been having fun!

In a nutshell, CHANGE IS HERE. Mama has been with us for a few weeks and as always it was absolutely wonderful having her here. She is not only the founder of ADC but a true Mama to the Deaf and to myself. This last few weeks spent with her revealed so much about her character. I must say "Thank you Lord for the gift of Mama (or Mama Bear as I fondly call her)". I see maturity, wisdom, humility, leadership qualities, inner strength, faith and confidence in an Almighty God in Mama. I can't say enough how much I love, honour, cherish, respect and appreciate her.

Well, as I wrap up this publication, I must mention as promised, that ADC has a new Board of Directors. Mama has passed on her service as Director to me and she is now our dear Trustee. I have no idea what challenges await me, but I am confident that God will see me through. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

PS August 25th, 2009 marked one year since I volunteered to work with ADC. The blessings that I am able to count are numerous but I know that both countable and uncountable blessings are endless. I have been blessed with jobs, opportunities for travel and unexpected favour! What's more is that I fulfilled a mere dream I had of getting a ride on a motorcycle...it sounds trivial but it was amazing!! I am also driving now after about four (4) years of not using my license and even renewing it! Yet most importantly, I have gained a family :D * BIG SMILE!!