Amor en Acción

Hey! ^.^

I must apologize for not blogging recently. You see, back in February, I meant to upload a vlog, but things kept getting in my way. I am finally getting settled down here in Tegucigalpa - the capital city of Honduras. Since moving to Honduras in December, I got to spend some time with my mamá and papá. I am now at my aunt's place. She isn't charging me for using one of her bedrooms for the time I'm here - I'm so thankful to her. She also feeds me breakfast and dinner - which is super cool.

Most of you know that I've been working at a school called Amor en Accion (which is translated Love in Action). I've been teaching Spanish. I was supposed to teach math as well, but they decided that I can only teach Spanish. I wanted to teach Spanish anyway... so that's great. I've been teaching Spanish for the past three weeks now. It has been a challenge fo sho. I recently realized that I'm not only teaching Spanish, but I have to go back to the foundations of teaching language, which for these Deaf kids is LESHO. LESHO is the acronym for Honduran Sign Language - or more accurately translated " LEngua de Signos de HOnduras"

I've noticed that the 12 students in the 1st and 2nd grade (up to around age 12, and I'll classify them as the "younger students") don't have parents that use LESHO at home. Therefore, they tend to use basic gestures and home signs.

Before I can even teach them to read and write Spanish, I have to take a step back and start with teaching LESHO. Last week, I decided to buy a collection of short stories for children. I showed the kids the book, and I signed the story for them. They seemed to enjoy that. Then the next day, I took words from the book, and made them into dotted lines. This way, the kids could practice writing the words by tracing over them. I also drew some pictures that matched the story to make worksheets for the kids. The kids seemed really motivated by these color worksheets.

The classroom environment as a whole was much better too! When I tried to just teach them how to read and write Spanish, they would come up to me with all kinds of questions, and it was difficult to manage the learning environment. They would get frustrated or bored and simply refuse to do anything since they didn't understand. It was interesting to see the change in their attitudes since they are able to connect the story to the worksheets. I was amazed at how much better I felt too because it was like the peace of God fell on me. Of course, the girls and the boys still picked on each other - like all little kids do, but overall it was an improvement.

I also teach another group of the "older students" who are 18 and above (with about a 3rd grade reading level so far). They have a similar problem with the development of language. These older students are fluent in LESHO. However, if it comes to translating LESHO into Spanish, they are not able to perform that task. If, say, they needed to communicate with a hearing person - maybe they want to go to the mall, but they need to take a taxi to get there - how would they navigate that situation? Or if there was an emergency, how would they be able to convey what happened to those who came to help? I tried to explain these different situations to the older students, but they still are having a difficult time grasping the concept of "needing to learn Spanish to communicate with hearing people." They have yet to realize that LESHO is only for Deaf people, and they need to use Spanish with hearing people. I've been trying to figure out how better to explain this concept to them, but I've not yet found the solution. LESHO is a beautiful language, used among Deaf Hondurans. I am in full support of this language. However, I'm struggling to help them understand that with hearing people, you have to add "filler words" and learn the grammatical rules of Spanish to be able to communicate with them.

My experience teaching thus far has been an amazing, eye-opening time for me. I really need your prayers that God would give me the discipline to use my time wisely to plan for my lessons (and not be distracted by FB or surfing the web). I want to take advantage of the time he gives me. I desire that "whatever I do, to work at it with all my heart, as working for the Lord and not for men." I want to raise up these deaf students to be the leaders of the future Deaf generation here in Honduras.

I also ask that you would pray with me; that I would have a compassionate heart. I feel like I came to Amor en Acción as a "Revolutionist" - with the mindset that I could take what I knew from the American education system for the Deaf to "save the day" by revolutionizing their system. However, I was humbly reminded by someone, that revolutions do not begin with men alone, but only by the Bible. The wisdom from the Bible transform people, which will eventually improve the system. I have to remember that I can't just come in and change everything. I'm new here - I just "joined the party" so to say. Thus I need to be humble and compassionate. When I am asked to do things, or make changes - I need to evaluate the situation first, and ask God for His grace to know how to proceed. My prayer is to offer others His love first, and to follow it with grace, and a gentle spirit - Oh, and patience. Would you mind joining me in this prayer.

That's all. I am going to try to start blogging weekly about the most significant lesson of the previous week.

Thanks for watching. Alright. Take care!^.^

Links of Hope

^^ ASL Blog ^^

Hey!!

My name is Azael. I haven't post any blog lately, and I should have done it earlier. I have several things to share such as missionary trip to Honduras, internship, and my new life here in Florida.

However, I have been busy with settling down here in Florida. For example, I bought a car, purchased an insurance for my car, planned my budget, and learned what is Florida like. I even have several doctor appointments. It was crazy to live on my own, and I made so much mistakes. From those mistakes, I have learned so much.

Anyway, I would like to share my experience with Links of Hope (LoH).

LoH is a ministry with a vision, which was established by a person named Beth, to outreach women of third-world countries by teaching them how to make bracelets with beads. That way, those women will be able to earn an income from selling those bracelets to support their own families. It is awesome because making several bracelets seem to be insignificant in this country. However, it is life-changing experience for those women.

Well, I was invited to tag along with the ministry. Actually, I want to back up a bit. You see, I visited Florida for my spring break and went to a church service in a closed theatre. It was different because the theater screen was used in the service with everyone sit in the theater seats. There, I experience powerful presence of Holy Spirit and fought with the Spirit emotionally. It was like the Spirit wanted to cause me cry, but I refused. This happened when Beth stood in the front and shared about her ministry. Beth also asked people at the service whether or not they are led or interested to join her ministry. It was odd because I already knew what was purpose of her ministry. The Spirit and I had a mild battle emotionally, and it was a while before I won the battle.

All of a sudden, I was overwhelmed intensely and ran to the bathroom. I cried in the bathroom. I could not stop crying, and I told Lord that He has my attention. I asked Him what does He want from me. He wanted me to join LoH on the next mission trip, and I told Him that I shall go as I am His servant.

For this reason, I was invited to join LoH. Now, those women who were taught to make bracelets were mother of Deaf school at a vocational school for Deaf. I was given the opportunity to teach morning devotion for the Deaf students before school begins.

It was moving experience for me. I know that I have an ability to teach and enjoy teaching. For this reason, it was perfect opportunity for me. Also, when I taught, it was awesome. You see, I did not know what to expect in teaching morning devotion because I didn't know the expectations of those Deaf students. I was uncertain on whether or not I should match their expectation. Whether or not they ought to fit my expectation. Even if I am able to go with their expectation, I still didn't know what kind of expectation they might have.

Not only that, but also sign language. You see, I was born in a town called Puerto Cortes, and signs there are not much same to signs of those Deaf students.

See the video above from 4:11 to 4:33 about the difference in sign of Heavenly Father and earthly father related to locations in Honduras.

It was truly God's miracle. I tried to figure and figure, but I eventually decided to put my trust in Him for making the morning devotion successful.

Sure enough, it was PERFECT! I didn't even plan in details! By third or fourth day, I realized that the devotion works out just finely. In my teaching of the devotion, Trinity was revealed. I shared about how God the Father created the earth, how Jesus calmed down the storm, and how Holy Spirit allowed Virgin Mary to become pregnant.

I was so thrilled at the discovery that Trinity was revealed in the devotion. I allowed Him to lead me in teaching His devotion ^.^

That's why I said it was perfect!

I actually enjoyed teaching the devotion very much. In fact, I was offered a teaching job at that school. I thought it was cool =P

I want to share this experience...

You see...when I returned to the USA from Honduras, I found a newsletter, which was sent by the very same vocational school for the Deaf, to Beth's place. That was the night where I ate dinner and spent night at Beth's place. Well, I read the newsletter and was totally blown away. There was a section about a student I knew, and this student was full of joy, didn't complain, and was amiable. I love him. His name is Jorge.

In the newsletter, it said that Jorge lives in an EMPTY one-room shack. He does not EVEN own any furniture, any extra room. It only has a stove, which is barely beyond simple. That is all! PLUS, floor of the shack is EVEN not furnished with tiles at all! It is simply dirt like earth's dirt! That's where he slept! He slept on the ground! It is not all! When it is raining, the ground will become muddy.

I was shocked, and that's when reality kicks into my perception of Hondurans' lives. I just didn't make the connection between the dots. Dot #1: beat-down shacks anywhere, which is obvious existence of poverty among Hondurans, and dot #2: Deaf students with whom I interacted for a week.

I mean, I thought those deaf students were fine and have things they need just like me. However, I realized I was wrong when reading the newsletter.

I mean...those deaf students who I learned to love deeper and deeper over 6-day period of ministry might have nothing.

Jorge who I mentioned earlier isn't just a poor boy. There is another deaf student who is the poorest in that school. Imagine what this boy might not even have what we took for granted with our basic needs that can be met daily.

It simply shattered my world. I pondered on this reality. It was hard for me to imagine that it's true. I mean those deaf students were full of joy, yet they have nothing.

Look, I have a small library right there, a luxurious bed, clothes in a closet and in a dresser, shower that is right next to my bedroom, and a laundry room. These are things I can just rent. I mean, this room is furnished with lamented wooden floor. It is beyond simple in comparison with Jorge!

It's odd because I have visited Honduras regularly. My family on my mamá's (biological mother) side has money, and my family on my papá's side seems to be a middle-class family. I think with that, it sheltered my view of the reality by thinking that everyone else in Honduras is fine just like my Honduran family.

So, I didn't make such connection. It didn't occur to me that those deaf students may be poorer than my family.

To tell you truth, America is totally pampered country. For this reason, I am quite conscious with what I purchase from any store. For example, when I returned home from Honduras, I needed a hamper. I decided to get the cheap one, so I went to Wal-Mart. There, I found the prices of hampers to be quite cheap. I was surprised by many options right front of my eyes. Those are only hampers! Still, I kept looking for the cheapest kind.

I found a large, blue polyester bag that cost me only $2. It didn't include any wheels.

Think about it...Hondurans might not even have enough clothes to fill up any hamper.  Hampers weren't really needed in Honduras. Unfortunately, I needed it because, well, I have that much of clothes that can fill up the hamper quickly. So, I wanted to buy a simple hamper. It doesn't have to be plastic hamper or have wheels to make my transportation between my bedroom to a laundry room easier.

It doesn't stop there. I also am aware of how I planned my budget and spent my money. In fact, it is my plan to support some Hondurans financially after getting a paycheck from the internship.

I stumbled on a website that I can adopt a village. It is a program where I can donate money to support all deaf students from certain villages because they are in need of transportation from their villages to a school for the Deaf.

It is my desire to see that deaf students will finally have an access to education and will build network among Deaf people. Well, I already sent email regarding my desire to support this program and am currently waiting for the response.

I am excited about that because I think it's sooo cool with the name "Adopt A Village".

Well...that's all...I planned to post about my internship and my new life here in Florida...

See ya later!!

Peacee out!

Azael