Julie and Jo Ann - We were excited to be going to the Deaf Community. Our excitement was how would our language communication would be like? We have never met Haitian children and we have no idea what it would be like: would they be shy? Would they be all smiles? Would they be nervous? Will we understand them? How will the campus be like? Big or small? The name of the school was "Institut Montfort pour Enfants Sourds". Due to our amazement, we met the Nun and they were very friendly and grateful that we came to visit them. Slowly one by one the deaf children came to meet us and they were very Beautiful and Joyful.
Beautiful, because it was so beautiful of how they came to us with the smile on their face, one by one. Beautiful, because they were excited to talk to us. The little girl came up to Julie and wanted to be held. At first she was very shy and would be just smiling, looking at me, playing with my hair. Eventually she finally started to point around and I had taught her some sign language, she is just starting to learn sign language. When signed ILY to her she did the same and held my hand in the ILY sign for a while.
Joyful - because the children were very joyful to see us and we felt connected instantly. It was fun to see how they were in a joyful mood and find that we were the same. There was this one girl wanted to know each teammate's name and namesign. She would repeat them a few times from time to time. She wore a pink shirt which pink is my favorite color. When we were ready to leave, she was sad for us to leave but we told her hopefully some day we will be back to visit again.
Johanna - As a hearing person, it was truly a delight to watch the faces of my deaf teammates as they met the deaf children at the school today. I was so blessed by the way they were ALL able to communicate with each other in a language they all understood. It was incredible to be present as Creole, French, English, ASL, and HSL (Haitian Sign Language) were all used in the same conversation.
The facility was being updated and it will be so great when the kids have a new building for
dormitories and their cafeteria. The school is wonderful and the whole property is self-sustaining with a garden, chickens, cows for milk and beef, rabbits, and goats.
Deaf kids in Haiti are another of "the least of these" - many times they are rejected by their families or ignored. The school we saw today is a place where deaf children will find community, receive an education, learn about God and His Word, and hopefully prepare them for life as a successful deaf adult in a hard world.
Kelsey- What an amazing day! Watching the connection made by the team to these sweet Deaf children was so fun! As we were leaving my heart was deeply touched by one of the Haitian Deaf boys. Through the window of our tap tap, he signed to me " You are hearing, do you love Deaf people?" I nodded, " Yes, of course I LOVE Deaf people!" I pointed to my amazing team and to the deaf children there. He looked surprised. "You love Deaf children?" I affirmed again that yes I very much do. He gazed out the fence to the school and over into the local neighborhood. Breaking my heart he said, "Wow. Because here (Haiti) out there, hearing people do not love us." Wow. What a powerful statement. I am so happy they have a school and Deaf family that loves them there. We were so blessed to connect with them and show them that yes, we love them- Deaf and hearing both. It saddened us to hear those words come from his hands. We think the school is a wonderful place of hope and pray we can potentially continue to partner with them and go back to visit and show that yes, we love the children deeply and God does as well.
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