Evangelical School for the Deaf

A visiting worker from the USA worked with me to complete student educational

profiles in SPANISH during our first week of classes.

August 2010

Dear family and Friends

The school year started with a special Bible programme   We had a group come from the States to lead it for us.  The theme was on Fruits of the Spirit.  In the morning we would sing, have Bible lessons, and craft activities.  In the afternoon we would have fun activities.  We went to the beach and the rain forest and played games at school.  A lot of fun was had.  Certainly was a fun way to start back at school. 

The second week we were in our classes and beginning to set routines and start our programmes for the year.  This year I am working with Kristian, who is 14 and is really struggling with academic subjects.  I am also working with Larimar, a ten year old girl, who has just moved up to work with the older kids.  She is adjusting to the changes that means for her.  We have started a science unit on batteries and electricity, which they seem to be enjoying. 

Every day we start with Chapel that I plan and lead.  The other teachers support me by planning and teaching the Bible stories that we learn each week.  On Wednesday we have surfing the Bible, which is the same as sword drills, for those of you who remember them.

After chapel the older classes do devotions.  Sometimes we use an online programme especially for deaf.  They watch a person signing about some verses from the Bible.  We read the verses together and the students record in their books what the have learnt.  Some days we will do a devotion together and some days they choose a piece of scripture to read themselves and then write what God has shown them.

I continue to be the Bible teacher for the school, so that means I have three groups of children twice a week.  With the older students we are doing an overview of the Bible.  With my class we are using a prgramme called STOP.  It’s great!  S stands for Seek- what is the problem you are confronting.  T stand for think- what does God’s Word say about it.  O stands for overcome-pray for God to help you overcome your problem.  P is for praise – praise God for His help in succeeding.  The younger students are learning Bible stories. 

It is now the third week and we have a group of people visiting who are learning to be interpreters for deaf people.   They are supporting our new teacher Elizabeth who has joined our staff this year.  She has just finished her Master’s degree, but doesn’t know sign language.  She works with three students, Johanely, Kevin and Edwin.  Edwin is a new boy.  He has come from the States and is still adjusting to being at a new school.  Johanely and Kevin are so good at supporting him.

Betsy is teaching out two seven year olds.  They are both lovely kids.

Jen has the two youngest.  She has Saul, who is five and his brother Gabriel, who is three.  Gabriel is hearing and comes for a preschool programme, so he can learn sign to be able to communicate with his two deaf siblings.  Kioney, in Betsy’s class is his sister.  One word to describe the youngest class is energy.  The boys are full of it and keep Jen on her toes.

The weather is very hot.  September is our hottest month and of course it is hurricane season right now. 

Please pray for us as we lead our busy lives in the heat.

Jason and Iley have some holiday time to use, so they are coming to visit me in September.  They are hoping to spend some time at Culebra, one of the smaller  islands that is a part of PR. I am hoping to be able to show them some of the local sights as well.  I am excited about them coming.  Counting down the days!!!  I last saw Jason in 2007 and have yet to meet Iley.

I have been really blessed by my NZ church.  Opawa you are so good at encouraging me.  I have enjoyed the many letters that have been written in church and then sent to me.  We managed to Skype while the Sunday service was on.  It was great to see familiar faces.

I was blessed by Jen’s church in California.  I have attended services there when I have been in LA on my way here, or on my way home.  The ladies got together and sent me a wonderful care package of all sorts of goodies. 

Think I’ve rambled on enough.

Love and blessings

Judy

Praise God for:

·      A good start to the school year

·      People He sends to support us

·      Two new students

Pray for:

·      Coping with the heat

·      Staff and students as we settle into routines

·      Students to strengthen their faith and understanding of who God is

·      For those students who have not yet accepted Christ

·      For the many visitors that come here to support us.  Some are not Christians, so pray that we would be good witnesses.

·      For Selena who is now at a public school. Pray she would continue to remember what she learnt about God and she would continue to grow her faith.

·      For the property.  That God would send us the people we need to help survey the land and decide on a suitable price.  That we would know His leading and guiding for the school board as they work through this process.  If the decision is to purchase that the funds would be available.

Love, hugs and blessings

 

Judy

PDF files:

August 2010

June 2010

 

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