We are having a guest post on the blog this week. While you eagerly anticipate that, and I work on some BIG NEWS for our newsletter, I have to do something I've been promising for a while.
Both Abigail and Selah have been very "into" youtube since going to Belize. I personally have a love hate relationship with it. I really like and honor the fact that both girls put effort into their channels. They spend time taking and editing videos. Abigail is particularly dedicated and if you subscribe, you'll be able to keep up with her weekly. Here is her latest video:
Thank you to Greg and Lucianna who proved to be interesting and exciting guests for her channel!
Selah also did a video recently:
In addition Selah has worked on designing a Weebly website for the past 5 months. Feel free to enjoy that as well:
Ben Martin arrived December 18. I blogged about the day he came. Since then our time was busy with Ben, then Lucianna, Christmas activities, New Years activities, writing the newsletter and this week returning to our "regular schedule" activities".
I have not done a good job at updating the blog. My usual goal is once a week and I didn't make it this time.
Ben came over Christmas. We were so thankful he brought a suitcase and 1/2 of things for us. Our church and homeschool group blessed us beyond what really I would have imagined.
When we were in training, we learned a little about the importance of gifts. An anthropolgist taught our class. It was interesting to realize that our culture not only welcomes gifts but they are an important part of our society as a whole.
What a humbling thing then to not be able to "repay" the kindness shown to our family. We know that thank you cards, e mails, facebook posts aren't good enough. We are just so thankful for the thought and effort put into making our Christmas a special one!
We are STILL enjoying the presents.. except of course the black licorice and some of the other food.. that has been consumed ;)
We pray you feel as blessed as we did this Christmas!
Here are some pictures of Ben's visit At the end is the video that was shared the week before Christmas at Hopewell.
Some Christmas decorations around town
At church every year there is a pagent. Everyone got to be in it, Even Ben.
Walking down the street
We got Ben a special treat for Christmas! I think most of it arrived intact when he reached Philly!
This past Thursday was the culmination
of a 4 month project Nathanael worked on. It was the National
Spelling Bee for the Deaf of Belize. It was one of the first projects he was given the opportunity to help with for the Ministry of Education in Belize
Nathanael was given two lists
of words with about 300 words each. He then had to choose a sign or
signs for each word. He had the opportunity to work closely with
Andre Craig Macool, Deaf Belizean man. Mr. Macool helped to make
sure that the signs chosen fit the Belizean regional ASL signs.
After the 600 words were confirmed, and signs were agreed upon; Nathanael aided in making a video of all of the signs with their spellings. This was sent around the country. The Deaf and hard of hearing students studied their words by watching Nathanael ;).
You can imagine Nathanael's confusion when we visited the Cayo Deaf school a month ago. The students pointed at him. They signed "movie". Finally Nathanael realized that they recognized him from the study video! What a fun thing for people all over the country to recognize who you are.
Nathanael really appreciated being able to work on the spelling bee for several reasons.The Spelling Bee is a valuable tool. It introduces the Deaf students to vocabulary. The exposure happens in ASL as well as English. The students also improve their spelling skills immensely . Some of the
students walked away with prizes; but all of them have walked away
with knowledge. This means that they are all winners.
Nathanael had a lot of fun and hopes to
participate again he following year.
