Week 1 January 31, 2008

Week 1 is just about done. This has been a good week. I’m still observing all classes that I’m assigned to. I’m still trying to learn all of the children’s names! You just cannot believe how many name signs I got to remember! Too much for my brain to handle! Hahaha

Today, I am not assigned to any classroom until 1:00. So, this morning has been spent on preparing my lessons for 2 of the classes, and I needed to use the internet for a lesson for the 8th graders. (Mr. Reid’s class). He is REALLY looking forward to my teaching style and learn from me. Pray I do good!  

I’m adjusting to the life of Jamaica well so far. I hear that IL is getting 5-9 inches of snow this weekend! PRAISE GOD I wasn’t flying out this Saturday as I orginally planned but tickets were sold out. God knew and made me get here a week earlier! God is SO good!

There is a missionary family here, The Plattners. They got here yesterday evening from Knockpatrick. As I was coming down the stairs from my apt, Kirk was standing by the stairs. He said “You’re Amy?” So, we started talking, get to know each other a bit. I already knew that he was from somewhere in the Central Illinois. I asked where he’s from, he first said, close to Peoria. I said I was from Peoria. He then said he’s from Princeville. He then asked where I’m from. I said IN PEORIA.  It’s funny how those small towns around Peoria are surprised thatI grew up IN Peoria. They act like Peoria IS Chicago. Ya know?  Too funny.

On Tuesday night, I was invited to a birthday party. Yvonne’s 50th birthday. She’s one of the kitchen staff. She’s deaf. It was a good nice party. Mr. Reid was “life of the party.” Bunches of good laughs.

Hope all is well! Stay warm!!!  I’ll stay warm for you. 

Hugs to all!

Day 1 on the job…. January 28, 2008

Today was basically spent in 2 different classrooms. This morning was with Mr. Reid’s 8th grade class… Language classes.  Then in the afternoon, it was the 8th grade Math with Mr. Taylor (I think that’s his name.)

I’ve learned that the colleges here ARE teaching some sign language. Mr. T surprised me. He actually had fooled me. He has been here since January and he’s good! Even good signer! His practicum was here at MB CCCD.

I just basically sat in the back of the room observing, then jumping in with helping the teachers…and in math, I sat with one student who just gave up too easily. So, I sat with her on a math problem the class had to work on, and I basically just made her do it. Then of course, I gave her a short lecture of encouragement that she just needs to stop, think and try!  I think I may have to do some extra work.

So far, so good!  Still don’t know what I’ll be doing. Ms. Russell has been gone all day interpreting for the visitors off the German Ship! So, I was put to observe for now. I hope to get some teaching materials and start preparing lessons and all that hoopla, ya know how it is!

Well, signing off from the computer lab at the office!  Mr. Reid is trying to see if there’s a modem sitting around somewhere here and if there isn’t one, then we’ll go get a modem sometime. So,  hang in there… at least I’m able to access to few emails and blog for the timebeing.

Later!

I’m hereee! January 27, 2008

Hello everyone!

I’m actually here!?! Praise God!

I arrived in Jamaica at like 10:00pm with a warm welcome… not weatherwise… but with Ms. Russell, Mr. Reid and Kishaun outside of the airport to meet me. So GREAT to see them all again. And look forward to meeting MANY more today.

I am at Miss Russell’s and she made me some breakfast. Had my plaintains! YUM! I’m doing this while Ms. Russell gets ready and we’ll be going to her church this morning.

I wanted you all to know I’m here. I didn’t sleep too well. I finally fell asleep around 2:30am. It’s just because I’m in awe of God’s timing. And also it’s a new place, new bed etc…  It takes me one or two nights then I’ll be knocked out early.

Thanks for your continued prayers! More later.

Hugs to all!

SNAIL MAIL for Amy @ CCCD January 23, 2008

Please FEEL free to send me whatever you’d like! A note of encouragement, some comfort food (haha), or whatever you want to surprise me with!!!!!

Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf

P.O. Box 24

Granville P.O.

Montego Bay        Jamaica  

May be a good idea to do this…. on the bottom of envelope or the package write “FOR AMY BLOUGH” 

ATTENTION: Prayer Warriors January 23, 2008

I do not know any of the details but I just got an email, confirming with me of an address at CCCD. (I’ll give that out in a minute). Ms. Russell (the school principal) has asked for our prayers as one of her students has passed away and will be buried February 3rd. Please pray for the CCCD staff, and the students with grieving.  

Obviously I’ll be dealing with many students in grieving, in confusion, and probably with many questions etc…. I’ll be challenged by that, so please be praying that God will give me the wisdom in what to say or do when or if someone come to talk to me. Pray that I can be of some comfort for them to turn to.

I’m flying out this coming Saturday. I’m really looking forward to being there and start working.  Also be praying for safe journey for the next 5 months.

I do not know when I will have my Internet up and running when I get to Jamaica. Bear with me if you don’t hear from me right away. Give me maybe a week or two.  Thanks!!!

January 26th January 17, 2008

 My funds has almost reached the minimum goal. So many things has continue to be such blessings! Not only to me but to others. YOU are the ones who contibuted in prayers and financially. This reminds me of a song that the Jamaica’s Hands in Praise ends their performances with. It’s “Thank you for giving to the Lord”. Here’s the Lyrics to the song…. then I’ll list the Praises and Pray for.

“Thank you for giving the Lord”

By: Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to Heaven, you were there with me.

We walked upon the streets of gold beside the Crystal Sea.

We heard the angels singing, then someone called your name.

You turned and saw this young man, and he was smiling as he came.

He said, “Friend you may not know me now,”

and then he said, “But wait – You used to teach my Sunday School,

when I was only eight.

And every week you would say a prayer before the class would start.

And one day when you said that prayer,

I asked Jesus in my heart.”

(CHORUS)    Thank you for giving to the Lord,

I am a life that was changed.

Thank you for giving to the Lord,

I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you,

he said “Remember the time, A missionary came to your church,

His pictures made you cry.

You didn’t have much money

but you gave it anyway.

Jesus took that gift you gave

And that’s why I’m in Heaven today”

(CHORUS) 

One by one they came,

far as your eyes could see.

Each life somehow touched by your generosity.

Little things that you had done,

sacrifices that you made,

They were unnoticed on this earth In Heaven now proclaimed.

(CHORUS) 

And I know up in Heaven you’re not supposed to cry

But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes

As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord

He said “My child look around you, Great is your reward.”

(CHORUS)

I am so glad you gave.

 

PRAISE GOD:

*Without God, this would not be happening!

*For those who has contributed the funds thus far.

*For my brother in law, Jim’s been experiencing God’s work in Sudan, Africa.

*That CCCD got 2 new teachers!!

*For my Pastor’s desire to learn more about going out and sending someone to the mission field.

 

PRAY FOR:

*My funds to continue coming in.

*My preparing for being there and that I will serve for God’s will.

*For some of the people who doesn’t understand why I’m doing this. I’m not crazy, I’m doing what God wants me to be doing. Ya know?

*My friends/interpreters Ja’nice and Mary…. they’ll go back to intrpreting to “no one” again. Pray that God will send other deaf people to St. Paul Baptist Church.

*Continue to pray for my brother in law in sharing his experiences with Sudanese.

*There are several people who wants to come and see what I do there in Jamaica. Pray that they’ll get the opportunity to come and experience God’s work there.

 

God bless you all!!

Out with the old, In with the new! January 1, 2008

Welcome 2008!!! Happy New Year everyone!!!  Ipray you all had a great time wherver you were last night. I pray that you will be blessed with good health, great memories in the year of 2008!! Personally, I am looking forward to 2008! A new year, a new experience and all! I’d call the 2007 my “roller coaster soap opera” year!  Started at a week before Christmas last year (2006) with my aunt being admitted to the ICU for a few days and was transferred to regular room, but then on Christmas Eve, she had to go back to ICU. Needless to say, Christmas last year wasn’t a normal Christmas for me. It had been such a roller coaster ride since then. My aunt then had been transferred to a rehab…and was there until my birthday! BEST Birthday gift I could ever get!!!!  This is my favorite aunt, y’all. During this time, my friend Patrick had been there so much for me during my ups and downs with my aunt. We had been friends since October. Well, he wanted to take our friendship to the next level. So, we had been dating since March. Summer was AWESOME because my aunt was home and doing GREAT! Patrick is in a bagpipe band, and they compete all over the country and Canada. So, I went with him to almost all of the competitions on the weekends in the summer. Needless to say, that was FUN !!!!!  Those were the best times. Then September, everything went down hill. We broke up. First week of September SUCKED!!!! Then the Jamaican group came over to Illinois. That triggered my hidden passion to go back to Jamaica. Since then, I’ve been kept busy with getting ready for Jamaica. The day after Christmas I think…. it became official that I’m going to Jamaica!! I’m leaving January 26th. I can say now…. 25 more days!!!  Needless to say, my 2007 was such a roller coaster ride!!! I know you all got your own version of a soap opera. It’s like that it was worse/best/worse again/ then ended best time kind of year. I’m blessed! You may be thinking, “Blessed, are you nuts?”  I know all these things happened for reasons, it’s all in God’s Hands. I knew I’d be fine in the end. I just trust in God that He’d take care of me. That’s my comfort in knowing I’ll be fine, even through all these hard times I had. Even during the bad times, I gained good times, good memories, new friends, new job and especially my passion for working in Jamaica came back. God knew exactly what I needed during my hard times. I’m really looking forward to spending at least half of the year in Jamaica, experiencing a new life, serving God while I’m there. UPDATE:  Keep praying for my brother in law being in Sudan. So far, he’s doing good. Left Nairobi just before the riot! Praise God! Keep praying for getting my personal things together and ready for going to Jamaica. Keep praying for the financial. Money still coming in.  Praise God!