This is very Important!!!!

I apologize for not writing in so long. Also this post is very important. If you normally skim through I would ask that you wait until you have enough time to read this one all the way through in its entirety. The most important thing that I will probably ever be a part of has entered my life in the past week.

Upon my arrival I was interpreting but I was frustrated with the things I saw. I was also surprised at how the Deaf were given NO opportunity. But I have explained that already in the previous posts. I began to pray about how I can be of some other help here. It seemed impossible. Since last Thursday I have met some very phenomenal people that are helping to change this part of the world. I began to talk with some people that shared the vision I had for the Deaf here to get jobs. Over the weekend we started a small organization consisting of Me, A powerful Filipino hearing man who knows no sign but is passionate about helping out the underdog in his country..Romy, a Deaf Christian missionary..Nilo, and a well established Deaf college student..Patrick (the only one here because his family has money). Together we came up with a plan to get the Deaf students who are graduating high school job opportunities. We had a meeting yesterday with the Hotel and Restaurant Management board of Leyte. I wrote up a proposal for the possibility of having a two week training period for the Deaf to become waiters and Waitresses. Here in the Philippines you must be trained to work in a restaurant, they have a course for it at the colleges. I was able to explain why I believe these students can do the job equally as the hearing people. I spoke for awhile convincing them that this is in turn, going to help the well being of the entire country by employing the Deaf. I gave examples of some Deaf in America who are very well off. Patrick was there and explained his life and how he has been really successful in his work. He is going to college here to become an interior Designer and he is AMAZING! I have seen a few of his drawings and he has even won competitions in Manila for some of his work. They were really impressed and they realized when I was voicing for him that he is just as intelligent if not more intelligent than many of the hearing. I was SO happy. They were convinced and they passed my proposal!!!!!!! The only thing is they said they would rather it be 5 consecutive Saturdays instead of two weeks straight. This way the students can be trained Before they graduate and start working right out of high school. They agreed to hire the Deaf as equal among the hearing as long as they complete the training we will be setting up for them. SO… the next step.. I am in the process of writing a letter the the Leyte Normal University president to see if we can use one of their rooms. Also I am requesting that some of the students who are taking classes to manage restaurants volunteer to train the students on the assigned Saturdays. I am not sure if this will go over very well but I know that this is a part of God’s will. And I believe that anything in God’s will… will never lack God’s resources. So I am going all out and asking for the gold! Patrick is nervous because going directly to the president is going to be hard for him. But I know that this is the only option we have right now. We just need facilities and sponsors. The Deaf students do not have enough money to attend the training. I figure it will be about 100 Pesos ($2.50) each Saturday per Deaf student and there are about 15 that want to go through the training. So we will need to find Sponsors for the time. The students agreed that once they are certified they will help pay back the sponsors once they get the jobs. And my dream, the Deaf agreed, is that when they are certified and working they will be the ones to do the training for the next generation who want to work in the hotel and restaurant industry. So far it is going really well. I have no extra time and I can not go to the beach or on any of the excursions with the other Volunteers but I would not have it any other way. I know now why I came. None of us four involved in this new organiztion could have done this on our own… we needed each other. Now something is going to be done. This will be the first time Deaf in this country are able to work outside of a family business. It is a revolution among the Deaf culture here and I have the honor to be a part of it. I almost cry every time I think of the depth of what is happening!!!!!!! AHH… God is amazing and I always knew I was made for more than what I was doing in America! I almost don’t want to come home but I know that I must.

One other thing… There is one Deaf boy that is GREAT at cutting hair and it is really his passion. He dreams of owning a barber shop one day. He has talked to me about it everyday since I got here. Now that all of this has started I have no fear. I am talking with a man who owns a barber shop here to see if he will allow Genaro to at least “intern” at his barber shop. It is going to take a lot of convincing but he said he is considering allowing him to work there. Please be in prayer for that. It would be a step toward this boys dream! But it is going to take me talking to this man everyday. Which I have been doing and will do everyday until I leave!

I am getting a little tired out at times so you can pray for health and strength for me. Also for all the plans that are being set up to go smoothly and we would all have strength to stand up for this culture that is so looked down upon right now.

I experienced my first Cock fight. It was loud, dirty, and there were like four women including me and Tes. I am not so sure I would go back again on purpose. Although.. it is supposed to be 200 Pesos for sitting Ringside… Tes did a little sweet talking and said because I was a foreigner I should get a good seat to take pictures. We got in for free. I thought it was kind of funny. But it did cost us a lot to get to the place in Fare.

Ok… much love and I will try to update on how everything is going.

Chanda… I bought you a really awesome coach purse here.. but I have been using it the past couple days for these meetings because I have to appear professional with what I have. J I have other stuff for you though.