The third update....

I realize that by updating so often it is going to make it hard for whoever is giving the updates at church. But I guess you can choose the most interesting sections and comments. Also, please use some of my direct quotes to help me feel important. JK… but seriously, if you want to.  I will try to remember and add my email address at the end of this update so people can email me. I would love emails especially right now. I am very homesick and have had quiet a few arguments with God already. Any news from what you are doing at home would be helpful and encouragement would be appreciated.
I discussed with Dennis a little more in detail the things I will be a part of:
1. training High School Deaf students to go to the elementary schools and do outreach
2. teach interpreter training for hearing people in government, legal settings, and hospital situations. This will really just be teaching a hearing person of the company’s choice and teaching them signs and explaining the culture more in detail so when Deaf people come into their offices they will have a specific person to contact. This is as close to an interpreter they are going to have in the near future.
3. Take pictures and write personal experiences for the IDEA website: www.ideadeaf.org I will make sure and let you know when the first update takes place.
4. October 1st 5 teachers from the new Deaf school in Ormoc City, Leyte (the same island I was on before) will be coming to Bohol and I will be working with them on teaching the Deaf students. They will be in Bohol for 2 months (oct and nov) training then they will be observing in the elementary schools for another 2 months (Dec and Jan) and then the last two months (Feb and March) they will be immersed into teaching ‘practice’ lessons in Ormoc. They should be ready to start teaching at the new Deaf school by next school year with a full 6 month immersion like this. All of these teachers already have their teaching license through the Philippines.
5. I may be assisting with teaching some volleyball. This is not a strong area of mine as many of you may know, however those 8th grade lessons may come in handy.
There are a few other things that I can not remember right now. I know I will be busy. I am excited to be busy and meet new people. I know there is much more in store.
Last night my water was turned off because the city will shut of certain sections at certain times. I will never know cause I do not have a tv and I don’t understand the radio. I will be taking some Visayan language lessons soon though, so I can be up to speed with the spoken language of Bohol. Please also pray for a quick and fun experience in learning the local dialect.
Thanks so much for following.
I miss you all.

Signing off with my email address…

Toni.ripplinger@gmail.com