So far  Nikita  and I have been on the mainland in Cayo, San Ignacio, for almost 3 weeks on Tuesday. It has gone so fast!

We have been to many very differing towns and villages to conduct bible studies with the deaf.

SPANISH LOOKOUT- this is the largest community of Mennonites in Belize. Inside Spanish Lookout only the Mennonites are allowed to live. The workers etc live on the boarders of that community. Driving through Spanish Lookout almost seems that if you are not in Belize but perhaps Rural North America due to large fancy American looking houses and very clean  well taken care of land space. Also, the Mennonites run a school especially for the deaf and so Cayo has a large population of ASL people.

Experience in Spanish Lookout –  While on a  boat taxi coming to Belize city , a deaf girl recognised a sister  as a Jehovah’s Witness. She said when she was younger she used to study and the last convention she went to was when she was 13 years old, 4 years ago. She was offered to come live in Spanish Lookout with a Mennonite family as this would provide a better life and security for her. A better life meaning- food, accommodation and schooling. However, in return,  she works for them doing cleaning, cooking etc. she works all year with very very little leave even to see her family who live in a bordering county.

On Wednesday we go do her study. We are only allowed to study with her if she has hung washing up outside. Why? The people she stays with HATE the witnesses. But she loves to study. The washing indicates she wants her study and that the family is sleeping after lunch. When we arrive we text to say we are here and the study is conducted in front of a large tree in the front garden , so we are hidden from the family. A sign language short clip is watched, we chat and we leave. The study is done in complete secret.

BENQUE- This is a town close to the Guatemalan border with the beautiful Mopan River running along it on the west side and mountains of jungle all around.

Many deaf bible studies/ return visits are conducted here. Some with adults some with children as young as 4.  As well as teaching the Bible, we help the families to learn sign language as well as the student. If one family member is deaf, we study with them in sign. Whoever has come along  studies with other family members in English.

The sign language is a close community. Often when you go on a study or return visit, the householder will direct you to 2-3 more deaf people in the area which we then try to find.

Another Town close to The zoo ( I forgot the name) – this is a governmental community as all the houses are built looking the same in rows. You drive 5-10 minutes down a dusty road, from the main road. We heard there was a deaf boy that lived there. When we went to the house, he was at school. However, it was explained to the mother that we teach ASL and teach the Bible to the whole family as well as the boy in ASL. We explained about the memorial and gave them an invite. The family member explained that they were thinking of taking him out of school as he wasn’t being given the right time and patience to learn and that they were looking for him to do something else. Right away, the family member accepted the offer and hopefully we will see the boy, his mom and grandmother at the memorial on Wednesday.

So far we are enjoying the experience of being in the ASL group!! 👋I’ll post pictures soon.