last Thursday evening,
I passed by the cluttered
bulletin board
hanging in our hallway.
Amongst all of the fliers,
photographs and crumbled
pieces of notebook paper,
a particular black and white
photograph caught my eye.
It was the front of the
Sign Of Hope International
volunteer application form
for their trip to Africa in Spring 2012.
They raise money to build Deaf schools
in Ghana, West Africa for children who would
have no chance at an education otherwise.
Then, go into the school and teach Deaf children ASL
as well as motivate the teachers to teach.
I held that paper in my hands
and something happened to me.
I just wanted to hold the paper,
to read it over and over.
I needed to know more information.
The next day,
I visited their website:
www.signsofhopeinternational.org .
Under the "What We Do" page,
the second to last paragraph reads:
"Signs of Hope International created our volunteer program. Under our direction, volunteers skilled in the use of American Sign Language (ASL) spend two months in Ghana assisting and motivating both students and teachers."
My heart sank.
Tears welled up in my eyes
and I could feel a knot in my throat.
I stopped reading.
I bowed my head and prayed.
I told God that I felt
His calling.
I told Him that if it was Him,
that my answer was "yes."
The trip is this coming Spring,
with the application due in two weeks
along with other requirements.
I told Him that it seemed insane.
I needed to know that He wanted me to go.
A sign?
Another person to come with me?
A push?
I trusted Him.
And if I am to go,
then I will.
After Amen,
I watched a video about
the organization.
I got to see the happy Deaf kids,
using ASL and I also got to see
the uneducated deaf kids
who did not yet have a language.
They need me.
They need me to go into the Deaf schools
and teach.
I was born to teach.
And quite frankly,
I think I need them.
In my life,
I've seen so many videos
portraying African children,
encouraging people to give
and donate and volunteer.
My heart hurts for them.
But for the Deaf children
of Ghana, West Africa in
this 15 minutes video...
my heart broke for them.
I covered my mouth and wept.
Halfway through the video,
my phone lit up with a text
from my classmate saying,
"I'm signing up, do it with me."
For the past couple of days,
we've shared phone conversations,
texts, and messages, sharing our similar
feelings about the trip.
"It just feels right."
"I need to do this."
I'm still asking God for His confirmation.
As soon as He moves
I will move.
Otherwise,
what's the point of standing in church singing
"Where you go, I'll go.
Where you stay, I'll stay.
When you move, I'll move.
I will follow you.
Who You love, I'll love.
How You serve, I'll serve.
If this life I lose,
I will follow You."
In fact, if that is not the call of my heart
and the direct action I intend on taking
what's the point
in calling myself a Christian at all?
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