I hope you hear from your long lost friend. I met a lady that did signing in New Brunswick but i think she was from Ontario. Her name was Anne. She is deceased now. Did you know her? What a wonderful gift you have been given to sign. Keep us up to date
So many feelings - I'm waiting to exhale
by Lady Lee 25 Replies latest jw friends
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bikerchic
How exciting! I can't wait to hear the outcome I sure hope it's a good one.
Interesting story too. I was one of those who liked to sit close enough to watch the signing rather than paying attention to the speaker. My sisters congergation had about 12 deaf people in it and they had one whole section on the side of the hall just for them to sit in and a platform made especially for the interpretor.
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Es
Oh ladylee what a fantastic story....im so happy for you let us know how it goes
es
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sass_my_frass
I was crossing my fingers but then couldn't type.... so all the best with how it goes!
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Lady Lee
still no email. If she checks her email as often as her daughter does it might take a while.
This whole thing has brought back so many memories.
The people in the deaf group welcomed me so openly. I became very close to most of them.
When one sister's (D) husband was hit by a car I was called to act as interpreter at the hospital. Tragically he did not survive. I was with the family when the doctor came and told A that her husband did not survive. I was with the family for the funeral and all the estate legalities after.
D and her sister (A) and their husbands had been caring for D and A's mother. She was deaf, blind and had Alzheimer's. D's mother died shortly after D's husband's death.
About a year later A had breast cancer. I went with A to the doctor and through all the tests. I stood by her while the doctor's performed the biopsy. She was awake for this and the doctor's needed to talk to her throughout the test. Sadly she did not survive the cancer and I stayed with the family. A opted to die at home. D and I held her hands as she took her last breath. I was there to deal with the coroner and the paramedics.
It was during A's illness that I got into trouble with the elders and my husband. The elders wanted me to pay more attention to service and meetings. My husband wanted me to stay home to care for our family instead of going back and forth to help D and A during this time. My girls were in school - they didn't need me during the day. And my heart would not allow me to abandon these friends who were going through so much. At one point I asked the elders if they could arrange some sisters to come over to help the family. I think a couple of sisters showed up one or twice. But most of the support went to an elder who was also dying at home. He was swamped with visitors.
All of this happened very close to the end of my JW life. I could not understand how a group of people who were supposed to have love in their hearts for their brothers could be so cold and hard when someone needed their help so badly. At the time I thought it was just our congregation. Now I know better.
These people treated me like family. They were the closest thing to real loving family I had ever known. I was welcomed with open arms. I have never once regretting learning sign language or the help I gave to these families. I stood my ground when the elders and my husband (also an elder) and tried to get me to limit my help to these families during A's final days.
And I would do the same thing again.
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Tea4Two
What a wonderful part of your life....I can't wait until you hear from her and let us know how she is doing.....
On pins and needles here!
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Snoozy
That's so great Lady Lee. I always wanted to learn sign language but never knew anyone that could help me. I signed up for a course at the community college but couldn't make it to the classes.
I hope the dear lady isn't a witness anymore..think of all you could share with her now.
You could introduce them to us..
Hope all goes well for you and let us know what goes on..good or bad.
Snoozy Q...
ps..and good for you helping the ones that needed it. I had the same situation. I didn't work so a lot of the witnesses called on me for help. Sometimes I felt abused but I knew in my heart I had to do it. My hubby objected too.But I remember doing some sick sisters laundry at midnight a lot of times or I would be doing my housework till all hours of the night so I wouldn't give him any reason to complain..but he did anyway.. Even tho my house was spotless!..(Well almost)
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Lady Lee
Snoozy it really is beyond my comprehension that a religion that says "you will know we are God's chosen people because of the love we show to others" can be so hard hearted.
I'm not a saint. not by a long shot. But my heart has always gone out to those who need it. Having gone through so much in my own life, I always reached out to those who needed just that wee bit more than others. And no one, not an elder, or a husband or a religion will ever tell me compassion, love, and helping others is wrong or bad or less important than meetings and field service.
No wonder I'm not a JW anymore
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Bumble Bee
I'm not a saint. not by a long shot. But my heart has always gone out to those who need it. Having gone through so much in my own life, I always reached out to those who needed just that wee bit more than others. And no one, not an elder, or a husband or a religion will ever tell me compassion, love, and helping others is wrong or bad or less important than meetings and field service.
AMEN SISTER!!!!
What a great friend you were! That is what friendship is all about. You sound like such a loving and loyal person. Anybody would be honoured to call you a friend. Shame on your husband and that elder!!!!
I too loved to be able to sit and watch the sign intrepeters. It was facinating. Did you ever intpret at Copps in Hamilton - that's where I would try and get a seat with a good view. My husband learned ASL a long time ago - he still remembers abit.
BB
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BluesBrother
Lovely story Lady Lee. I do hope that the contact is made with your friend.
Signing is a big thing among the dubs around here these days. They have unashamedly said that they see a "field" there that is ripe to be cultivated and many dubs have learned the sign language for that purpose. I have extended family members who do it .
That goes along with learning the language of any ethnic groups in their area. They reckon , quite rightly , that such ones are very likely to listen to someone who speaks their tongue in a foreign land. The same is true of the deaf.