In the last 12 years I have been involved in the deaf ministry in our church, I have come to realize what an important role I have as an interpretor. I have been so blessed by seeing the facial expressions on the faces of our deaf friends after I have interpreted a hymn, or the tears in their eyes during prayer. I am thankful that God has allowed me to serve as His messenger as I bring the words of the preacher and our special singers into a language they can understand. I wonder if Anne Sullivan realized the importance of her role in Helen Keller's life?
In 1888, Anne accompanied Helen to the Perkins Institution where they attended together, then New York City's Wright-Humasen School, then the Cambridge School for Young Ladies, and finally to Radcliffe College. Keller graduated from Radcliffe in 1904. What an amazing friend Anne was to Helen. Not only did she teacher her how to communicate, but she also served as her interpretor in college. There weren't many schools that a deaf child, or a blind child could go to, let alone a deaf-blind child. Not many people knew how to effectively communicate with them.
Anne got permission from Keller's father to keep the girl away from the rest of the family in a little house in their garden. Anne loved Helen dearly and loved her like she was her child. Her first task was to instill discipline in Helen. Keller's big breakthrough in communication came one day when she realized that the motions her teacher was making on her palm, while running cool water over her hand, symbolized the idea of "water". She then nearly exhausted Sullivan demanding the names of all the other familiar objects in her world (including her prized doll). *from Wikipedia
What a tremendous breakthrough for Helen! She finally understood what her friend Anne was telling her. Do you ever have a time when you finally understand a concept and then your hunger for more knowledge becomes so overwhelming that you just can't get enough information?
This must have been such an exciting moment for Helen AND Anne! Anne was Helen's mediator with the world. Anne showed such determination and compassion to spend so much time by Helen's side through all those years. A true friend and an outstanding teacher.There are many schools for the deaf and blind now where they can learn sign language and braille. I know I couldn't part with my children in order to send them to a deaf school, and that decision would be easy since I already know sign language. However, I do not know how to teach a child braille. Anne and Helen had something in common, they had to overcome a great challenge in their lives. We each have different challenges and sometimes they seem overwhelming. There are others who face challenges as well. Some people come to America in search of freedom, but they don't know how to speak English. Most schools now offer free ESL(English as a Second Language) classes during the summer for those individuals.
Most of us do quite well with English, have you ever considered volunteering in a class to help teach children how to speak English? You can speak to your Pastor and see if ESL can be offered to help reach those children and adults in your community. Does your church have a deaf ministry that you could be a part of? Maybe your school or homeschool co-op has someone that could teach sign language. Find out how you can be a helper to someone else in need. You could be that one person who makes a difference in another person's life.
Exodus 4:11, " And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? "(KJV) Leviticus 19:14, " Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD."(KJV) Isaiah 43:7-9, "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth."(KJV)
God has made the deaf, the blind, and the mute. We are to NOT put a stumblingblock in front of them and we are COMMANDED to bring them unto the Lord so they may be taught the message of salvation. Verse 10 says, "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen:" If the Lord has placed it on your heart to learn sign language, then I invite you to visit me at The HomeSpun Life for articles and resources for the deaf ministry.
Topics of Interest: deaf, ministry, friendship, discipleship, Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller
