Her name is Analie, she’s 20 years old, and she’s deaf. Last week and this week she was wearing lemon yellow pants and a near toothless, but cheerful smile. She had wide set brown eyes, and dark hair tucked into a pony tail. I saw her last Saturday for the first time at Awana amidst the hundreds of scrambling kids. I was sitting on a bamboo table teaching one of the children the sign language alphabet and Analie and I kept making eye contact. I saw her signing and using hand motions to another woman so I assumed she was unable to hear.
Watching her out of the corner of my eye I had the sudden urge to walk up to her and ask if she was deaf because I knew some sign language but I chickened out. Apparently God wasn’t going to let me off that easy.
This week I saw her again. Actually, I was sitting right next to her. I was playing with some kids and asking questions when I saw her signing something to the ladies she was with. I turned smiled and asked them…”Is she deaf?” Then I signed H-E-L-L-O without waiting for an answer. I didn’t know if sign language was the same over here as it is in America but I tried anyways…
She smiled and leaned in…
Her fingers formed H-I.
What your name? I signed
A-N-A-L-I-E she spelt out slowly.
I pointed to myself… L-A-C-E-Y.
You are beautifull I signed. She smiled.
And that was about the extent of my signing skills.
Alright, I had just started a conversation with a deaf woman and knew about 10 words. What happened next?
Her younger sister sat nearby and so I started asking her questions to ask Analie. It was a short conversation but I felt such joy in being able to have a dialogue with her even if it was limited. I asked her how to say dog, pig, tree and other simple words. She would laugh and then show me how and I would repeat it with my fingers but without her skill.
Then I signed…
You funny.
I want baby girl.
Tree is beautiful.
Father and mother old.
So maybe it wasn’t the most fascinating conversation ever but you could tell by the smile on her face how much she loved the attention, having someone to converse with, and she eagerly showed me how to sign words. She had a voice for those few minutes because someone else listened.
How many people out there have a voice but don’t get the chance to be listened to, or they don't speak up?
Something God has been pressing on me lately is my voice. I have a voice, one he created to speak words of life into other people. But because I worry about what others might think I keep my mouth shut. I keep my voice hidden. I can’t imagine being deaf and having no use of my words. God created me with such purpose. He has given me my words and I’m challenging myself to speak up more and more because God has blessed me with words covered in his love. He’s blessed you. We can be heard unlike some people, so let’s speak up…..
I look forward to speaking to Analie again and this time I am going to sign to her
Jesus thinks you are beautiful.
Jesus loves you Analie!
