July 1 – Out of the ten people who attended the Sign Language class previously, 5 show up along with a couple of children. The task is to give them a test on what they have learned so far. It ends up being a review of what they should have learned so far.
July 8 – Four people show up for the class today. These are not the same people as last Sunday. What are the odds in that happening? We give them the same test that we gave last Sunday and again it is a review.
July 15 – Three people show up for class. Are we losing everyone already? I show them a video I found and purchased on the internet, The Patriotic Spirit. Steve explains a few of her signs, and they seem to enjoy the video. (I love it.)
I learn that our next Stake Conference is August 19. Sister Walker’s husband is seriously ill, and I do not want to take her away from her most important concern. I rack my brain on how to find Steve an interpreter. It would be so nice to be able to go to Stake Conference at least once in our lifetime. I call the Salt Lake Temple Deaf Program Coordinator and leave a message (no one home).
July 18 – I send an email to our RS President and a copy to our bishop.
“Aug. 19 is Stake Conference. After the last Stake Conference disaster, I was hoping that Sister Walker (Steve’s favorite interpreter) would be able to interpret for him at next month’s conference. She is having family problems however and will not be able to do it.”
“Considering the stress I went through at our last Stake Conference, I am not willing to put myself through that stress again. I have discussed it with Steve. He would love to be able to go to Stake Conference, but it’s not going to happen unless he has an interpreter. He feels (and I agree) that the ward (or stake) leadership should provide an interpreter.”
“I have tried to call a couple of people I have phone numbers for and can’t find anyone home. I have called the coordinators for the Deaf program for the Salt Lake Temple and they are not home (and have not returned my message).”
“I found an LDS ASL Interpreter’s Discussion board on the internet and asked if anyone would be willing to drive to Stansbury. It was suggested I call the Salt Lake Community College to see if a couple of students would be willing to do it. I wouldn’t count on that, and I’m not sure how well a student would do the job.”
“I even called Interwest Interpreter Services and said I would pay for an interpreter if they would provide one. But they do not do church services. They suggested I call the Deaf Ward. The only phone number I have for the Deaf Ward is a V/TTY number for the office.”
“I’ve had it. I challenge anyone in the ward to find an interpreter for Steve. Here are some phone numbers that someone else might have some luck with:”
July 22 – Four people show up for class. We show the video Sign Me a Story and have fun learning those signs.
July 24 – The Salt Lake Temple Deaf Program Coordinator returns my call, and I ask him if he can help me find an interpreter for Stake Conference. He says they will be meeting on July 31st, He cannot guarantee results, but he will bring it up in the meeting.
July 25 – The RS President tells me she talked to our Stake Representative and gave him a copy of my email and the phone numbers I gave her. She asks me how to go about calling these people. (Pick up the phone and call, I guess.) I tell her that the Temple Deaf Coordinator returned my call and let’s wait until after he has his meeting on the 31st. I am feeling a bit humbled because I didn’t have enough faith and patience before I sent her the email on July 18.
July 29 – Two people show up for Sign class. I am getting apologies and excuses from everyone, which might make them feel better, but it doesn’t help me or Steve at all. Our choruster sister seems to be the only person who is sensing the seriousness of this class. For the first ten minutes of class, she is the only person we are teaching until another person shows up late. We show the video tape of the LDS Dictionary of Sign Language terms. I ask them to not focus on the person signing the introduction since he is going too fast for them, but to listen to what the narrator has to say. The first three sentences are especially important.
“The Church has a divine commission to teach our Father’s children and help them return to our Father’s presence. A person must understand the principles of the Gospel before he can incorporate them into his life. Gaining this understanding can be particularly difficult for the hearing impaired, since communication is often restricted to visually oriented systems.”
The dictionary was created to provide standardized signs for the entire Church. We continue the tape and go through some of the signs until class time is over. I tell them that there are over 350 signs on the tape. Our students are looking a bit overwhelmed. (Or is it just me who is overwhelmed?)
August 2 – I receive a phone call from the Temple Deaf Coordinator who tells me that Sister Walker’s husband died this morning. My heart is touched for this sweet couple. The bishopric of the Deaf ward is busy handling the funeral arrangements, but the coordinator is going to meet with one of the counselors on Tuesday to see if they can provide interpreters for Steve on a regular basis. I tell him that would be wonderful! I explain some of my frustrations to him. He chuckles and says, “We each have our challenges in this life. This one is yours.” All I can say is, “That’s for sure!”
I send an email to our RS President and a copy to our bishop:
“I got a call from the Salt Lake Temple Deaf Program Coordinator this morning. He is going to meet with a member of the bishopric of the Salt Lake Deaf 1st Ward to see if they can help us out with providing interpreters for Steve on a regular basis. I don’t know if that means every Sunday or what, but I have renewed hope. I am happy that you talked to our stake representative even though it appears that calling the Temple Deaf Coordinator is working.”
“Also, maybe Sister Marshall will want to interpret for Steve occasionally.”
“By the way, Steve got a new job in Tooele. He’s pretty excited about it (ask him).”
August 3 – I get an email from our bishop. He is encouraged by my email and says they will ask Sister Marshall to interpret for Steve. “I think she can do it.” I am immediately flooded with doubts. My first thought is remembering what I read in the guide for our Sign Language class in the section titled, “Guide for Discussion Starters for Church Interpreters.”
The Discussion Starters consist of actual statements made by church interpreters. One statement reads, “I didn’t think I was ready to interpret. I’ve only taken a few sign language classes, but my pastor said I was ready.” Can the average pastor (or bishop in this case) judge your readiness? (No.) How, then, can you know you are ready to interpret? (feedback from mentors and interpreters in the field, evaluation; etc.)
I am feeling that I made a mistake by suggesting in the email that Sister Marshall might want to interpret for Steve occasionally. I didn’t mean to make it a calling or make it her responsibility. I do have faith that bishops are inspired men of God, but I worry that Sister Marshall is going to feel pressured into doing something she is not ready to do, or maybe I am simply projecting what happened to me in the ward. Steve is worried about it also. After all, it’s his understanding of the Gospel and his eternal welfare we are talking about here. He is worried that Bishop will tell the bishopric in the Deaf ward that we have an interpreter and they don’t have to provide one. I don’t think he will do that. I don’t think he knows how to call a deaf person.
I send a strong heartfelt prayer to God, “Heavenly Father, please send someone from the Deaf ward to save Steve from all of us well meaning but ignorant people in the hearing ward.”
August 4 – Steve is discussing a few concerns about his new job. He says, “I want you to know that this is the last time I am looking for a job.” I am not exactly sure what that means, but I sign to him, “I feel same way about church. If we not receive interpreters from Deaf ward, I done.” I am not exactly sure what that means either.
Filed under: Deaf in a Hearing Church, Sign Language
What a shock to find my name and E-mail on the “leave a reply” at the end of your blog. Wonder who put it there?
Anyway, I’m happy to respond. Who is Steve? Is he your Son or Husband? I appreciate your challenge in educating the hearing in the hearing wards and Stakes (a tremendous task), but I have a good question: Why is it you are trying to do the nearly impossible like so many other couples or parents who want the “best” for their families in the Hearing Wards while they often grow up with frustration in finding terps?
Wouldn’t it be better for you to attend the Deaf Ward with Steve and grow up together as a family, experiencing the full exposure to all Church programs, including Stake Conference? In a situation like this, the only frustrations you will have are those brought on by life itself. Isn’t that much more normal?
We have interpreters in the deaf wards who are called to serve in that capacity.
I have seen several families who decided they would go to the deaf ward with their deaf children or spouses, and they are some of the neatest people I have met. They and/or their children not only learn much about the Gospel, but can serve in any capacity and relate to other members who are fine examples of how to cope with their hearing loss and serve the Lord faithfully.
They often become enthusiastic missionaries and so forth. Try it, you’ll like it. The Deaf can do anything except hear perfectly. That includes being active in their Wards and Stakes, serving as Bishops, R.S. Presidents, High Councilmen, etc. The man you speak of who just passed away was the only deaf Temple Sealer in the entire world. I enjoy my current calling as SS teacher.
I’m also a full time Seminary teacher for the deaf who happens to be deaf also. We are now setting up Videophone Seminary & Institute of Religion classes for those who can’t find interpreters for CES classes. Please call me at SnowRD@ldsces.org for more information.
-Richard Snow
Dear Richard Snow:
I feel I need to respond to your comment. First of all nothing is wrong with the Deaf Ward.
I just feel that the Lord wants me to be in my local Hearing Ward. Julia and I have many friends we enjoy seeing regularly at church services. I am Julia’s husband, BTW.
Let us not forget the gift of AGENCY.
Steve
Re. the class: Sometimes a class like this serves to give several people a little information which is helpful, even if they don’t learn enough skill to communicate. The results of the class may not be what you’d hoped, but nevertheless there’s been some benefit–probably more than you’ll realize. And if even one person learns some basis communication skills, I’ll call that a success!
Hang in there–
MrsD
Mrs D:
Hello, again! Yes… one of the primary intents of the class is to give people at least a basic understanding and some basic means to communicate if nothing else.
Steve
Thanks for your reply, Steve. I apologize for not knowing whether you were the son or husband, as I only read this last blog. Now I know, and will respond accordingly.
I sure do understand free agency, as I have taught Seminary for 35 years and it’s one of my favorite subjects. “Been there and done that”. Shirley and I have been married for 42 years, and we have been in both hearing and deaf wards and have 4 children and 7 grandchildren, all hearing.
Now, in your blog, Your wife quotes, “I’ve had it. I challenge anyone in the ward to find an interpreter for Steve” also she prays, “Heavenly Father, please send someone from the Deaf ward to save Steve from all of us well meaning but ignorant people in the hearing ward.”
Sounds like your wife is frustrated and asking for help. Pat is our Primary President and has been our set-apart interpreter in the Deaf ward on Sundays for a long time. Bless her heart. That’s why we have deaf wards so we can all work together and provide ourselves with good terps.
So your “AGENCY” is O.K. as long as it doesn’t interfere with the agency of others. You have to share Pat with 300 members of the deaf ward. Thus my former question “Why are you trying to do the nearly impossible”? You want someone from the Deaf ward to “save you from ignorance” on the part of the well-meaning people in the hearing wards. I suppose we could do a lot more together as a deaf community than you guys out there trying to make it on your own. And the terp agencies don’t work on Sunday. Sad.
We also need 2 interpreters to switch every 20 min. to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. It would be a form of abuse if you made any one person do all the terping. I’m not saying you do, but that it’s a double challenge to find two terps and a triple challenge to find 2 qualified terps, especially on Sunday.
It’s a quadriple challenge to get the Bishop and Stake President and the members of your Ward to understand this. And a quintiple challenge to train anyone to sign good enough to help us learn the Gospel. So I hope your Bishop and Stake President and members of your Stake will all read this.
I understand traveling from Tooele to SLC Deaf Ward is expensive with today’s gas prices. Good luck on this challenge, too.
That’s why I say, “nearly impossible” from experience. It can be done, but it leaves a trail of frustrated people who get a great experience and many many blessings from above. They deserve it. But The Church needs to understand what we go through to learn the Gospel.
Again, Good Luck! All I can really do is pray for you. I hope you don’t find my reply offensive, but I’m only stating the naked truth. I can emphathize with you both.
Sincerely yours,
Richard