Thinking Outside the Box

The one thing I noticed the most in working with the ASL in the DR, is that the brothers and sisters really "think outside the box".  What does that mean?  I noticed that the people in their territory may have needs, different from here in the states.  One is that there are so many that are have become deaf, and or deaf/blind as an adult.  When this situation occurs, the person is able to speak.  This makes it advantageous when you are trying to teach someone sign language, as they are able to verbally respond to let you know they are learning correctly. 

One day Rebecca (our oldest daughter - 14 years old) and my husband were able to go preaching with a pioneer sister in Santiago.  They went to visit a sister that was deaf, and almost completely blind.  When I met her at the Kingdom Hall, I had to finger spell my name right in front of her face.  During their visit with this deaf/blind sister they were shown how she is able to share the "truth" with others.  The pioneer sister that had taken my family to visit her had thought outside the box in thinking of a way to help her to still be able to preach to others.  Here is the result of that thinking:

Jeremiah 32:17 - Talks about Jehovah's power and his outstretched arm

By putting the paper around the scripture, it highlights the scripture for her and with the drawing out of the scripture she is able to share the scripture with an interested person

Isaiah 43:10 - "You are my witnesses" says Jehovah

Isaiah 35:5 - Eyes of blind ones will be opened, ears of deaf ones will hear, the lame will climb just as a stag does

The lesson I learned from this situation, and others I witnessed while there, was to not be "hum drum" in our preaching.  As the circumstances surrounding our territory changes, do we?  I witnessed the brothers and sisters being so creative in their thinking, so as to meld with those in their territory.  Whether it was highlighting the scriptures (as shown in the pictures) or making the deaf/blind book that you saw us making at the missionary home, they were truly thinking of the needs of the person they were preaching to, not thinking of what is easiest for themselves. 

Many times it has been recommended that we try preaching at different times of the day or different locations.  I noticed that the pioneers that I joined in preaching do so at all different times.  I assure you that preaching in the morning til noon and then going back for a couple of hours in the late afternoon/evening is not easy.  It would be easier to continue for a long day, which is not possible in the DR because of the traditional siesta time from noon to 2:00 pm.  I must say that I saw a zeal for the ministry that I have tried to bring home and will try to emulate here in my territory.