How did the Deaf School of Plan de Flores get started?
As some of you know, AHMEN and Vanderbilt University have “patterned up” with Cruzadas del Evangelica in the formation and support of a deaf school in Plan de Flores, Honduras. It serves deaf children from the surrounding area, some coming as far as 2 days by bus to attend the school.
Question? Where did the idea come from for a deaf school in this remote Garifuna village in Honduras.
As in many things, there is no simple answer. A year or so after I thought I knew all about the origin of the deaf school, I was talking to Sister Eleanor and had just met Brother John. She made the comment that he was the person responsible for Joshua going to Tegu to learn sign language. I asked Brother John about it and thought I would share what I have learned with you.
to learn more about this deaf school, or to become a part of the support system, contact:
Dr. Tom Camp: llmacamp@gmail.com
Linda Norris: Jerry_Norris@bellsouth.net
Lela Aaron: paperlady35501@yahoo.com
from Brother John: March 2011
ALFREDITO Y MARIANA, DEAF SCHOOL
They were two skinny teenagers in love when first I knew Alfredo Salinas and Mariana Maldonado. Both were active in their church in the remote village of Serrania. Alfredito, as he is called, preached and served in any way he could. Mariana, a gifted speaker herself, also provided music in the form of guitar and song.
Years went by, their love proved true, and finally were married. A year or so later a beautiful baby boy, Josue (Joshua), came to bring delight to his parents, and heartache. From the beginning, it was evident that something was wrong. Josue did not respond to sounds: he was deaf. His parents struggled with guilt and self condemnation: “What did we do wrong? Did we sin to bring this on our son?”
Not at all. God had given them a most unique son. Intelligent beyond the average, alert, sensitive, and curious, Josue explored his silent world with the four senses he still possessed. Missionary John Taylor began to prepare Alfredito and Mariana for the inevitable: Joshua would have to go away to a special school in Tegucigalpa when he reached his fifth birthday.
This was no easy course for the parents to follow. Take their son from his rural environment and place him in the home of other caretakers in the capital city? How could they do that?
The missionary knew personally the director of the Love in Action school, and arranged for Alfredito to teach carpentry in the school. For three years the parents remained with Josue in Tegucigalpa, where they, too, became able communicators in sign language. This time afforded special help for their second son, Christian, who has Down’s Syndrome.
Later the parents returned to Plan de Flores, where they pastured a church. Heavy on Mariana’s heart was the vision to provide education for the many deaf children in the remote areas of north Honduras. She began searching for children with severe hearing loss, many the results of measles the mothers contracted while pregnant, as many as five deaf children in one village of about 50 people.
This was a monumental undertaking: providing education, housing and food for her first nine children with no promise of financial backing. Looking to God for His providence, Mariana and Alfredito opened their home to take the children in, and the school was off the ground.
John Taylor, himself greatly interested in reaching the deaf for Christ and providing a better and less isolated life for them, has encouraged Alfredo and Mariana. Some funds have trickled in at times, and God has provided. At present the school uses the rustic facilities of a carpentry training center Alfredo directs. It is Mariana’s vision to have a school facility specially designed for educating and housing the deaf and their teachers. Land is available in Plan de Flores. Hearing impaired children from the mountain villages can be brought to a school nearer their homes. For these children, going to a school in the capital city is nearly impossible, not only the lack of finances, but having no housing available for their children in a city a world away from their own frame of reference.
Brother John with Joshua as a young man in Tegu.
Joshua is now teaching at the Deaf School in Plan de Flores, Honduras
Marinna with some of her current students in the Plan de Flores, Honduras school for the deaf.
Brother John on the property he bought years ago that will soon be the site of the new school
Mariana in the meantime is studying to qualify herself as a teacher of the deaf. Josue, now graduated from the deaf institute in Tegucigalpa, serves as one of the teachers in the current school at Plan de Flores.
Thanks to you Tom, to Eleanor and to John for providing this insight.
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