Well, we avoided the hospital visits, mostly. Folks are doing well, so my plan for the final 2023 week was Christmas Monday (nothing changes that), packing Tuesday, driving Wednesday, and working Thursday with a year-end meeting and more work Friday. I have mentioned that we make plans & God makes popcorn, right?
Tuesday was spent on the couch, Covid being one of my surprise Christmas gifts. Stubbornness & Dad’s homemade sodium-free chicken soup had me packing Wed, driving Thu, and meeting online Fri before returning to bed. A trip to Urgent Care Thu night (because family insisted) confirmed I’m in the recovery phase and lungs are clear. It’s all time, rest, and isolation for a while yet – internet suggests 2 weeks at least. My folks have tested negative twice, so my primary concern is resolved.
So with all things stable, of course I intended to knuckle-down and complete the curriculum development task by the deadline. And then I got put in time-out, again. This has been the pattern for a while, and I neither like it nor understand it. My mind has recently been going back to two things… Psalm 23, “He makes me lie down” and the 70 years of exile to let the land have its sabbath recovery because Israel wasn’t honoring God’s planting & resting schedule. Whether either of these actually apply and the extent to which I’m responsible are the current questions.
What I can assure people is that the limited Deaf Kids Connect hours are still more than I’ve successfully brought in for my own sponsorship. Every donation given for my sake (and more) is still going into my salary for insurance, fuel, and food expenses. Every gift is still appreciated, though I’m horrible about saying so. I have plans to improve in that area this year. This website is where accountability will be found.
In February, we will have a conference of those who are expected to join us. At that time, I’ll present the SignLab, it’s goals, successes, and what it will take to both finish it well and refit it for a post-covid world.
In April, the team and I will go to TX for the Deaf Missions conference and the release of the Jesus Film in American Sign Language (ASL). It’s the story of Jesus’ earthly ministry with all the participants communicating in the heart language of the Deaf. There’s no need to switch your eyes back to captions or a small interpreter’s window to know the dialogue. We’ll be releasing the accompanying curriculum for families and children at that time.
After that conference, I plan to spend some more time in TX, as I haven’t visited other family and ministries there since 2019.
As of May 1, I plan to be a 1099 contractor. The Deaf Kids Connect team is shifting to a contract rather than staff basis. My season with this ministry has always been an “until next assignment” arrangement. My varied skills and rare perspective supported the ministry through initial development of the SignLab, the loss of Judy and knowledge transfer to Paula, finishing of DWW5, development of the App, and transition into and out of the Bash Street location. As you have supported me, you have supported all that, and it’s not grandiose to say the ministry would likely not be here without you. As Mordecai told Esther, God will do His will with or without you, but perhaps you were put here for this.
Deaf Kids Connect is starting fresh with a new name, new leader, new location, new work paradigm, and new approach. Our goal is still to bring the truth of Jesus to the minds and hearts of Deaf kids in American Sign Language.
My calling is still to introduce people to the Biblical Jesus before they leave the planet or I do. My core people group and language set are the Deaf & ASL users, but I’m also ministering among others. When Jesus said “go make disciples of all,” He wasn’t kidding, and He wasn’t sorting folks out based on their publicly esteemed worthiness. I fall short of understanding and following many of His instructions, but may I continue to strive to honor that one.
As always, there’s the James 4:13-16 paraphrase, we make plans, God makes popcorn.
Happy New Year everyone, welcome to 2024!