I was texting with my best friend who we raised in SLB/ special needs school. He is Christian and we lived in the same city so we texted about Christianity living experiences. There was one interesting question, "Why do you never hang out with your Deaf friends in Jogja?" Yep, that makes me speechless because I have had to leave them in the years since resigned from the Deaf organization. So, I thanked him to be able still remembering me. How should I respond to his question? I say yes, absolutely true. So why happened?
I decided to be a Deaf independent who doesn't relate to any institutions and organizations. Technically, I am still with the Deaf community but I stand up as an independent. Actually, there are many reasons for leaving the Deaf community, but I am sure to answer why did I leave them because I want to serve Christ, learn how to be a Christian, and want to live in a godly Christ. But, at the same time, I would like to want to serve Deaf Christian in the future but I am not sure when I would because only He knows about my time. He wants me to be fixed first before starting the journey. So, I want to start what He wants.
I know the Deaf Christian community has been facing obstacles and challenges over the years. I remind of when I taught a Deaf Papuan who wasn't fluent in Indonesian but it was really tough and ended up failing because he couldn't put his concentration on learning Indonesian. I asked his mom, "Why he can't focus to learn Indonesian?" She told me that when he studied at SLB, Papua mostly just played out with friends and did not learn in class. The teacher didn't work well so I realized there was something left behind away from Javanese provinces about Deaf education. You know that I most care about Deaf education so that was a new experience to teach a Deaf Papuan.
In addition, I ever worked as a captioner for the DLAW (Deaf Legal Advocacy Worldwide) program for Papua was organized by the Embassy of the United States of America for the Republic of Indonesia and DLAW based in Washington, DC about four months in 2020-2021. I met 20 Deaf Papuans who lived in two regions (Sorong and Jayapura). They were overwhelming, outgoing, potential, and fun despite they weren't a quick learner because the Deaf education in Papua was left behind away. We had 5 Deaf teachers, 4 captioners, and 3 organizers to help them to learn about laws, Deaf, sign language, disability rights, and how to advocate. An American Deaf lawyer who serves the DLAW and NAD (National Association of the Deaf) also led our program and was expected to make the change in Papua. They sent Papuan gifts like a noken/ Papuan bag and a Papuan black shirt, I loved it! During the program, I realized they were excited to learn but they faced struggling to learn Indonesian and of course, we had different sign language so there were some word signs that weren't used in Papua and we had to learn their signs. They had confidence but they just didn't know what should they do. That made me sad. I remind of when we attended the Deaf Bible study every Monday night, there was a Deaf Papuan that I worked for attending the study and it made my tears and touched me about how she struggled to learn and listen to His words. She is a Deaf mom of a child and had to organize her time to keep her baby, attend the program, learn the Bible, and work. She was an amazing woman that I ever met virtually. I loved how she tried to ask and not fear her mistakes.
So, as a Deaf Christian, I have emotional feelings for them and I want to serve them but I just don't know when I would because I can't decide without His involvement. If He calls me, I will go. I have a lot of will to serve Deaf Christian in Indonesia or other countries, and rural areas that are unstrategic to public facilities. So, I need to learn how to be a Christian first before starting the journey.
So, you don't need to be worried about why I left the Deaf community therefore in fact, I am still with the Deaf community but I just need to learn how to be a Christian. That's my goal right now. I have my dream that needs to be chased and many works here. I'm going to pray for the Deaf community that I love and raised.
Thanks for still remembering me! I wish God bless you.
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