Laos | Actions speak louder than words
As we continue our year-long journey around the world, our team has had the privilege of meeting incredible individuals who are making a difference in their communities. In Laos, we had the honour of meeting a remarkable woman who has dedicated her life to serving deaf children and nurturing their journey to adulthood.
This selfless individual has founded a school for deaf children, providing them with a safe and supportive environment to learn and grow. Her passion and love for these children were life changing to experience, and we were eager to support her in any way we could. We spent the next few weeks engaging with the students , playing games, and learning sign language.
The experience was eye-opening, to say the least. We quickly realised how much we take our hearing for granted. Simple tasks like communicating with each other became a challenge, but it also brought us closer together as a team. We learned to appreciate the beauty of sign language and the importance of connection and community.
Here is something Mariska Brits wrote as she thought about her time in Laos.
“Die land wat my geleer het om elke dag meer dankbaar te wees, maar nie net vir die “kos op die tafel en ń dak oor my kop nie”. ek dink ons sê te maklik ons is dankbaar. dan iewers in laos ontmoet jy ń hele gemeenskap dowe mense en jy sien hoe hulle daagliks hulle lewe aanpak wat so anders as ons sin lyk en dan kry die woord dankbaar ń nuwe betekenis. ek gaan dan op my kniee en loof ons G O D vir my gehoor en elke liewe ding wat ek vanselfsprekend gevat het.
hier is ń paar vra wat jy oor kan dink?
– hoe werk ń dowe kerk?
– wanneer jy by ń gewone skool tydens pouse sal instap, sal jy nie die kinders se stemme mis nie, by ń dowe skool is dit stil, maar die vreugde is steeds tasbaar in die atmosfeer.
– hoe bid dowe mense, want hulle kan ook nie klank met hulle monde vorm nie?
– hoe hoor hulle, wanneer hulle baba huil in die aand?
– hoe weet hulle as iemand in gevaar is? want ons skree vir mekaar.
– hulle kan mekaar ook nie net gou vinnig bel nie.
– ons assosieer kalmte met die geluid van water(reën/see) waarmee assosieer hulle kalmte?
die skuif jou perspektief ń bietjie.”
In English this translates:
“The country that taught me to be more grateful every day, but not just for the “food on the table and a roof over my head”. I think we say too easily we are grateful. Then somewhere in Laos you meet a whole community of deaf people and you see how they approach their lives on a daily basis that looks so different from ours and then the word grateful gets a new meaning. I then get on my knees and praise our G O D for hearing me and every single thing I took for granted.
Here are a few questions you can think about?
– How does a deaf church work?
– when you will walk into a regular school during break, you will not miss the children’s voices, at a deaf school it is quiet, but the joy is still tangible in the atmosphere.
– how do deaf people pray, because they also cannot form sound with their mouths?
– how do they hear, when their baby cries at night?
– how do they know when someone is in danger? Because we yell at each other.
– they can’t call each other just quickly.
– we associate calmness with the sound of water(rain/sea) what do they associate calmness with?”
As a team we really resonated with these words.
During our time here, what struck us most was our host’s dedication to really making people feel heard. She had a way of understanding and communicating with her students that was truly remarkable. Her love and care for these children were a testament to God’s work in her life. We were inspired by her selflessness and commitment to serving those who often go unnoticed.
One of the most memorable moments was when we learned to worship in sign language. It was a beautiful experience, and we felt the presence of God in a new and profound way. We realised that worship is not limited to spoken language but can be expressed through movement and gesture.
This is what Liana experienced:
“During a time of prayer I felt the Lord call me to a time of silence, where I was not to say a word for a week. Through this experience I was able to connect with the Deaf students on a deeper level but most of all I found that I had the opportunity to speak to Lord more. After frustrating moments where I couldn’t communicate effectively, I went to the Lord and gave him my stress, anxiety and discomfort and he really sat with me in that. As someone who loves to sing to the Lord I was initially sad to not be able to do that in our team’s worship time, however I discovered the richness of discovering a new way of worship. Over all the experience taught me to seek God first in times of worry and it gave me new perspective on the power of silence. It also taught me not to put worship in a box.”
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 150:6
In addition to our time at the school for deaf children, we also had the opportunity to teach English at local schools in Laos. It was a joy to connect with the children and see their faces light up as they learned new words and phrases.
But our time with our host wasn’t just about teaching and learning; it was also about serving. We helped her prepare a piece of land that will one day become a vocational training centre for adult deaf individuals. This land also has the potential to become a cultural hub where tourists can come to experience Laos’ rich culture, and some of the deaf adults will have the opportunity to work in the hospitality industry, sharing their talents and skills with visitors.
One evening, she shared her testimony with us, and it was a truly moving experience. She spoke of how God had called her to serve the deaf community and how He had equipped her with the skills and passion to make a difference. Her story was a testament to the Lord’s work in her life, and we were inspired by her faith and dedication. She is a game-changer in her community, and her selflessness and love have made a lasting impact on the lives of many individuals. Though many have regarded the deaf community in Laos as undervalued she knows that that is not how God sees it.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
As we continue our journey, we carry her story and the lessons we learned in Laos with us. We are grateful for the opportunity to have met her and to have been a part of her work, even if only for a short time. Her legacy will live on in our hearts, and we will continue to be inspired by her love and service to others. The Lord is truly working through her, and we are honoured to have witnessed it firsthand.
Sending love,
Eastbound.