OH MY GOODNESS GUYS!!!!

I leave in about 24 hours!!!!

I will be in Bogata Colombia for a week! I will be helping a missions camp for deaf children and young adults! (I have been practicing my sign language!)

My missions team will be helping the camp put on games and fairs, setting up courses, doing face painting, teaching and helping, cooking and cleaning. Its going to be so much fun!

I am the "Official Photographer" for the trip. At first I thought this just meant taking pictures of the trip to put together a presentation for my church, to show them what we did while we were there.
But
as it turns out.....
Deaf Missions International is actually wanting me to take pictures for them as well! They are going to be revamping their website and brochures! Its been around 10-15 years since they have had decent pictures done.

I feel so honored! I just... I can't even express my joy to be able to take the photos for this wonderful ministry! My skills will be used to help children and adults all across the world, to know that there is a mission out there that wants to help them!

I was told that there are 2 kinds of Sign Language.

First is the natural Sign Language, which doesn't have any form of grammar, or rules. Basically you have to construct the sentence after the person signs it all to you. (Example: You how many sisters have? or Store to you go?)

The second less popular is the grammatical Sign Language. Which is taught with grammar and rules, similar to English. The reason this is being taught, is because, even though the Deaf can communicate and maybe read separate words... they get confused and cannot understand when they are presented with a book Due to not having grammar and rules, reading is VERY difficult.

Deaf Missions International believes in teaching the Deaf the second form of Sign language, as a second language. Not taking away their native Sign Language, but teaching them the grammatically correct Sign Language as a second language so they can read books!

So it would be like me, learning Spanish. The teacher doesn't take away my English or tell me that speaking English is wrong, but adding to my speaking abilities by showing me and teaching me how to speak Spanish so I can communicate with those who speak Spanish!

It really is a wonderful thing they are doing! I am so blessed to be able to be a part of this wonderful trip!

Needless to say, I will be out of interwebs for the week. I leave 04/01/2015 and come back 04/08/2015. So I will be MIA, to all DA activities and all Skype and all Group stuff.

I will try to catch up as fast as possible when I get back, and let you guys know how the trip went!

Love you guys, thanks again for all the love and support I get from you! <3
-Jocy