Manos Felices

From the day Rosita came to Casa de Esperanza, we knew she could not go to public school. We prayed and prayed before the audiology test that she had some hearing. When we learned she had no hearing, we did not know what we were going to do.

I know I have prayed many times for a way to educate her. I am sure everyone here has also prayed. A few times Karen and I have prayed together over her needs, as well as the rest of the children.

A couple of months ago, we learned of a ministry called Manos Felices (Happy Hands). The way we understood it, they would send someone out here a couple of times a week and teach her sign language. When we began to check into this, the people at Manos Felices told us they were a ministry and they did not have the staff nor the money to come to Santa Ana. If we wanted her in the program, we would have to bring her. This seemed impossible to do everyday as their school is just a block from the national stadium, a good hour from here, maybe and hour and a half in the morning traffic.

We had absolutely no choice but to keep praying about this.

Last week, the director came out here. We learned Rosita had gone to preschool there. We learned she is so far behind educationally. We learned there is bus routes. Not all the way out here, but if we only have to take her to the airport or a bit farther, we felt we could do that. Still going to be a challenge, a huge challenge, but doable.

Manos Felices began as a ministry to deaf adults. It was soon discovered that the deaf, as often handicapped people are in Honduras, were just left alone and ignored, to fend for themselves. The deaf adults the ministry with whom the ministry was trying to work, had no education and no skills. Thus, the decision to start the school. To educate and train these people to live successfully in society.

Today Karen and I had a meeting at the school at 11:30. We left here shortly after 8:30 as we had other necessary business in town. And Miss Rosita was certainly not on her best behavior. At the bank, I ran upstairs to cash a check and Karen and Rosita stayed in the car. We all went in the candle shop. We did our business very quickly and got out of there before we had to purchase the whole store. We went to Mailboxes, Etc. Karen had business there, so I stayed in the car with Rosita. She kept unlocking the back door like she was going to get out and run. Everytime she unlocked the back door, the car alarm went off. I was in the backseat with her almost immediately.

This completed our before-the-meeting errands and it was 11:00. We decided to go on to Manos Felices and just tell them we were early. They graciously welcomed us. Some of the teachers remembered Rosita and were glad to see her. They took her to play and color.

We were taken on a tour of the school. Immediately, Karen and I both felt better. The walls are painted in bright cheery colors, some with murals. Teachers were there preparing for school to begin next week.

Rosita will be taught sign language, spanish, Bible, art, math, science, and social studies. As she gets older, she will be taught computer. They told us that, with good computer skills, deaf people can often get jobs as a data entry clerk because there is very little communication involved.

When we sat down for the meeting, we listened and we asked questions. There is a lot of involvement required from the family. We plan to do that, but it will be a challenge. I made sure that any of us could come to the meetings and such. If one person had to commit to that, it would really be hard. We have to learn sign. I haven't even mastered spanish and I need to learn another language.

We paid her fees and bought her gym uniform. Rosita had to see and feel and smell and hug on the uniform.

The days will be long for Rosita. We will be leaving here between 6:00 andd 6:30 every day. She will not return until 3:30 or 4:00. She has known true hunger. She steals food and acts famished all the time. Karen is afraid she will eat her lunch the minute she gets on the bus. She may. But then, she won't have any lunch.

We know when we take a child, we have to educate and provide for her needs. We are committed to that. This is going to be a huge challenge and we will get it done. We know that, for Rosita, Manos Felices is truly an answered prayer. I am most grateful for Manos Felices and that the desire was placed on someone's heart to help the deaf of Honduras.

Terri