dem eh watch meh

Hello Everyone,

Whats going on?  How early is too early to start a party?  1pm, 3pm, 10am?  Well, the other day our neighbors started partying at 4am.  Started, not finished.  The houses here do not have double pane windows

Salima and Jaide

and insulated walls.  They're made of just some wood and the windows are paper thin.  Our neighbors might as well have been in our bedroom partying.  Then in the midst of the talking and laughing, we hear someone sweeping.  The wife next door is a little O.C.D when it comes to sweeping.  She sweeps around her house at least 3 times a day.  Now, in the midst of a party she decides to sweep.  Really, that couldn't wait.  We were so tired that day.  4 am, come on!

Guyana trash service

Two weeks ago, we found out that a deaf Bible student, Salima, that used to live in New Amsterdam had moved to our side of the river.  She knows ASL pretty well.  So, upon finding her, she was happy to see us and start studying again.  On Wednesday, Jaide, Tinisha and I (Graem) went to study with her.  We started discussing death.  She already understood clearly what happens when we die.  But, when we started discussing the resurrection, she would sign, "No, we die and go back to dirt.  Your family or friend dies you are sad, you go home pray and God helps."  She did not understand the resurrection hope the Bible promises. By using pictures and reasoning on scriptures she was able to grasp it.  It was wonderful to see her learn it.  We explained that in the future Paradise she would see her mother again and she would be happy and hugging her just like the pictures show.  Her smile was priceless.  Those are the moments that keep us going.

Another moment like that came when I was studying with Daio.  Daio is a man who does not know any sign language.  He has home signs, and knows a few we have taught him.  This week he learned God has a name. First, we had to teach him what a name is, and then the sign for name.  By using my driver's license and his ID card we got the idea that we all have names.  From there we went to God.  I drew my representation of God and signed, "his name what?"  Then I showed him part of the "God's Friend" DVD which explains God's name.  I pointed to the sky and signed, "His name what?"  Daio signed, "JH."  That the ASL sign name for Jehovah.  The best part was that he continued to use it.  Even at the end of the study when we reviewed, he remembered!

Guyanese word/song of the day: "dem eh watch meh".  Translation: They are watching me.  This is a popular song in Guyana.  Now, what the Guyanese tend to do is play a popular song over and over and over and over and over again.  When I hear this song, I want to rip their speakers out of their car or home.  For months, this song has been playing.  Also, when there is a popular song, people have stickers made for their cars with the lyrics (this is how we figured out how to spell it).  Every where we go we see or hear "dem eh watch meh." I'm starting to feel a little paranoid.

Love,

G&J