Deaf Shalom Zone fundraiser

Hey everyone! The DSZ recently enrolled in a fundraiser with Verizon. If you are thinking about signing up for Cable, internet, or phone services please give some thought to using Verizon and calling in our tracking number. This is a way for us to raise funds that does not cost the zone or it's friends any more money than they were already plannign on spending anyway. Please see the flyer for more information. Thanks for your continued support of the Zone! If just 100 people sign up for the Triple freedom package the Zone will receive $6,500. That would be a fantastic way to support the life changing services that are offered by the Zone. Thanks again everyone! Please spread the word! Oh and read the information carefully because there is a certain number you need to call in order for verizon to recognize that you want the donation to be made to the Zone.

If you would like me to send you the flyer so you can post it up at your church I would be more then happy to do that!

Here's what you need to do:Order a new Verizon product from the list below to help us earn donations.For example:

Order new Verizon FiOS® Triple Freedom with TV, Internet, Phone and Long Distance, we earn $65.

If you are an existing Verizon FiOS Internet customer and you order new FiOS TV service, we earn $20.You must place your new Verizon order by calling 1.888.695.5299, the specialVelocity sales number. (Call Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST.)

You must provide our 5-digit tracking code at the time you order: 12583.

Place a new order* for one or more of these qualifying Verizon products and earn the following donations:Verizon

Verizon FiOS® Internet - $25.00

Verizon High Speed Internet 3.0 Mbps - $25.00

DIRECTV® Service - $20.00

Verizon FiOS® TV - $20.00

Verizon Freedom Calling Plans - $10.00

Verizon Long Distance - $10.00

Additional Line - $10.00

Peace.

Hands On Wednesday and Thursday

Bradley Showed off his interpreting skills by opening the evening devotions during a bible drama put on by MYE.

Thursday Night, Hands On participants had the opportunity to experience what it would be like to be Deaf Blind. They used masks and ear plugs and then took turns leading each other around to different crafts and games. Alexa and Kalena tried to practice tactile signing while Colin helped Craig draw.

Brian's mask was the funniest although all the masks had their own flavor.

During the work day Bo Jangles hung out on the couch while the green group finished up the living room they were working on.

Kathleen and others used their creativity to add decorative embellishments to the walls.

The Pink team smiled for the camera on their lunch break. DeAndre, on of the youth from Christ UMC of the Deaf, worked with the group all week.

The pink team poses for the camera.

The yellow team spent the day trimming bamboo. Before they came home they decided to make walking sticks, out of the bamboo, for all the participants.

Carl, Heidi and Parker enjoy their lemonade while using their bamboo straws.

Hands On Tuesday

Tuesday Night the group played "The Game Of Life" Envelopes, consisting of a name tag and fake money, were handed out to each player and they were told to "succeed". The game simulated the daily struggles of people from differing socio-economic, gender, and race backgrounds.

Players lined up at different instituions trying to obtain jobs, money, material goods, and educations.

Craig was lucky, while everyone else was struggling to succeed money seemed to fall on him out of the sky.

During the day Brian decided to draw a representation of Carl's rabbit riding habbit. I thought it was great!

Hands On participants have the opportunity to leave daily reflections on the cork board upstairs.

The Green team continued to work on a Deaf Woman's home and in keeping with the youth tradition, they too were covered in paint!

When Brian isn't drawing on paper he spends his time painting on walls! The Blue team worked very hard to prepare the walls in their home for paneling. They spent more time preparing and cleaning then it will probably take to apply the paneling. They are really making a difference for the Deaf man who lives there. Tom cut the paneling while John and Brian helped.It seems as though the participants and the Deaf community are all having a great time!

Hands On 2008 Sunday and Monday

Hands On 2008 started on Sunday July 6, with 30 participants from 3 different churches and church groups. This year we are proud to have Birmingham UMC, Metro Youth Encounter, and Sandusky UMC. Sandusky UMC participated last year for our first Hands On year and the other two groups are brand new. After attending the noon service at Christ UMC of the Deaf the group checked into their dorms at UMBC and headed off to Patapsco State Park. After burgers and hotdogs the group got together and played the elephant game with members of the Christ UMC's Deaf youth group. After dinner everyone headed back to the vans to relax at UMBC before a long hard day of work and Sign Language classes.

Monday morning began with ASL class with Carol Stevens; during the class participants were given their own sign name while learning the ASL alphabet. After class everyone broke into the Pink, Yellow, Blue, Green, and Purple groups and left UMBC for their work day.

The Purple group spent the day working on the Sanctuary at Christ UMC of the Deaf. They brought supplies down from a recent roofing job, hung drywall, and moved furniture. During lunch the group took time to pratice their Sign Language skills by playing the name game with their new sign names.

The Yellow group traveled the furthest and spend the day painting the home of a Deaf couple. As with most Youth group missin trips, it was not really clear if more paint ended up on the walls or the youth.

During lunch Carl took the opportunity to pretend like he was riding a rabbit while doing his name sign. It has been great spending time with my brother Baltimore.

Just like last year the groups spent one of the first nights watching the PBS special "Through Deaf Eyes". At the end of the night Christ UMC's intern led evening devotions and then the group headed back to UMBC for games and some much needed sleep.

Please pray for the participants of Hands On and keep them in your thoughts this week!

Stay tuned...more to come