Special Hope

Sign Language Class

Last Wednesday we shared a very special dinner with Eric & Holly and Beth from this blog post.  These three Americans came to Zambia to work with children who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.  They are also here to train parents, caregivers, schools, and anyone else who will listen.

Holly and Eric adopted three Brazilian babies, now in their teens, with Down syndrome:  identical twin girls, and one boy.   Holly and Eric launched Special Hope Network, and soon Beth joined them in Zambia.  She adopted her little boy in December.

It hasn't been an easy year for these families.   A few days before Christmas, someone poisoned their dogs and stole their only vehicle.  It took three months to get the check (minus 15% of the vehicle's value) from the insurance company.

But they press on with a contagious joy.  On Fridays Holly teaches sign language classes in her front yard.  Last Friday twenty of us learned our ABCs, and some basic vocabulary.  Most attendees were teachers from the local schools, but there were also two parents:  me and a young mother with...wait for it...a 2 1/2 year old boy with Down syndrome!

When I asked Julie how she found this sign language class, she said, "Since Jack was born, I've Googled  'Down Syndrome Lusaka' to see what turns up.  This time Special Hope Network's website appeared."

After the class Holly, Julie, Beth and I chatted about the future.  We discussed doing something with Special Olympics Zambia.  Julie called dibs on canoeing (is this even an Olympic sport?), while Oliver and I will probably stick to soccer football.

As always, I'll keep you posted.