Lee University Students Serve in Jamaica

A group of Lee University students returned from Jamaica after serving and signing contracts at the Jamaica Deaf Village and the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf in Manchester.

Dr. La-Juan Bradford, Lee’s director of academic support and tour leader, has traveled to JDV and CCCD six times since 2017 with students participating in Lee’s American Sign Language program. According to Dr. Bradford, Jamaican Sign Language is quite similar to ASL, allowing students to communicate effectively with Jamaica’s deaf population.

“Before, during and after their trip to Jamaica, our students learn about Jamaican culture, Jamaican deaf culture and American deaf culture,” says Dr. Bradford. “This, along with learning ASL, meets students’ global perspectives and foreign languages ​​requirements while providing a life-changing experience.”

Students worked alongside deaf adults each day, pulling peanuts in the garden or painting village buildings.

“God was visible in every aspect of this trip, giving us the opportunity to have the deaf people of Jamaica guide us in their adventures,” said Merry Brown, a senior psychology major from Decatur, Tennessee. “Sign language has given us a beautiful opportunity to explore a new lens and see the world in a way we never imagined. Every day was full of eye-opening moments that proved that God’s Kingdom is ever expanding.”

After a morning service for deaf adults, Lee’s team visited children at a school for the deaf. Lee’s students sang songs with scripture influences and then led activities for the children.

“I loved hearing my students sing these songs while they were working, hanging out, or just walking around. These songs get in their mood,” says Dr. Bradford. “The deaf children couldn’t hear the music, but they could see the signs and sign, thoroughly enjoying the time spent with my students.”

The goal of Lee’s Global Perspectives program is to inspire students to respect the diversity of perspectives represented in the global community, to help students express an understanding of their own Christian values, and to show how these relate to other cultural perspectives.

“I had so many opportunities to talk to people who live and work in the village, get to know them and hear their testimonies,” said Madelyn Aiken, a senior in psychology from Franklin, Tn., with a minor in deafness studies. “I know the entire band will agree that when we left Jamaica, our hearts were so full that we would forever have a soft spot for Deaf Village. Only two percent of the deaf community worldwide has seen the gospel of Jesus Christ, so this opportunity really showed us the important role that language plays in religion and faith.”

For more information about Deaf Studies and American Sign Language at Lee, contact Dr. Bradford at [email protected] or visit www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/education/human-development/.

For more information about Global Perspectives, visit globalperspectives.leeuniversity.edu
email [email protected] or call 614-8357.

CCCD exists to reach, teach and nurture the deaf in Jamaica so that they may experience the joy of knowing Jesus and serve in their community. This is accomplished through the operation of three residential schools geographically dispersed throughout the island, as well as the centrally located Jamaica Deaf Village, which caters for deaf adults and their children.

More information about the Jamaica Village of the Deaf can be found at cccdjamaica.org.