English Assembly

Since John missed so much of our ASL assembly, we decided to take in some of the same assembly in English.  So what was different?

First thing both of us noticed that, as people started assembling inside the auditorium after lunch, it started getting noisy.  We forgot how noisy hearing people are.  :) ASL assemblies and meetings are sometimes eerily quiet, with a few spoken voices here and there, but very quiet.  And during the meetings, very quiet.  I do find it very calming and soothing during the ASL meetings.  

Second thing:  ASL is very entertaining. English sometimes is kind of boring.  No offense.  Maybe it was the speakers.  But even John looked over at me during one of the talks and signed "English boring."

It was nice to hear the last talk given by the Bethel speaker in English. Even though I completely understood the same talk in ASL, and understood that the very same information was given, the illustrations the brother used were very clear to me, and the urgency of the talk, about how the scriptures say we are all responsible to be peacemakers in the congregation.  But I did understand, in ASL and English, that it's our personal responsibility to maintain peace in the congregation.  Wonderful reminders!

Though we didn't know anyone at that assembly, it was nice to hear our "native" language being spoken by people around us, even if conversation wasn't directed to us, we didn't have to think about what people were trying to say.  Sometimes at ASL conventions and meetings, we are so conscious about signing our thoughts that we miss hearing the words.  It's difficult to explain.  I love ASL as a language, and I'm learning to love the culture (some things still hard to accept), but I still love the English language.  When it comes to "reading" the Watchtower and Awake magazines, as well as the other publications we have, I don't so much enjoy reading them, but really enjoy listening to them while driving around town.

In June we have our Regional Convention in Norco CA and Fairfield CA. Both conventions are in June, within one week of each other.  I can only imagine that both conventions will have the same Bethel speakers traveling from South (Norco) to North (Fairfield).  Since I will be attending one or two days in Norco, and all three days in Fairfield, I'll let you know if the same speakers attended both conventions.