Graduation 2005

By On the Spot reporter Gabriel Bravo – an e-mail report sent home to his mother. Gabriel has been associated with ESD as a friend and volunteer for four years. His sister, Nicole was our junior missionary for the 2004-05 school year.

ESD Closing Ceremony 2005

ESD held its closing ceremonies May 24, 2005, and they put on a really special evening. Betsy said this was the biggest turnout in parents she's ever had, and there were a lot of people there. Some of the parents knew sign, and were pretty at home conversing with the kids.

A pastor from the neighboring area shared a song with his compadre, in a very classical sounding fashion. The music was beautiful-- the theme this year was "to God be the glory." The Sign Language Class parents performed a song in sign language.

(Nicole and I were working on a song for a couple of weeks-- "There is None like You." And though we both thought we struggled, Joy said she enjoyed it-- just that the guitars weren't amped, and some of the song was inaudible. But Nicole and I are learning to play fairly well together with that song.)

One lady had attended ESD in 1961, and she helped in a worship song presented in sign. Carlos Motta, who did chapel for the kids on Fridays, shared a message with the parents. Some of our buddies from Calvary Chapel of Guaynabo Puerto Rico came down and participated in the worship time.

(Even Lei and Josh, came to enjoy the evening-- those crazy Samoans/Mormon missionaries -- they were right at home talking and hanging out with everyone. I know Lei was touched: "My neighbors are awesome" he said while giving me a hug, "I just wanna tell people… Look, these guys are my neighbors." He's so funny mom, I wish you could've hung out with him more.


At the close of the evening, after Carlos' message, Nicole took the stage in "talk-show-host" fashion, because this year marked the 20-year anniversary of Betsy Hoke's ministry there at the school: "Betsy this is your life." A picture shined on the wall, of Betsy in her early twenties. . . All the kids were backstage preparing, while Nicole carried on a monologue:

"At 23 years old Betsy had the craaaa-zy idea of visiting the deaf school here for six months. . . Betsy was always fond of the beach growing up, and could always be seen with a Pepsi in her hand for beach outings. As Nicole said this little Marcos walked out (you didn't meet Marcos, but he's a funny lil' chap) and he had a tag around his neck that read "BETSY" and oversized beach glasses, a Pepsi in his hand, and a beach ball in his other hand with a beach towel wrapped around his neck. He walked over to Betsy as all the parents laughed. She kissed him on the forehead, and took the Pepsi from his hand; all the parents laughed while Marcos went to sit down.

"Betsy always wanted to be a teacher growing up, because she loved telling people what to do." Juan Luis (one of the older boys) walked out pointing his fingers at everyone, with a Pepsi in his hand and wearing glasses.

"Betsy's mother said she was a very obedient child growing up, she would tell her to go play in traffic, and Betsy would do just that”: Rebeca walked along the wall with a bicycle, carrying it onto the stage and pretending to ride it, when a blur of James came running from the other side of the room with a cardboard cut-out of a car, and slammed right into little Rebeca. She fell over on the floor, Pepsi in hand, and nobody was hurt, but the moment was dramatic. Everybody laughed.

“When Betsy was 12, she met and couldn't understand why this person couldn't understand her, until she realized the person was deaf- this was her first deaf friend and the beginning of her learning sign language”: Johanely and Gemary acted out a confusing conversation of course with ‘Betsy’ holding a Pepsi in her hand.

"Then Betsy graduated from Penn State University in 1983”: Adriana came out with a cap and gown.

Nicole said a few final words, and little Daniel ran out with glasses, and a dunkin' donuts box in his hands. By this time Betsy had tears in her eyes, and Nicole said: "Betsy this is your life," as Nicole and Laurie pinned a colorful banner over the stage, "Twenty years of Growing children for God."