I'm in a dilema. And one that is going to happen again a week from this Sunday.

I'm the only interpreter in my small branch for our only active deaf member, a 10yo girl. Last week, I ended up not being able to go to church. My daughter, who is in her primary class, said that she (deaf) was really upset because (of course) she ended up with two hours of not being able to understand anything.

I feel terrible.

The thing is, I'm going to a big family reunion in a week and, so, will miss church again. I'd like to find a substitute, but in the directory of deaf units, the phone number for the NYC deaf unit is disconnected. I was hoping to find out if there are any NJ deaf who go there and then, hopefully, if they know any interpreters in the area who'd be willing to drive a ways to help out a little girl.

I don't know what to do other than to tell her to not show up on the week that I'm gone.

But what happens if/when I move? My husband is interviewing for jobs all over and who knows how long I'll be here.

I'd tell her parents to come do it, but neither of them come regularly (she comes with grandparents) and, besides, neither use ASL well (Spanish is their first language, and English for her mom is still difficult).

AHHHHHHHH!!!!

Ok, enough of that.

Any ideas of where I could find an interpreter for free? Or does the Church provide funds to pay professional interpreters where there are no volunteer LDSers to do the job? (Personally, a professional would be better than I am because I'm LOUSY at reverse interpreting and am only just now, after a year, beginning to understand her signing.) I keep thinking of becoming certified, but then finances and time constraints rear their ugly heads. Grrrr.

Greta

Here is the thing, although it is hard and sad when we know Deaf members go without interpreting... it is a fact that you are one person and you can only do what you can do. You are entitled to take a vacation, and to miss Church when you need to, it is frustrating and you may feel sad, but you can only do what you can do.

I think it is a case by case basis for hiring interpreters... our Stake has said that they would be willing to pay for interpreters if we needed them to, but we feel it is not the best choice for our current needs, but that is here. I think it is for the leaders to decide how and where to pull the funds from if they decide that hiring an interpreter is an acceptable option.

We feel your pain, although we are blessed there are more of us. I can tell you though that there are days when one or more of our deaf members go without interpreters. Do we feel sad about that? Yes. Do we wish we had the resources to have someone for all of them all of the time? Yes. I think though that we had just had to accept that we have limited resources and we will not be able to keep doing this if we do not accept our own limitations. We can't be there all of the time, we want to, but we can't. Neither can you. It is so hard because you feel so responsible, but she does have a family and although they are far from perfect, they may just have to do for a week. You do a great work, but you are human and can't be everywhere at once... although many of us would love that! =)

Good luck, and try not to feel so bad about it.

-Jess W