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By Kent Larsen
Deaf New Zealander Will Serve LDS Mission
DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND -- John Lydiate was schueduled to leave today
for the United States to serve an LDS mission, but before he left he
told a local newspaper that he had wanted to serve in spite of his
inability to hear. But in spite of his sign language fluency, the
24-year-old man will spend eight weeks in Provo's MTC learning
American Sign Language.
Sign language is different around the world -- many times it is as
different as another spoken language, so Lydiate will have to learn
the American version of sign language so that he can work as a
missionary in the US. Since he is hearing impaired, Lydiate assumed
he would not be knocking on doors like most missionaries, but that he
would instead travel, visiting different locations where there are
deaf people interested in the Church.
Lydiate was scheduled to travel with a good friend, Joe Hood, who
just graduated from the University of Otago and is also going on an
LDS mission. This will be his first extended period away from his
family and friends, "At first, when I was accepted, I was nervous and
excited, but [now] I am very happy."
Lydiate was born without the inner ear mechanisms which allow people
to hear. But in spite of his handicap, he attended mainstream schools
and graduated last December from the University of Otago with a
bachelor of science degree in mathematics and statistics. He hopes to
return to Dunedin after his mission and teach mathematics to deaf
children.
Source:
Dunedin man taking faith to deaf ears
Otago New Zealand Daily Times 25May01 P2
By Allison Rudd
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