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The kids are all running and jumping around in the playground, a happy cackle of chaos, and in the middle of them all stands a boy head and shoulders above the others. He carries an air of somewhat misplaced confidence – a self-assurance born of a mistaken sense of authority.
He gives instructions but they are politely ignored.
He offers guidance but other ways are found to be better.
He tries to lead but no-one is really following.
His name is Kyaw Nyein Htew (Hugh) and he is one of the more colourful characters here at DMI’s Muir School for the deaf in Kale, Myanmar.
In countries where political correctness is preeminent, Hugh would be described as having a mental disability, but the staff here simply tell me that “Hugh can’t learn”. The good news is that this inability to learn has in no way curbed Hugh’s enthusiasm for learning or his belief that he is indeed a star learner.
Though of high school age, Hugh is currently in grade six although this has more to do with his skills in self-promotion than in anything the school has officially conferred upon him. He has been able to learn a little signing but never really took to math or any of the other subjects. As such, Hugh never passed the grade one exam, yet he took it upon himself to enter grade two. The teachers were happy to oblige. This kindness from the staff has extended through each of the grades to his current grade six. Actually, Hugh tells me, he has now graduated from grade six and is studying in grade seven, a remarkable achievement given there is no grade seven at the school!
It doesn’t matter.
Hugh is a much loved figure here and treated with the same dignity and value that everyone at the school receives.
Despite his large frame and appearance (he might have macrocephaly), Hugh is not physically strong. When he was young, his physical weakness prohibited him from doing many of the activities that young able-bodied kids could do. So Hugh has struggled throughout his life with deafness, mental disability, physical limitations and the social stigma and hardship that these have incurred.
Some might say that Hugh is beyond hope. That he has no future to speak of no matter what we do. That we can get a much better return by ‘investing our resources’ in kids who can go on and lead more productive lives. Why do we bother with kids like Hugh?
The answer to this takes us straight to the heart of the gospel: because God loves Hugh. Because God loves Hugh, so must we. Because God cares deeply for Hugh, so must we. Because God laid His life down for Hugh, so we too should think of Hugh’s life as one that is worth making a sacrifice for. He is one of the lost sheep that we are to seek after and bring back to the fold with great joy.
Hugh tells me he has two great hopes for his future. The first is to become principal of the school. The second is to become like Neville in character. I’m not sure about the first but I think he’s doing a fine job of achieving the second.
I look at Hugh as he stands amongst the kids in the playground. He is happy, healthy and content. He is loved by all here. But there’s more to it than that because Hugh isn’t merely a recipient of love but a giver of love, too. He has learnt to care for the other kids and takes an active responsibility for the welfare of the younger ones.
I was told when I arrived here that ‘Hugh can’t learn’ but in this community of love and faith, Hugh has learnt to actively love those around him, and there is no greater learning than that.
If you would like to know how you can support Hugh, any of the kids or teachers, or help meet any of DMI’s needs, please click on the donate button below, or mail to info@deafmin.org
Another beautiful story! Thanks Andrew for bringing them to us!