I have always had a fascination with sign language. I would always look at books and try to learn ASL.
For the past two years, God has been bringing deaf people and ministers of the Deaf into our lives and our Church. We have been learning the Deaf culture and Chilean sign language. It has been a challenge, and now I am immersed in this ministry! Our goal is to have a deaf Church within our Church, pastored by a Deaf pastor.
This is an urgent ministry because there are religious cults making great overtures to the deaf, offering them the sky if they will convert. We don't offer them the sky, we offer them Heaven, as a gift from the Father, forgiveness of sin, a gift from the Son, and Comfort, a gift from the Holy Spirit.
Pray for us, the Hearing and the Deaf. Pray for Jorge, hearing, who is to be the Teacher. For Sandra, hearing, who interprets the singing. For Marcos, deaf, who in newly saved. For Miguel, deaf, also newly saved. For Ruperto, and Amada, deaf, still unsaved.
For Mauricio, missionary to the deaf, our advisor and teacher, and his co-laborer, Lori Brock.
Please pray that we can do our part to unify sign language here in Chile.
God bless,
Rhonda
Odds and ends and breaking the silence
2 years ago
7 comments:
What a fantastic ministry! Isn't it amazing what God can do with willing servants!?
Rhonda,
We'll certainly be praying for the deaf ministry there. My daughter has a fascination with signing too. She's 11 and started picking it up when she would sit with a deaf member of our church during services. I pray she will always be sensitive in that area. I think we sometimes forget that a deaf person speaks a foreign language, making it difficult for us to share the gospel of Christ.
~Kristi
WOW, you've hit an area close to my heart (obviously!) the pastor of the deaf here is deaf himself, and Mexican, Carlos. He is young-ish and has had no "formal" training. So he is searching now for other deaf pasters to mentor him, encourage and teach him. He find's himself hungry for fellowship on his level. My husband stumbles though his signing so even though they are friends and we do provide encouragement it isnt' the same . . you know. Anyway would Maricio be willing to e-mail Carlos and see if he could be of help? Spanish, naturally. Then also we battle spiritually with the influence of JW's here. They have a STRONG deaf ministry *ggrrrr* it can get SO fustrating! I praise God the deaf are being reached in Chile because they are an easy group of people to overlook anywhere. (http://www3.calvarychapel.com/pacificcoast/suarez.htm)
Oh, that link at teh bottom of my comment above is to information about Carlos and his family for Mauricio.
Hi Rhonda,
Yes, isn't sign language amazing. We have a lady translating our church services and it is so fascinating to watch.
We just bought the dvds "Signing Time" for my baby Julia (13 months) and nephew Jackson (4 yrs). They just love it!!! It is fun for us too to learn a few signs. I think it is so great how so many people are learning some signs while teaching their babies.
Also, Michelle from "Between Diapers and Dishes" let me know about your blog and wondered if you'd like to be listed in our new Missionary Moms blog directory on our website http://www.5minutesformom.com/our-readers-blogs/missionary-blogs/
If you're interested, just send us a note through our "Let Us Know" link on that page.
Talk soon,
Susan
Hello Michelle and Susan!
Michelle,
Mauricio will be back our way in two weeks, I'll pass on the info then. Can Carlos read? Of our deaf, only Marcos can read, a little. He's working on that!
Bendiciones,
Rhonda
Hello Michelle and Susan!
Michelle,
Mauricio will be back our way in two weeks, I'll pass on the info then. Can Carlos read? Of our deaf, only Marcos can read, a little. He's working on that!
Bendiciones,
Rhonda
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