Friday, June 27, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
From the Pastor
CC Horizonte deaf ministry. The deaf congregation continues to grow with a faithful attendance of about 25 people, and that has been the amazing hand of God! Also, God is working in the hearts of the hearing congregation of CC Horizonte and they to are starting to join with us! I truly believe that God has used Virginia’s passing to capture the attention of our deaf. Before they believed that they had plenty of time, and now we see a change in their attitude, aware now that their life is a gift and they may be called to account for it at any time.
The deaf are learning so much, yet we come into the same difficulty that they get caught up in the difficulty they have to read and understand the bible. My heart really wants to make a Mexican Sign Language (LSM) bible on video. It’s very needed because the deaf culture doesn’t just pick up and use books like the hearing culture does. To pick up and read a bible to study it is a foreign idea. They are much more visual and pictures and videos are an easy means of obtaining information. But I find myself so overwhelmed and my energies spent. Plus, there are some signs in LSM I don’t know, so I don’t feel my vocabulary is up to par. I really need your prayers in this area.
Likewise, the deaf being so visually tuned, I have a great need for a laptop with a portable projector so that I can make my studies on the computer and then project them onto a screen, and make the lessons more accessible and comprehensible to the deaf.
Nevertheless it’s exciting; right now 4 hearing people from the church are learning about deaf culture, learning sign language and little by little are getting involved, hopeful to help with interpretation in the future! These 4 have been faithful to Tuesday night sign class which I teach. I teach this class at no cost, no profit to myself, it is a ministry for such a time as this.
I have a praise God for our group of about 40 people, both hearing and deaf, that went to Rancho Sordo Mudo two weeks ago. 40! That was an awesome show of support and it was a very pleasant time enjoyed by all. We hope that it touched them and inspired them with the need to GO! Praise God.
Family: with Virginia gone I’ve been grappling with the question “Now what.” Where we live the house is too big for me. Yet I don’t want to leave Ensenada, move to another place, no, instead me and my family will continue to live here. Because the deaf are here, and the ministry goes on. So please be praying for us, that God leads us to another house that we can afford and the right size. Meanwhile I am learning how to be a single parent, and what they say is true, it is not easy! With my attentions going towards the children and trying to continue with the ministry here, I’m finding I need to relearn my balance . . . like learning to walk again.
Leilani and Jerimias? Leilani continues at school, and now Jerimias has joined her. I have explained to both of them that their mother has gone to heaven. Still, they both will come to me to ask question about their mother. Leilani understand her mom is in heaven, although she misses her greatly. And she will go through highs and lows. But Jerimias will come to me again and again asking where mom is. So again and again I explain that she went to heaven, and then he comes back with the question “mom went to heaven” . . . ah yes, he is 3 and will be 4 in August, so the understanding will come, it’s just taking some time.
I can not thank you enough for the generous support you have shown towards me and my family. It has been a struggle and your generous giving has been lifesaving. Please continue to pray for this support to continue, I am tempted to get a job, but I just don’t know how I would be able to fit it in. I would appreciate, if you feel that God is sharing something with you to share with me, please feel free to tell me. And again thank you all, and do not stop praying now! We have only just begun.
The deaf are learning so much, yet we come into the same difficulty that they get caught up in the difficulty they have to read and understand the bible. My heart really wants to make a Mexican Sign Language (LSM) bible on video. It’s very needed because the deaf culture doesn’t just pick up and use books like the hearing culture does. To pick up and read a bible to study it is a foreign idea. They are much more visual and pictures and videos are an easy means of obtaining information. But I find myself so overwhelmed and my energies spent. Plus, there are some signs in LSM I don’t know, so I don’t feel my vocabulary is up to par. I really need your prayers in this area.
Likewise, the deaf being so visually tuned, I have a great need for a laptop with a portable projector so that I can make my studies on the computer and then project them onto a screen, and make the lessons more accessible and comprehensible to the deaf.
Nevertheless it’s exciting; right now 4 hearing people from the church are learning about deaf culture, learning sign language and little by little are getting involved, hopeful to help with interpretation in the future! These 4 have been faithful to Tuesday night sign class which I teach. I teach this class at no cost, no profit to myself, it is a ministry for such a time as this.
I have a praise God for our group of about 40 people, both hearing and deaf, that went to Rancho Sordo Mudo two weeks ago. 40! That was an awesome show of support and it was a very pleasant time enjoyed by all. We hope that it touched them and inspired them with the need to GO! Praise God.
Family: with Virginia gone I’ve been grappling with the question “Now what.” Where we live the house is too big for me. Yet I don’t want to leave Ensenada, move to another place, no, instead me and my family will continue to live here. Because the deaf are here, and the ministry goes on. So please be praying for us, that God leads us to another house that we can afford and the right size. Meanwhile I am learning how to be a single parent, and what they say is true, it is not easy! With my attentions going towards the children and trying to continue with the ministry here, I’m finding I need to relearn my balance . . . like learning to walk again.
Leilani and Jerimias? Leilani continues at school, and now Jerimias has joined her. I have explained to both of them that their mother has gone to heaven. Still, they both will come to me to ask question about their mother. Leilani understand her mom is in heaven, although she misses her greatly. And she will go through highs and lows. But Jerimias will come to me again and again asking where mom is. So again and again I explain that she went to heaven, and then he comes back with the question “mom went to heaven” . . . ah yes, he is 3 and will be 4 in August, so the understanding will come, it’s just taking some time.
I can not thank you enough for the generous support you have shown towards me and my family. It has been a struggle and your generous giving has been lifesaving. Please continue to pray for this support to continue, I am tempted to get a job, but I just don’t know how I would be able to fit it in. I would appreciate, if you feel that God is sharing something with you to share with me, please feel free to tell me. And again thank you all, and do not stop praying now! We have only just begun.
Friday, June 6, 2008
So . . . what is going on?
We are so excited to have our first group come down!
They are expected this last week in June.
With them we are busy planning a surprise baby shower for Rita (deaf) who is due with her third baby in August and her husband (also deaf) is out of work.
Also we are going to have a deaf BBQ social open to all the deaf around . . . I'm really hoping that we see some new faces then!
It is just so exciting -
Oh, and one more thing before we go - I just relayed a call for Rita's husband to inquire about a job and they said that he should come down, fill out an application and they have interpreters there standing by !!!!
So he is on his way now.
Go ahead, cover him in prayer. He needs the job.
*UPDATE*
I am so excited about this; Mario (Rita's husband) just got back, and he said that he got the job! And those other interpreters? A hard of hearing young man who is a close friend of ours! How cool is that?!
God be praised.
They are expected this last week in June.
With them we are busy planning a surprise baby shower for Rita (deaf) who is due with her third baby in August and her husband (also deaf) is out of work.
Also we are going to have a deaf BBQ social open to all the deaf around . . . I'm really hoping that we see some new faces then!
It is just so exciting -
Oh, and one more thing before we go - I just relayed a call for Rita's husband to inquire about a job and they said that he should come down, fill out an application and they have interpreters there standing by !!!!
So he is on his way now.
Go ahead, cover him in prayer. He needs the job.
*UPDATE*
I am so excited about this; Mario (Rita's husband) just got back, and he said that he got the job! And those other interpreters? A hard of hearing young man who is a close friend of ours! How cool is that?!
God be praised.
Our May newsletter
Dear Family and Friends,
A new face was in church last Sunday. A young man maybe about 13, tall, skinny, curly black hair. He was with his dad, who seemed to know a few signs. This young deaf youth seems to know less. You could tell he was a bit shy about being with us.
I wonder if this is the same young man that was mentioned to me by another mother from my daughter’s school. I gave my sign language book away to be given to this youth and his family. They didn’t want to send him to the residential deaf school near by, and instead, tried to mainstream him without the help of an interpreter—only now they are hitting a wall, because he seems to be getting nowhere. Praise God he’s here now!
It’s a “Praise God” post folks!
The deaf congregation is growing every week! And the interest that the hearing congregation is starting to grow. A couple is studious in learning sign, and wanting to take a part in the deaf congregation a little bit, more and more, and there are others . .
The deaf women's retreat was such a blessing to all! Yamile Grey from Washington state was our guest speaker full of God’s Spirit and a heart, which she left here when she went back. We were 11 in all. And thanks to Grace of Seal Beach we were able to treat these ladies to a special treat out at a fancy restaurant to tie into our theme of “Come, Dine with Me.” (thank you!) We were able to minister to new Christians in the faith, and minister to some old hurts—God’s grace was abundant!
Plus we have started our deaf women’s bible study that meets in our home, sometimes Yamile leads the study via web cam! Yamile signs so fast that her hands are often a blur! So full of God’s passion! What a blessing!
And suddenly it is summer. In June we are busy making preparations with a visiting church group. Among other things, we are planning a barbeque outreach to reach more deaf in the area. Then we are planning our trip up North to visit friends, family and churches. Sharing what God is doing here and catching up with everyone . . . We are so excited! If you are interested in us sharing with your church, let us know!
Carlos and his family are doing well. His little 6 year old girl has had the hardest time with the loss of her mother, but she lead her class in a signed song for a public performance last Sunday. When I spoke to her teacher afterwards, her teacher said that she really started to come back to life as she was able to teach those around her sign. So please keep them in prayer.
A new face was in church last Sunday. A young man maybe about 13, tall, skinny, curly black hair. He was with his dad, who seemed to know a few signs. This young deaf youth seems to know less. You could tell he was a bit shy about being with us.
I wonder if this is the same young man that was mentioned to me by another mother from my daughter’s school. I gave my sign language book away to be given to this youth and his family. They didn’t want to send him to the residential deaf school near by, and instead, tried to mainstream him without the help of an interpreter—only now they are hitting a wall, because he seems to be getting nowhere. Praise God he’s here now!
It’s a “Praise God” post folks!
The deaf congregation is growing every week! And the interest that the hearing congregation is starting to grow. A couple is studious in learning sign, and wanting to take a part in the deaf congregation a little bit, more and more, and there are others . .
The deaf women's retreat was such a blessing to all! Yamile Grey from Washington state was our guest speaker full of God’s Spirit and a heart, which she left here when she went back. We were 11 in all. And thanks to Grace of Seal Beach we were able to treat these ladies to a special treat out at a fancy restaurant to tie into our theme of “Come, Dine with Me.” (thank you!) We were able to minister to new Christians in the faith, and minister to some old hurts—God’s grace was abundant!
Plus we have started our deaf women’s bible study that meets in our home, sometimes Yamile leads the study via web cam! Yamile signs so fast that her hands are often a blur! So full of God’s passion! What a blessing!
And suddenly it is summer. In June we are busy making preparations with a visiting church group. Among other things, we are planning a barbeque outreach to reach more deaf in the area. Then we are planning our trip up North to visit friends, family and churches. Sharing what God is doing here and catching up with everyone . . . We are so excited! If you are interested in us sharing with your church, let us know!
Carlos and his family are doing well. His little 6 year old girl has had the hardest time with the loss of her mother, but she lead her class in a signed song for a public performance last Sunday. When I spoke to her teacher afterwards, her teacher said that she really started to come back to life as she was able to teach those around her sign. So please keep them in prayer.
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