A Deaf Service in Central Asia

Hey there....God is good! I have news for you......We had our first Deaf fellowship meeting yesterday!! This is answered prayer. We have been seeing the need and praying that God would send us a Deaf pastor...one who can really teach His Word clearly to the Deaf. Well, during the summer when the short term team was here, I met a young (20 year old) hard of hearing guy (Dima) from a Deaf family. He offered several times to lead a study of God's Word. We were all amazed!! Then, my pastor (Steve) from America comes and we have another meeting, but this time one of my local pastors (Andre) came to the meeting. He sees with his own eyes the need we have to study the Word together so that everyone can understand. He then had a meeting with the head pastor and discussed the needs of the Deaf people in our church (we have around 25 who come pretty regularly). The pastor agreed we needed a separate service so that we can ask questions, worship God in Russian Sign Language, allow the Deaf people to be leaders in church and also study the Word more slowly and carefully. Wow! Andre preached a message yesterday about how we are one family and how we need to love, help and care for others like Jesus loves, helps and cares for people. The interpreter who has been against the idea from the start was there and totally on board with us (a pure miracle from God). She said God spoke to her and said we needed to be involved in ministries such as evangelism, intersession, helping and outreach, interpreting the Word for those who cannot read, and we needed a worship team for our meetings. We all volunteered for these ministries and we took time to pray and commission each group. We also decided to take up an offering (not our tithes because they go to our "big" church) to help poor people. There are also around eight deaf people who have decided it is their time to be baptized, so Andre will work this out for us this month. I am so excited!!

We have big goals and a big vision at this point. Everyone is excited and ready to plow ahead to share Jesus with the Deaf community. We will have two home groups, one Wednesday night Bible meeting and I will teach a simple English/ASL class for them as well on Saturday nights. We will be very busy this fall.

Yesterday was not only a special day for us, but it was also our country's Independence Day. I felt like God was saying that just as "K" became a country and liberated from the USSR in 1991, we also were liberated and set apart in our church to do what God has called us to do yesterday. Holidays are very special here and I believe it was God's timing for us to have our first meeting on this day. We had around 16 people come and I believe the numbers will increase every week. Dima, the young hard of hearing guy, will be leaving at the end of the month with 2 others to go to the Bible School up north for three months. When he gets back, I am hoping he will be ready to take over the Sunday morning meetings. We also have 2 other guys who feel that God is calling them to be pastors. One just got saved while we were at camp and the other one has been a believer for a few years. Through Andre's discipleship and leadership, these two guys will help lead our Wednesday night Bible meetings. My Deaf friend Nadia and I will co-lead the women's home group too. I learned from my pastor in KY that it is key to get people involved right away if you want to keep them active in your fellowship. That is the plan! Thanks Steve!

This month, I will start working in the Hard of Hearing school starting tomorrow. I will be testing the hearing of the children so that my friend, Janice Combs, can fit them with hearing aids. She will be coming from the US on September 11. Please pray for her safety and that all the money will arrive for the hearing aids on time. This is a special time as we are able to help the children hear sounds...some of them for the first time.

One more thing....my local church here is having their 10th year anniversary on the 14th of September. The Deaf fellowship will be doing a few dramas at the celebration. Please pray for our church. We are raising funds to finish our building project. This church has been building for several years, but keep running out of funds. I pray we can get into our own building soon so we can stop renting other places and we can be in one place for a while. Thanks for your prayers!

Many blessings and thanks again for your prayers and support. God is doing GREAT things here! Please lift up praises with me and thank Him for His goodness towards us!

To Him be all glory, honor and praise! Kathy