Grace Deaf Missions Newsletter - December 2011
Greetings, friends for the Deaf!
During the month of November our missionary to Mexico, Robert Morgret, spent three weeks in Leon with our good friend and Mexican Sign Language teacher, Alberto Alcantar. It was a great time of fellowship for them both. In our conversations with Alberto, we have learned that there is no church family in Leon that he knows of where he could attend and be taught the Word of God. It’s not that there are no churches. There are plenty of churches. But no interpreters for the Deaf. There are very few provisions made for the Deaf anywhere in Mexico, whether it be in the churches or in the schools or anywhere else. In fact, on one occasion Alberto went to the local Office for the Disabled. They would not provide an interpreter for Alberto in order for him to have an appointment. He was told he had to supply his own interpreter. He doesn’t know of any.
So you can only imagine how little access the Deaf have to any truly biblical teaching. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are working hard among the Deaf in Mexico, as are other cults. But there are very, very few works aimed at taking the true, biblical, saving gospel message to the Deaf. That is why we are hoping to address that huge problem to the best of our ability and to the extent that our funds will allow. We pray the Lord will see fit to use Grace Deaf Missions as a means of providing access for the Deaf to the Lord Jesus through the preaching of the gospel using Mexican Sign Language.
Another interesting development which we’re seeing take place is the creation of a school for the Deaf. For all practical purposes, there are no Deaf schools in Mexico, according to what Alberto has told us. However, he has begun to make inroads in this direction. Unofficially, 
Alberto is already teaching a number of people, children and adults, hearing and Deaf. He teaches one hearing couple that lives 90 minutes away. He does all of this at his own expense with no help or reimbursement from the government (which is probably a good thing). But there is only so much one man can do, paying for it out of his own pocket. This is the kind of work we hope to encourage and support as we’re able. Alberto understands the need for someone to come alongside him to teach the Bible. Robert would like to be that man.
The picture you see here is an example of the kind of ministry we hope to have. The seven year old twins on the left, Jesus and Miguel, and their five year old brother on the right, Leonardo, are all deaf. Their parents are also deaf. Jesus is wearing dark glasses because he just had surgery on one eye. It is possible he will become blind in that eye. What will this little boy do if he becomes both deaf and blind? I am grateful to God for His mercy in sending Alberto and Robert to him to encourage him to look to the Lord Jesus as his Savior.
If the blessings the Deaf in America take for granted are completely beyond the reach of the Deaf of Mexico,
how far removed is the gospel?
This month we received an invitation from the Green Mountain Baptist Association of Vermont to attend their Spring Meeting in April in order to present a breakout session regarding our ministry to the Deaf. Please pray we will be well-received and the Lord would move others to join us in this seemingly impossible task. One of our immediate needs is for professionally-produced literature. If you know of people who could help us out in this area, it would be GREATLY appreciated!
As a final reminder, when sending your financial gifts, please make your check out to Grace Fellowship and on the memo line be sure to write “For Grace Deaf Missions”.
May the Lord bless you all as you celebrate the incarnation of our wonderful Savior!
Keith Doster and the Grace Deaf Missions Team
