Grace Deaf Missions Newsletter - November 2011
This morning I received a call from the Sorensen Video Relay Service. It was an American Sign Language interpreter speaking for our deaf friend Joanna, who lives a couple of miles away. Usually these calls are casual conversations, while at other times it may be a request for assistance in communicating with hearing people.
Today it was the latter. Joanna asked if I could come to their house and interpret for them. A couple of guys were installing a new wood stove in their basement and Joanna’s husband, Bill, had some questions for the installers. Thankfully this was one of those mundane, non-emergency situations and I was able to help.
This kind of scenario is totally foreign to the vast majority of the Deaf in Mexico. They do not have the magnificent luxury of a free Video Relay system at their disposal which allows them to see and talk to both deaf and hearing people as easily as you and I talk on the phone. Nor do they have interpreters or anyone else who knows Mexican Sign Language, including their parents, living in their neighborhoods. Nor do they own their own homes, a virtual impossibility. What I experienced with Bill and Joanna this morning is nearly beyond the imagination of multitudes of Deaf people in Mexico.
If the everyday blessings the Deaf in America take for granted are completely beyond the reach of the Deaf of Mexico,
how far removed is the gospel?
Grace Deaf Missions is continuing to make plans for our first gospel outreach event next year. The tentative plan at this point is to have some evangelistic meetings in the city of Leon. Leon is about 8 hours northwest of Mexico City and is the home of our friend and Mexican Sign Language teacher, Alberto Alcantar.
On November 7th, Robert Morgret will be flying from Danville, Kentucky to Leon to spend three weeks with Alberto to “spy out the
land” so we will have a better idea how to plan for our outreach there in October of 2012, Lord willing. In the meantime, Sharon continues to study Mexican Sign Language three days a week with Alberto in Leon via Skype, while Robert continues his theological studies with our friend, Rev. Kevin Hamilton of Deaf Reformed Church in Danville. And they like to eat too, as you can see!
Please pray with us for the needed grace to do this good work in 
a manner that is pleasing to our heavenly Father. If you’re able to do so without neglecting the support of your own church, we would deeply appreciate your continued giving so that we might take the biblical gospel message to the Deaf of Leon. Be sure to make your check out to Grace Fellowship. A heart-felt “Gracias!” to you all for your past support of Grace Deaf Missions.
One final note: Our mailing address has changed slightly. Please be sure to mail any future gifts to PO Box 121 in Pine Grove Mills, PA - 16868.
Grace and peace,
Keith Doster, for the Grace Deaf Missions team!
