A Dream Coming True

For many many months, BJ and I as well as the Mickeys and the people of Grace Bible Baptist Church have had a dream.  Much thought and much planning and much prayer have gone into what is now taking place at our church.  It is just the beginning of a dream, and God is making it happen.

Sunday evening, once again students from Ngala Deaf School were brought to the church for a Bible study.  What a blessing it was to see 29 Deaf fill up that classroom!

BJ began teaching the book of Romans just like he did last year in Karen.  He did not get farther than Romans 1:1 as he carefully explained each word and what the verse means.

Signing "Paul"

These Deaf students are extremely intelligent.  However, they have never had anyone teach them the Word of God precept upon precept, line upon line.  

As the verses of Romans build on each other and the Gospel is taught again and again, God slowly brings understanding to their hearts.  This we saw happen in Karen.  It is a wonderful thing for a missionary to see the "lights come on" when the Word of God sinks down into their hearts and they get it! Their eyes light up and heads begin to nod in understanding . . . I'm sure you've been there before. 

BJ loves teaching the Deaf and preaching in sign language.  The Deaf are very open and straight forward.  It is quite normal for them to ask questions in class about the verse or about certain words in the verse.  BJ answers their questions and asks a lot of questions himself to get their feedback.  He also acts out illustrations with the students themselves.  Remember, the Deaf are very visual. 

These fellows were having fun.  The illustration was about Paul being a servant of Jesus Christ.  One of those men was "the flesh" and the other was "the Spirit", and they enjoyed pulling BJ back and forth!  It was funny because BJ needed his hands to explain the illustration, but his arms were being pulled back and forth.  In unspoken agreement, those two refused to give him back his hands for a few moments, and he was "speechless".  It's like clapping your hand over someone's mouth.  In this setting, it is impossible to talk without your hands!

Time went by so quickly.  Because we must get the students back to the school by 6:00 p.m., BJ is very careful with the time.  The students did not want class to end, however, and neither did we. 

Next week, they will be back for Romans 1:2-.  Please be praying in the weeks and months to come that God will open the eyes of their understanding.  The Deaf CAN understand God's Word, and they CAN be saved.  They CAN serve God with their lives.

There is such a mission field here and in every country of the world, an untouched mission field of souls.  God needs hands, willing, surrendered, sold-out hands to reap this harvest.  Lord of the harvest, we need more laborers!

P.S.  Another prayer request is for Mary, the deaf girl whose mother goes to our church.  Mary goes to school out in western Kenya in Bondo.  However, our prayer and desire is that she could get transferred to Ngala Deaf School here in Nakuru.  There is usually a waiting list for Ngala, but with God anything is possible.  We want her here in Nakuru with her mother so that she can come to church and to these classes and learn the Word of God too. 

Corndogs and french fries today