Would I Wait for Me?

Written by Debbie Klahn, VP of Haiti Deaf Outreach

One of the most humbling experiences in serving Deaf people in other countries is their hunger for knowledge, especially knowledge about being a follower of Christ.

Several years ago, I traveled with a mission team to East Africa for a Christian Conference for the Deaf.  We had a one-day layover in Kenya before we were to travel to Uganda.  Due to a plane blocking the runway, we did not make it to Kenya till mid-morning.   Our host contacted the Deaf church to let them know of our delay and that we might not make the previously-scheduled church service.   

After all of the traveling, we finally arrived at the church.  We did not expect to find anyone lingering so long after the service had ended.  We climbed to the second floor and found a room filled with Deaf people! They had waited hours for our team to share Jesus with them.  The room was clean but had few furnishings. A calendar was hung on the wall. Worn daily devotion booklets were being shared among the group.  Each person took a turn taking a booklet home, reading it and returning it for someone else to read.

We shared the Bible with the congregation for about an hour, and they wanted to hear more.  During our 15-minute break, the local Deaf shared a song and a Bible story. Then it was our turn again!  Daylight was beginning to fade, and it was dangerous for the people to walk home in the dark and for us to drive back to the hotel.  Reluctantly, they decided it was time to leave and prayed an awesome prayer and blessing over us. (I believe they stopped the services because of their concern for our safety, not their own.)

On the way back to our hotel, I asked our host, “Why did they wait so long?  There was a possibility that we might not make it.”

He smiled and said, “They believe as Christian brothers and sisters, we were worth waiting for.  They were not about to pass up a chance to worship with you.”

Would I have waited for me?  I think of the excuses I make for missing opportunities to gather with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Perhaps I would go…but would I wait several hours for someone to show up? Am I hungry enough to learn more and to fellowship with other believers to be inconvenienced?  

This is just one example of when I personally experienced Deaf people thirsting for fellowship and teaching.  The Deaf people in Haiti have the same hunger – to fellowship with one another and to have the Bible in sign language.  Join us today for prayer for the Deaf in Haiti and around the globe.