In many ways this trip was similar to my two month trip to Peru in 2011, but this time God allowed me to focus much of my time on specifically being with the Deaf. As I continue to follow the Lord's leading in this ministry, I am both excited and grateful for opportunities like this. Perhaps more than anything else, this trip revealed how much I still have to learn - both in sign language and in how to minister and share the Gospel with the Deaf. Though sometimes the process is discouraging and difficult, my prayer is to continually see beyond this to the reward of knowing Christ more and seeing Him made known in the world.
Almost everyday of this trip was spent with the Deaf in some capacity or another. On Sundays I went to the local Deaf church and was able to see several youth who were at the Deaf school I volunteered at in 2011. Though some of the students only vaguely remembered me, I was so thankful for the opportunity to reconnect. Sundays consisted of a church service, lunch prepared by the church women, a Bible lesson, and finally a sign language class for hearing people learning sign. The first Sunday I observed, but last Sunday I taught a short lesson on Hebrews 12:1-2 during the service. Though these are some of my favorite verses, that is not the only reason I chose them as the topic. As I was praying about what to prepare for my last lesson, these verses came as a poignant reminder to follow Jesus completely - not just based on location or situation, but as a reminder in any place and all situations. 
Tuesday and Thursday of each week were visitation days. Visitations were usually informal conversations, catching up and encouraging people to come to church again. Again, some of the people we visited were students from the school in 2011, and it was always neat to see them again. Of the 5 families we visited the first week, it was encouraging to see 2 come to church last Sunday. On my last day of visitation, we visited one house near the beginning of the afternoon only to find that both Deaf people were gone and would be back later. Because we still had other visits left, we decided to pray and hopefully see them again another day. Later, as we prepared to finish for the night, we left another house only to waved down by some Deaf people. We chatted for just a minute and were about to continue on when across the street we saw the family for which we'd prayed earlier in the afternoon! We had a short conversation and invited them to church again. God answers prayers in very tangible ways! Please join me in praying that this family will go to church this coming week and will come to follow Christ personally. 
Wednesday and Friday were Bible classes and recreation at the school, followed by individual discipleship courses at students' homes. Wednesday I shared my testimony. Friday I shared a short lesson on Jesus as the Lamb of God, tracing the significance of sheep as sacrifices throughout the Bible. Though I am still learning how to best share the Gospel and teach the Deaf, I am thankful for the opportunity to step into this type of ministry and begin learning.More thoughts will definitely make it to a blog post sometime soon, but to sum up my thoughts for now, this trip encouraged and challenged me to see God's faithfulness in all the little opportunities all around me. As the Author of life, He puts countless lessons and opportunities into each of our lives that we may see and know Him more fully in their midst.
Whether teaching a Bible lesson, playing a game of volleyball, or just spending time with someone, God was continually orchestrating opportunities for me to know and grow in Him. It's not just for me; look around and begin to see God's faithfulness - in joy and in hardship, in the exciting and in the mundane - thank Him and keep fixing your eyes on Him as you run.
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