| Sign Language |
We have also had the privilege of working with a deaf couple in our church. Like
many other Ugandan couples, they were living together outside of marriage. We
Most Ugandan fathers require a steep bride price that is difficult if not nearly
impossible for the men to pay. Max finally paid the bride price required and he
and Betty were married in Kampala July 4, 2009! They are now desiring to start
discipleship and join the church.
many other Ugandan couples, they were living together outside of marriage. We
Most Ugandan fathers require a steep bride price that is difficult if not nearly
impossible for the men to pay. Max finally paid the bride price required and he
and Betty were married in Kampala July 4, 2009! They are now desiring to start
discipleship and join the church.
Keila took one year of American Sign Language in high school so that she could communicate
with a deaf friend. However, when she finished the class, her friend moved away. The
knowledge she gained in that class was then "put on a shelf". Little did she know that God
would use that knowledge ten years later.
with a deaf friend. However, when she finished the class, her friend moved away. The
knowledge she gained in that class was then "put on a shelf". Little did she know that God
would use that knowledge ten years later.
When Keila and I arrived in Uganda in 1999,
another missionary wife had started a small deaf
ministry. After one year, this couple moved to
another town to start another work. The main deaf
man, Ambrose, that had been attending their
services starting attending our church in Mbarara.
Although the Ugandan Sign the alphabet is the
same. Keila determined that even if she had to spell
the entire message, it would be more than if no one
tried to interpret for him. From that service,
Ambrose started teaching Keila the Ugandan Sign
Language. Since Ambrose knew sign language from
both Uganda and America, Keila would show an
American sign and Ambrose would teach her the
Ugandan sign. As Keila continued to learn, more
deaf would visit the church. Keila soon became
fluent in the Ugandan Sign Language but as our
family grew, the need for another interpreter grew
as well. There are no nurseries in the churches here,
so Keila was torn between caring for our children
and the deaf that would attend the church.
another missionary wife had started a small deaf
ministry. After one year, this couple moved to
another town to start another work. The main deaf
man, Ambrose, that had been attending their
services starting attending our church in Mbarara.
Although the Ugandan Sign the alphabet is the
same. Keila determined that even if she had to spell
the entire message, it would be more than if no one
tried to interpret for him. From that service,
Ambrose started teaching Keila the Ugandan Sign
Language. Since Ambrose knew sign language from
both Uganda and America, Keila would show an
American sign and Ambrose would teach her the
Ugandan sign. As Keila continued to learn, more
deaf would visit the church. Keila soon became
fluent in the Ugandan Sign Language but as our
family grew, the need for another interpreter grew
as well. There are no nurseries in the churches here,
so Keila was torn between caring for our children
and the deaf that would attend the church.
In the last ten years, Keila has had the opportunity of teaching Ugandan Sign
attended and shown interest, but not all of the students have stayed as a deaf
interpreter. There are some however that have shown a real burden for the deaf,
and Keila was able to turn the deaf ministry over to one of our national men in the
fall of 2009.
attended and shown interest, but not all of the students have stayed as a deaf
interpreter. There are some however that have shown a real burden for the deaf,
and Keila was able to turn the deaf ministry over to one of our national men in the
fall of 2009.
There is one deaf man in particular, Andrew, that has remained
faithful in the church. I was given the opportunity to disciple
him (with Keila interpreting). He has since started discipling
other deaf in the church and uses his discipleship lessons to
teach his lost friends what the Bible teaches. Andrew has a
burden to start a deaf Baptist church in the village.
faithful in the church. I was given the opportunity to disciple
him (with Keila interpreting). He has since started discipling
other deaf in the church and uses his discipleship lessons to
teach his lost friends what the Bible teaches. Andrew has a
burden to start a deaf Baptist church in the village.
| Sheilah interpreting for Betty in Ladies Bible Study |
| Sign Language class singing a special in church |
| Max and Betty's wedding |
| UGANDA |
| Second Generation Missionaries in since 1999 |
| Matt and Keila, Marcus, Kendra, Kirsten and Kimberly |
tensaas
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| Keila interpreting for a wedding |
Our faithful deaf member Andrew attended the week-long institute studying about how to prepare a message. This
past week-long institute, he was given an opportunity to preach that message with one of the other preachers as his
interpreter.
past week-long institute, he was given an opportunity to preach that message with one of the other preachers as his
interpreter.