Deaf World SA DTS pioneering team
The base prayed and a team of 5 hearing staff willing stepped up to lead/staff the DTS, committing to learn as much sign language and Deaf culture as possible beforehand. The leadership trusted that God would continue to move them along to find the right students; students with leadership potential, patience and a willingness to pioneer making a way for others.
Within the two weeks I was there, I saw God’s cloud move by providing an important connection that we have been waiting to happen for months. A YWAM man is graduating from a South African Sign Language program this month, and both he and his wife said “yes” to coming and helping with the DTS! Now they have one staff member who can communicate in SASL, who understands Deaf culture and has co-led hearing DTSs! This was a huge answer to prayer!
With the uniqueness and make- up of this pioneering team, the base leaders have decided to start with a bilingual (English/SASL) DTS with the goal of raising up Deaf leaders to lead a full SASL DTS in the future. We had the joy of meeting multiple times with this amazing team; encouraging them, sharing stories and wisdom and discussing curriculum and schedules. I can say, with full assurance, that they are called and God will equip them with all they need! Ellie and I also had the opportunity to share base-wide in Intercession for the Deaf community and to lead a Deaf Awareness workshop for the base staff.
The Deaf Community’s Hunger for God
(Siphwie, Shane and Lamla)
There are three young Deaf men that have said “yes” to God and have already applied for the February DTS. Two of these men got baptized by our team on their outreach in February 2023, and the third man accepted Jesus while our team was there. After our team left, he was baptized by the hearing YWAMers at the base.
When it was announced at a Thursday evening community night that the YWAM Base would do a Deaf World DTS, there was an uproar of praise from both the Deaf community and the hearing staff and students! After that meeting, we further shared that even though the hearing YWAMers did not know sign language, they were willing to learn and had answered “yes” to pioneering this DTS. I cried as I interpreted a response from one of the Deaf, young men to two of the hearing staff. The Deaf man, Shane, shared, “I have felt a change since my baptism, but I still struggle with sin in my life. I know God wants to change me fully, but I don't know how. I need someone to show me how to grow in my relationship with God. If you teach me about God, I will teach you sign language!" The other two Deaf men, who later said “yes” to becoming students, agreed with Shane's words. In my time there, I got to witness them walking out in this word.
When it was announced at a Thursday evening community night that the YWAM Base would do a Deaf World DTS, there was an uproar of praise from both the Deaf community and the hearing staff and students! After that meeting, we further shared that even though the hearing YWAMers did not know sign language, they were willing to learn and had answered “yes” to pioneering this DTS. I cried as I interpreted a response from one of the Deaf, young men to two of the hearing staff. The Deaf man, Shane, shared, “I have felt a change since my baptism, but I still struggle with sin in my life. I know God wants to change me fully, but I don't know how. I need someone to show me how to grow in my relationship with God. If you teach me about God, I will teach you sign language!" The other two Deaf men, who later said “yes” to becoming students, agreed with Shane's words. In my time there, I got to witness them walking out in this word.
Sunday after church, Ellie and I were talking to the 3 Deaf young men who said “yes” and to two staff. We were describing how the DTS will be hard, and they will be "pioneering". Using the analogy of a forest without a path, I described how people needed to pick up axes and start cutting down trees to make a path. After making the path with a lot of hard work, they could go back to the open field, calling other Deaf to easily follow the cleared path the pioneers had made. I asked them each to consider if they would be the ones to make the path. All agreed, so I said, “ Everyone, go pick up your axe,( a fake one), and let's start chopping!” It was a prophetic action of what they all would be doing with this first DTS.
YWAM Worcester Becoming Deaf Friendly
f
f (Ellie leading Intercession)
I saw within my two weeks that the base already has foundations that make a Deaf World DTS perfect! Amazingly, it is a full- base response towards the Deaf not just from the staff who said “yes” to DTS! One night, the power went out during a meeting. The speaker said the meeting could continue without power. However, the interpreter said, “ We can't as the Deaf need light to continue to see the interpreter.” Within a minute, there were 3 or 4 base staff with flashlights and phones shining light on the interpreter for Deaf to see. They just stood there for a while providing light in the darkness for the Deaf to continue to be part of the evening. What a great visual presentation of what is happening at this YWAM base.
Second, 5 Deaf men were able to spend two nights at the YWAM base for a retreat to learn about a DTS and for the base and the students to face some obstacles they will experience during the DTS. It was amazing!!!! We shared our stories, and many of the Deaf shared their stories for the first time. It was so good for the DTS staff to hear the Deaf men’s stories as Ellie and I interpreted. Many were moved to tears. Afterwards, we just thanked God for who He is and for what He has done to get everyone to the place they are!
Throughout that retreat weekend, the hearing staff were stopping these young men all the time just to say hello and introduce themselves using the sign they knew. One night, we found all 5 men having a Bible study with 2 hearing staff using a computer to type back and forth as a way of communicating during their free time. In addition, lunch time was filled with gestures as the hearing staff said “no” to us as an interpreter because they wanted to try communicating on their own. They were surprised that they understood more than they thought! Friendships developed and memories were made.
Praises:
God is moving and providing what they need! He has provided staff who are willing to make a way without the language, a staff member who is able to communicate in SASL, a group of Deaf people who are willing to pioneer with the hearing staff and who are gracious, kind, teachable but also leaders. These Deaf are willing to serve and teach sign language! God has provided teachers willing to come and a base prepared to welcome Deaf people and more!
Prayers:
More students with similar hearts to join this pioneering DTS
Parents who understand and support their Deaf child to do the DTS
Interpreters or Child of Deaf Adults (CODAs) to be part of the DTS and help interpret for classes and base gatherings
Students to have the faith and boldness to ask people to support them financially to do the DTS
Fundraising all the needed money to make this happen
Here are more pictures below:
YWAMer from the Caribbean
Welcoming on Arnold, a Father to this Deaf World DTS in SA, who recently joined YWAM staff again as he has had the dream of seeing a Deaf for the Deaf for over 20 years! It is Milk and Honey (His promised land to see this happen!)
Deaf Awareness for the Base Staff
South Africa Sign Language classes at the base
Thursday Community Night
Deaf Retreat Pictures
Sharing our Stories
Ellie sharing what is the DTS
Hearing and Deaf Game Night
Christmas Photo Shoot (Fundraiser for the current DTS)
Deaf Community in Worcester
Capetown Day Trip
A beautiful hike overlooking Worcester
It was also amazing to take this journey with one of our staff, Ellie! We had such an amazing time doing life together and ministry together! We literally spend most of the flight there (other than sleeping) talking! She shared about what God was doing in her life and asking for wisdom in how to grow so that she can be all that God has called her to be and do all that God has called her to do! She was one that absorbed everything she could for the time we had together! I am so glad to spent this time with her and see what God will continue to do in and through her as she staying in South Africa continuing to serve for the next 3 weeks!
On my flight home, I had an overnight layover in NJ so got to spend the night with Ray, who was on the South African outreach team. We had a great catch up and I got to met her mom!
What an extra blessing from God!
Dan was able to pick me up from the airport and we got a date right away
before picking up the kids from school!
As a family, we were thrilled to be back together again! I even saved my airplane pillow and blankets to give them a taste of what it feels like to be on a long overnight flight! They love them as well as a few treats from South Africa.
