Check out what is happening with the GO Team!
Last night I headed from work directly to the airport, flew to Brisbane, and then was driven to Toowoomba, Queensland. The weather was a bit grey in Melbourne last night!
Update:
Please watch this video, The Gospel for the Deaf, signed in ASL for the deaf and voiced for the hearing. Share this with your deaf and hearing friends.
Please take time to read this page about the Gospel. it is for every one.
Normalmente, cuando encuentra una persona sorda, uno puede averiguar dónde es que el resto de su comunidad se reúne o pasa el rato, pero aquí en Gran Caimán, la comunidad Sorda no parece estar tan bien conectada como estamos acostumbrados a ver en otros lugares. Me alegré mucho cuando vi a esta persona Sorda, que conocimos en una tienda al por mayor, entrando por las puertas de la iglesia en el culto de esta noche. Él ya conoce a Cristo como su Salvador y estaba emocionado por la prédica de John y la comunión que tuvimos después. Él tiene baja visión y tuve el privilegio de interpretar en sus manos una parte del culto de esta noche.
Speaking with Bro Jerry Rowland of Baptist Church Planting at a conference in Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Cayman, I enjoy finding out that we know some of the same people in the ministry:. David Peach, Randy Dignan and Nick Dignan.
Timothy and I've been volunteering in a school with an adorable little deaf girl who is just learning language. In so many ways she reminds me of Amanda at the time we adopted her. The family is in Cayman from another country and we were able to meet with some of them today. We are hoping they can make it to some of the upcoming services and also to our sign language classes and that we can help her family find good education solutions. Please pray with us that God will put his blessing on this work and help this family in every way they need. They are such sweet people.
Timothy was invited to lead the congregation in signing while at the same time singing in Spanish!
This meeting begins tomorrow. Yesterday and today, we went out visiting, looking for deaf. We found two today. Pray they will come, for our interpreters, and for the speakers.
The past two weeks in Grand Cayman, I have had the privilege of going with David to experience the Christian school setting. Interpreting is a great job. I get to be part of the fun but still go relatively unnoticed. David has so enjoyed being a part of the Christian school here, making friends, learning from different teachers, and having a tight schedule. The kids and teachers love him, too. David has spread "awareness" about deaf people and sign language just by being himself, and doing normal everyday things.
I thank the Lord for our Go Deaf Team. We are here in the Cayman Islands to teach American Sign Language in two churches. Each person on the team helps in this endeavor. I teach teens and adults; Tricia interprets for me; Amanda passes out the handouts; Timothy runs the sound and camera equipment and leads songs in ASL; David helps with the video recording; and Anna teaches the children. What a blessing for us to serve the Lord together!
S. Marcos 16:15 RVR1960
Pray for this meeting next week! m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=585357736950920&id=100064300975348&mibextid=Nif5oz
We are thrilled that our sending church started this deaf church in Pinellas Park, Florida. The church is just over a year old and doing well.
Last Sunday was a great day at with a full house at church. Two children received Jesus Christ as Savior after my message, and we met a deaf man after the service!! He said he can show me his deaf friends. To God be the Glory!
Yesterday through Zoom, we had the privilege of presenting our ministry to a church in Europe from our living room in the Cayman Islands, thanks to the time difference between here and there, some incredible technology, and some people who know how to operate the technology!
Last Saturday, our team went with Calvary Baptist Church of Georgetown to pass out info for a Bible study in the West Bay of Cayman Islands. The goal is to eventually start a church from the Bible study. What a blessing to be part of this new church plant! Sometimes we are blessed to serve the hearing church in their endeavors to pass out the gospel in the community.
Our sign language classes in Grand Cayman started today!
Pray for our sign language class, we trust God will do something with this!GoDeaf Ministry is offering free drop-in ASL classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for the next 8 weeks.
Yesterday Go partnered with the church here going door-to-door inviting folks to church and Bible study in the community. I also asked about deaf people and a couple of ladies told me about a deaf woman who wanders the street regularly, and another deaf woman whose mother lives on a nearby street. They also said we can check the post office because at least two deaf work there. This morning, the lady who taught the teens' Sunday school knows a deaf woman who comes to the bank where she works. We are excited to follow up on these leads. Pray for us!
My devotions are currently focused on the book of Proverbs, and I am thankful that God leads us through different seasons in life with just what we need as we read from His word.
Landed in Charlotte, NC. Next flight to Cayman Islands. Pray for our two months missions trip!!
It is almost 1:30 a.m. and we are about ready to head out on a missions trip to the Cayman Islands. It's going to be a long night! Two churches have prepared for us to come and help them prepare to start deaf ministries. The turn around from the last trip was pretty quick. When we come back at the end of April, Lord willing, we will be packing up the house and preparing to move to Portugal. Pray for a good trip and for souls to be saved in Cayman.
While I was with our team in the Caribbean Islands, we recorded a translation of my bio from our website in Auslan (Australian Sign Language). I've prepared captions and a voice-over as well. There is a little film snippet towards the end from one of my ministry trips to the Solomon Islands. I hope this may be a blessing to you!
Last week I graduated with a Christian Worker’s Certificate from Victoria Baptist Bible College. I’m thankful for my teachers who worked diligently to prepare classes and who encouraged us along the way. It was so good to meet our teachers and fellow students face to face, most for the first time! The majority of our classes were online, through the long lockdowns in Melbourne. Please pray for the full time students that are commencing their studies this year through the college, and for strong leaders to continue sharing the Gospel here in Australia.
Our three months missions trip to St Lucia, Grenada and Dominica ended yesterday. We are back in the US. 14 deaf and 4 hearing trusted Jesus as their Saviour. Also, many hours were spent in teaching sign language. Thank you all for your prayers.
I'm so thankful for times of rest in my life, times of refreshing, times of fun. Although I have had several meetings this month, I've also been able to rest, enjoy seeing my family and friends, and have a little down time between meetings. God knew I needed it. I'm truly thankful.
Thanking the Lord for two more deaf saved tonight! The lady I led to the Lord has gone to church all her life and has always felt something was missing. She was so excited to receive Christ personally for the forgiveness of sins. When she learned we are leaving tomorrow she was convinced she just got in in the nick of time. What a great way to end a missions trip! God has really blessed!
Timothy arrived safely today back in Peru after 3 months with us in St Lucia, Grenada and Dominica. Thank you for your prayers. Looking forward to serving together in the near future. Pray for his visa, and for our trips this year.
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“There will come a time when every step of the journey God is taking you on will make sense. Until then, keep trusting Him.”
Sunday night and Monday I drove to Texas for Shady Acres Baptist Church's camp meeting. It has certainly been good to be here with people I had never met before, making new friends and acquaintances, and seeing a few friends again. I'm thankful for the opportunity I had on Monday to share my burden with all those in attendance.
What a great meeting! Eight deaf came. Six deaf received Jesus into their hearts!!! To God be the glory!
Went out passing out flyers for the Deaf Church service. While visiting, we led two souls to Christ. A great way to end the year!
Thank you for your prayers! My support is up to 65%! I am looking forward to seeing God work in mighty ways in the coming year.
Isaiah 42:12 KJV — Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
Pictures of Dominica from the ferry. Now here for 18 days. Pray for great results!
Dominica, here we come!
Christmas Day in Soufriere, St Lucia. We stopped at the Pitons after the Christmas service. Our family and Timothy had a blessed day!
photos.app.goo.gl
Merry Christmas!
It may not be big but we have a tree and we manage to organize ham and the makings of an almost traditional Christmas dinner. It is a little sad to be so far from family and friends at the holidays but we are blessed to have so many to miss. We are most grateful to have a Savior. Pray God will keep opening doors to tell the deaf about Him. We love you all. Merry Christmas!
Anna and I had a wonderful time visiting a church in Texas and participating in their missions conference. I felt very much adopted by them, and I value their love of missions and how that extends to their love of each missionary.
At the beginning of the week, I flew back to Florida from the meeting in Texas, and Marie flew back to Australia. We enjoyed the preaching, music, and missionary testimonies. We also got to share our heart and give an update about our team. I'm looking forward to the start of the new year, as I am scheduled in churches for nearly all of January and still have more churches to call. I'm so thankful for each pastor and evangelist who have given me contacts to whom I may reach out. Please keep praying for me to be bold on deputation and for God to touch hearts about supporting me.
At the airport in Grenada, getting ready to fly to St Lucia for a week, celebrating Christmas. The whole month in Grenada has been wonderful!! To God be the glory.
Please pray for our deaf service tomorrow. We have visited more deaf, and we expect a bigger crowd. For those in Grenada, share with your deaf friends.
I’m excited that a church here in Texas has taken me on for support! I am thankful that God is continuing to open up opportunities to share about our ministry and burdening hearts about the need to reach Deaf people around the world with the Gospel. This church’s love and passion for missions and missionaries has been so evident this week. It has been encouraging to listen to the testimonies of other missionaries here and to see the evidence of God’s hand in their work. It’s hard knowing that my time here will soon come to a close. Please pray that I can continue to raise support quickly, enabling me to join the team full time.
God is good! Marie and I have been in the US for two days at a missions revival. Two great messages were preached tonight, one on what to do when you're the one chosen, and one on the person who stays home and faithfully serves the Lord there. Pastor Lindsey then had the missionaries kneel at the altar and had each of his church members come by, lay hands on us, and pray for us and our work. What a humbling experience! Pray for this pastor and this church.
Last night, we visited Lifeline Independent Baptist Church in Grenville. This is the fifth church we have visited in Grenada, and it is encouraging to see churches with a heart for God. Every pastor expressed a burden for reaching the deaf in Grenada. We thank the Lord for the open doors, and pray that God will use the churches to reach the deaf in Grenada.
¡Hoy salimos de visita y encontramos cuatro nuevos sordos que no habíamos conocido antes! Estamos tratando de alcanzar a más personas e invitarlos a la iglesia para el último domingo que estaremos en Grenada.
Marie and I left Grenada for St. Lucia on Saturday and today we leave St. Lucia for the US. We're on our way to a missions revival, and then going back to our homes. We have enjoyed the time so much and we feel we have two more "homes away from home" in St. Lucia and in Grenada. Thank you to each person who has been praying for us and provided the funds for us to go. Please continue praying for the Olsons, Timothy, and Zacheus, as they continue ministering in Grenada and in Dominica.
Here is a little update on what is going on with our missions trip in Grenada, (Dec 4-5). Continue praying for us as we continue serving the Lord in the missionary field.
Zacheus from St Lucia joined our trip in Grenada for the month, and he has a burden for witnessing to the deaf. In the picture, he is talking to a deaf student. He is a great worker, and he desires to serve the Lord. We thank the Lord for the opportunity to work together.
Irá andando y llorando el que lleva la preciosa semilla; Mas volverá a venir con regocijo, trayendo sus gavillas.
Tonight, 4 deaf came back for the second night of church revival. Praise the Lord!
The Go Team shared the gospel and their testimonies, and taught few signs at a public school this morning.
Great day at Heritage Baptist Church with Pastor Denis Celestine in Grenada! Great crowd! The gospel preached! Two saved! Many encouraged!
Fue un gran mes sirviendo en St. Lucia, éstos son unos clips de nuestra estadía en la isla.
Missions in St. Lucia - Highlights youtube.com It was a great month serving the Lord on the beautiful Island of St. Lucia. we look forward to seeing deaf souls reached across the Carribean as a result. L...
We've learned a couple new choruses from the churches in St Lucia and Grenada. We really like this one:
What a blessing! Tonight, Timothy was asked to sing congregational songs, and Anna signed the songs. Then, I preached and my wife voiced for me in the service.
First hot shower in a month and with high pressure too. So thankful! We arrived safely in Grenada this evening. Our accomodations are great and we are looking forward to a service for the deaf tomorrow. The church here has been working hard inviting people. We are excited about what the Lord will do. Pray for a great day!
At the airport in St Lucia, bags checked in, cleared through security (well, Amanda's backpack had three drink bottles. So, all in trash), now waiting at the gate for boarding.
Packing, cleaning, getting ready to go to the airport. Grenada, here we come!!
We had a chuckle when we saw this image recently. I’ve been reflecting just now about how I am grateful for the the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit in our lives. I am thankful we can rely on God’s strength and His working through us, to help us to live in a way that is honouring to Him, rather than straining like this and relying on our own limited strength to live a godly life.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US. I would like to thank the Lord for my salvation and my family. Additionally, I thank the Lord for:
¡Dios es tan bueno!
Last week, I enjoyed this boat trip to a part of the island, and I enjoyed seeing the seaweed, sea moss and swimming. It was a good day.
Timothy singing in English and signing in ASL. Also, one verse in Spanish and Peruvian sign Language. Marie playing her instrument!
Last Saturday, I showed pictures of my drawings, and I asked you to pray for me to share my drawings. Then, on Monday, our team went to a school for the deaf, and I gave all my pictures to the deaf teachers. What a blessing it was!! Thank you for praying!!
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Today we continued to work on preparing videos for our team’s website. There is a lot that happens behind the scenes! Today we filmed bio videos for both Tricia and I. We were blessed with good lighting and an absence of rain.
Missions is cool. We get to do a lot of amazing things that others don't, by nature of the ministry. But we are just like you, ordinary people trying to serve God how He has called us. It's not always exciting and glamorous as some might view it. It doesn't make us more spiritual than other Christians as some might like to think. We are real people and we live real lives. I do a lot of sitting at the table teaching school, and Amanda and David do a lot of sitting at the table learning school. We do laundry and dishes. We make our beds (and sometimes we don't) just like you. We all have our limitations, too. But we serve an extraordinary God and Savior, Who has no limitations, and sometimes God is pleased to use our ordinary, real, everyday lives for something beautiful for His glory. I am thankful God chose to use me. I praise Him for the work He is doing in Amanda and David through me, and the work He is doing through them that I get to admire close-up. Nothing is more rewarding than serving God.
Question - Our team has posted almost everyday about our mission trip. We get very few comments, and we wonder if people are getting our posts. If you are seeing our posts, please post a comment. Thank you.
He estado interpretando en Lengua de Señas Peruana casi toda mi vida, y por la gracia de Dios también he aprendido Inglés y Lengua de Señas Americana, dos instrumentos adicionales que me permiten servir a Dios en las misiones, ¡Pero nadie me habló de los acentos! ¡He estado luchando para interpretar, estancándome como los nuevos en aprender señas que he ayudado en Perú! A pesar de la frustración y autocrítica, sé que si no practico y sólo dejo de intentarlo ahora, no podré mejorar ni podré servir a Dios de manera efectiva. Ahora estoy experimentando de primera mano, en cada detalle de este viaje, que la teoría de las misiones no se compara con su práctica, y que la experiencia que he adquirido en el ministerio de mi papá no siempre se aplica a cada país. Quiero animar a aquellos que tienen un llamado a servir y se están preparando, a que comiencen a practicar desde donde están ahora y no se limiten a un área determinada de ministerio o región de ubicación. Demos lo mejor de nosotros mismos a nuestro Gran Dios.
We are having an amazing trip to St. Lucia. When we arrived, Pastor Philbert welcomed us with, "Welcome to Paradise." The flora of the island certainly affirms he is correct. We have been teaching sign language at Ambassador Baptist Church and have had the opportunity to visit two schools for children with special needs, including the deaf. People have been so friendly, kind, and welcoming. Today we had the chance to share the Gospel with a few deaf teachers and their students. Some of the teachers are Christians and were very happy to allow us to speak with their deaf and hard of hearing students. It was nice to have Ambassador's deaf pastor Kandal to drive us to the north end of the island today, which is more affluent than where the church is in Vieux Fort. After meeting with the Deaf we are considering the possibility of having a special service for the Deaf in this area in the near future. They tell us the majority of the Deaf live in this area.
I enjoy coloring these pictures and give them to people. I pray these pictures will encourage others in the Lord.
I’m thankful to be serving in ministry with these two God honouring men - we have a great team! Today we started to organise travel plans to Grenada and I am looking forward to visiting there soon and to our team helping their church to establish a deaf ministry.
The Go Deaf team loves being here, working with the deaf and hearing at a church in St Lucia. We will be in St Lucia for a month before going to Grenada. Pray for us!
¡La última persona que hubiera esperado encontrar en Santa Lucía es el pastor Marvin Smith de Iowa! La última vez que lo ví estaba en Efata en Lima Perú, y me acababa de rendir a misiones, fue emocionante encontrarme con él en la conferencia en Santa Lucía, ahora sirviendo como misionero con Go Deaf Missions. Fue una bendición para mí en Perú y nuevamente en la conferencia aquí en Santa Lucía.
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