Sometimes in our Christian lives, God asks us to attempt things for Him for which we feel totally unqualified.  We can either choose to step out by faith and obey the calling of God or choose to give in to our fears and disobey.  In our last letter, I mentioned that we were going to begin an outreach to the deaf in our area.  This was one thing that we, as a family, knew God was calling us to do, but we felt totally inadequate to undertake.

Then we began to “find” the deaf in our area and visit in their homes.  What we found was a neglected, abused, and forgotten group of people.  But God had not forgotten them.  Our hearts were so touched by the need to reach them with the gospel.  But there was one big problem.  No one in our area even knew a language existed for the deaf.  The deaf here were considered useless, only valuable if they could work or beg.  But God valued them, and He had already formed a plan to reach them.

Over ten years ago, God sent a deaf teen to our youth group, and my wife and son took sign language classes.  Our son’s work this past summer with MTT Ministries and the Bill Rice Ranch sharpened his signing skills.  Our daughter showed a desire to take sign language as her foreign language this year.  God had already put into our hands the tools necessary to reach these people.  So in January we began having sign language classes for the deaf once a week.  So far we have 20 students from ages 3 to 65 enrolled.  It has been such a blessing to see the “light turn on” when they learn a new sign or word.  It has also been a challenge, but each week the Lord gives us new insights into how to teach them.  It has been encouraging to see each member of our family try to think of ways to teach a particular word or idea.  Also, God has opened doors and blessed in more ways than I can recount.  Please pray for our students, that one day they will come to understand the immense love that God has for them.

Another project that I always feel inadequate to undertake is a building project.  But God always gives me wisdom, guidance, and good counsel when I need it.  The church people put their hands to work during Mardi Gras week and dug out the foundation for our new church building.  The ladies brought vegetables and spices and cooked while the men and children dug and moved wheelbarrows full of dirt.  The new truck acted as a team of oxen to plow the dirt quickly.  Even Benjamin and Micah tried their hand at plowing to the enjoyment of our seasoned Haitian plowmen.  In March, we will pour the foundation and build the walls and then wait on God to provide the funds for the roof.  Please pray for continued safety and wisdom as this project is completed.

As Christians, we cannot let Satan discourage us from doing something for God just because we feel inadequate.  Missionary Joy Ridderhof emphasized the importance of following God’s call when she said, “The need of those lost millions breaks my heart, but we don’t have to stand and weep, but believe that God has put into our hand that which when blessed and used by Him can ‘thresh the mountains and beat them small . . .’ For what period of history is God referring to when He speaks of the great things He will accomplish in the earth?  If it is not for now, for when is it?”

Harry, Melissa, Benjamin, Madelyn, Micah, and Bethany Peart