When all you hear is laughter…
I’m in India this month and my ministry is with deaf and hearing impaired children.
I honestly had no idea what to expect. I had plenty of thoughts of how things might be, but honestly I was not prepared for the reality of these amazing people.
These children and young adults come from all over their state to form a community of about 130. They are from all different backgrounds, religions, and classes. They are here for a simple purpose to be educated and trained in a skill that will give them an edge in the very competitive job market of India. The men can be trained in wiring, tailoring, and computers and the women can be trained in computers or tailoring.
But aside from all the teaching and job training, there is something different about this school.
Twenty-five years ago this school was started by a “retired” missionary lady from Canada and her “adoptive” daughter. Mrs. Lillian, who had been in India doing missions work in an orphanage for years, was “retired” by her organization when she got older, but her heart still burned for India. So she and one of her girls from the orphanage along with the girl’s new husband set out to start a school for the deaf. It was hard at first, as hard as the rocky ground this place is built on, but brick by brick and child by child this refuge was built. Even though Mrs. Lillian is in heaven now, the seeds she planted are bearing fruit.
Here in this place these children not only receive the training and attention they need they also are introduced to the gospel. Two times a day devotion is given and prayer and also on Sunday there is a church service. They are not required to attend the services but they all do.
These children from Muslim and Hindu backgrounds are “hearing” the gospel for the first time and many of them are receiving salvation. Many of them even having to hide their new found faith when they go home. But despite that these beautiful children, some of them from very hard family lives, are just bursting with the joy of Jesus and His beauty. You can see it on their faces, in their eyes, and especially in their laughs. Oh yea… I forgot to mention…
India by nature is a very loud place; music, motor bikes, you name it, but here at the school it is quiet…
all you hear is….
laughter…
Almost every child here cannot speak but they sure can laugh!
In some ways it kinda reminds me of what heaven must look like…
Ok ok just bear with me just a moment longer. I have one more story to tell. It will only take a moment more of your time.
Last night after one of our devotions we had the children get into groups with us so they could ask us questions about what we had talked about. Many good “conversations” followed, many in sign, on paper and in a variety charades. They just asked about the love of God and why He loves us and things like that. But the conversation took a turn I did not expect. Toward the end of our time one girl asked when we were leaving. Several of the other girls started signing about crying and being sad and others still signing that we had to stay. But that one girl just waited for our reply. We told her and I told her I would be sad and I wished I could stay. But she only looked at me and then signed one of the most amazing things I have ever saw.
She said, “Its ok, if after you leave that you don’t see me again. When we die and go to heaven, where the gold is, I will see you and recognize you and hug you. Even though I can’t speak or hear here, when I get there I will be able to speak like you and to hear (when she said ‘speak’ she started moving her mouth and made a few sounds).
Now I was the one who was speechless…
It was like time stopped and Jesus had come down and “spoke” through her.
I was pierced to the heart.
Sometimes in living life we need those reminders of the true reality that awaits us.
Thank you (reader) so much for holding on though this jumble. I hope you found it encouraging. I pray blessings over you in Jesus’ name and hope that this story will give you pause and help you consider the hope the truly awaits us.
