Love Is A Verb

We serve a BIG God.  I typed that sentence while having the privilege of sitting looking out over a vast, roaring ocean.  While waiting for God to move this blog post in a certain direction that He desires it to go, that was the only thing I could think about.  I look out and see people sitting along the coast line, literally dwarfed by the trillions of gallons of water that serves as their background.  We serve and more importantly are loved by a God who put the moon at just the right distance that gives us beautiful waves in the ocean, that make the ocean look like a living, breathing entity.  Full of thousands of different species of fish that he all knows by name.  It’s easy to sit here and dwell on the intricacies of truly how tiny we are in the grand scheme of all of life on this earth.  That makes the fact that God is constantly, deeply knowing/loving me, us, and every other being on this planet all the more beautiful and amazing.  Almost every other religion in the world features a deity that is distant, unreachable, and too grand to be amongst men.  Thus, God humbling himself to give us Jesus, or Emmanuel meaning “God with us,” is what makes Him so amazing.  We have a God who is relational.  The Maker of Heaven and Earth wants to know us, are you freaking kidding me?  What a love.  The greatest love we will ever know, having the Holy Spirit, his presence, inside of us.  Here’s the hard part, God calls each of us to replicate His love for us to everyone (John 13:34-35).  I don’t know why, but for me it’s difficult to look past people’s fallacies and love wholeheartedly and unconditionally.  It’s a daily struggle to look on people as Christ views them, both holy and unblemished (if saved), or someone in desperate need of a savior and experiencing the love of God (if not saved).  Something that has greatly convicted me during my time in Honduras is that I am a direct reflection of God’s love to those who don’t know Him.  In America it’s very easy to fade into the background, just live your life, do what you want to do and overall not many people really care.  So going to Honduras and immediately realizing that wherever you go people stare at you, constantly watching, because that fallback of fading into the background is no longer there.  Thus, as to be expected given my struggles, I was exposed under the spotlight.  Then came the long process of coming to realize that I was being extremely selfish in not displaying the God I know, who loves me, to those around me.  It was much easier for me to talk about His love, His greatness, His forgiveness, than to show it.  Come to find out that love isn’t a noun, a thing to be talked about or discussed; rather it’s a verb, an ACTION word.  It requires hard work, dedication, discipline, and patience on a daily basis.  Its meeting people where they are at, showing them love the way that they need to see it, and using the love that they need to lift them up closer to Christ.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 that any spiritual gifts given to us from God are meaningless without using it with/through/in love.  In the NASB version says that without love we become like “a noisy gong or clanging symbol.”  Have you ever heard someone just randomly bang away at a symbol not knowing what they were doing?  If not let me tell you, it’s quite annoying.  My family likes to tell a story about me that when I was 2 I went to my uncles wedding rehearsal dinner.  We were all seated at this big table, everyone in the family just chatting.  While I was seated in my high chair a saw a shiny metal object called a spoon.  My infant mind thought it would be fun to take the spoon and begin to create my own “7^th Symphony” with the noises that it could produce.  My dad told me that I would bang away on the table with that spoon creating the most unpleasant noise; whenever they took it away I always managed to find another one laying around somewhere and commence the banging all over again.  One of my uncles apparently couldn’t take it anymore and completely snapped at little 2 year old precious me.  I imagine that us using our gifts without love metaphorically sounds like 2 year old me banging on the table with a spoon to those we are trying to use or gifts with or for.  Every single thing we will ever do in this world hinges on how we love others in Christ’s name.  In many ways love is the gospel in action.  People can’t help but see love in other people and wonder where it is coming from.  If we are accurately displaying love selflessly it can only point to Jesus, since His was the most selfless love of all.  Isn’t that whole point of us being alive?         - By Daniel Fox 

The Gift of Language

A few months ago, I met an 18-year-old Deaf boy who had no language. I couldn’t quite figure out his name, so I will call him Jose. His friend who was with him told me that Jose’s family lives in a village several hours away, but that he has been living on the streets of La Ceiba for three years. This Deaf boy has a history of being picked up by the police for attempted robbery. His teeth looked like they were rotting and I’m pretty sure it had been quite a while since his last shower.

Initially, I tried to use Honduran sign language to communicate with Jose, but when it was clear he wasn’t following me, I switched to gestures and miming. As I was trying to ask him questions, all he would do was gesture that he wanted food. At first, I was annoyed. I was trying to help this kid out (he was in a tough situation) and all he could think about was food? Really? He had way bigger problems to deal with. But then I realized that he is literally so hungry that he couldn’t concentrate on anything else but the empty feeling in his stomach. And then my heart broke, and I went and bought him some food.

Because Jose was never taught language, he could not tell me his mother’s name, where he was from, when his birthday was or even what his name was. And now he is stuck on the streets, without a language, without an education, without a family to support him. I’d like to say that Jose is unique; that all the other Deaf in Honduras are given the opportunity to learn language or go to school. Unfortunately, that is not the case.  The majority of the Deaf in the villages are just like Jose.

The good news is that Signs of Love is working like mad to reach as many Deaf as possible and teach them language.  By reaching the Deaf in La Ceiba, as well as in the rural villages, Signs of Love offers this disenfranchised group of people the chance to learn language, and with language comes so many incredible opportunities.  With language comes empowerment, self-esteem, self-respect, knowledge, education and so much more.

SofL Deaf staff teaching language to a rural deaf teenager

As I watch Signs of Love’s Deaf staff members teach the Deaf children in the rural villages, I am constantly reminded of what a difference they are making. It is so beautiful to see how Signs of Love has already positively shaped the lives of over 100 Deaf in northern Honduras, and I look forward to seeing the organization continue its Kingdom work in the years to come.





Written by Joy Pfanner - Social Worker with SofL

Inapreciable

Cuando usted piensa en algo que no tiene precio, lo que viene a la mente? Recuerdos, sueños, eventos, o tal vez una joya o antiguo?

¿Qué sucede en SdeA, cada uno y todos los días, no tiene precio. Así que pocos pueden hacer este tipo de trabajo, y que solo lo hace no tiene precio. Nuestro trabajo no tiene precio a los ojos de los que se suben las mangas, y no tiene precio para aquellos que están recibiendo nuestro amor. Cada día los que servimos nos da preciados recuerdos de cómo sus vidas han sido siempre extendido. No extenderse en el tiempo, pero en el aliento y la profundidad y sentido y vale la pena y la comprensión. No tiene precio.

¿Cuáles son las cosas valiosas que suceden en tu vida? Sólo en los últimos dos meses, hemos sido capaces de amar intencionalmente sobre los niños sordos (y adultos) a través de nuestras mini-campamentos. En esencia, este ha sido un tiempo de invitarlos a nuestra casa (casa de la misión) para los días largos, y verter todo lo posible en ellas. ¡Qué profunda diferencia se hace cuando en realidad vive con ellos. Piense en cuando tiene invitados en su casa. Después de su estancia, ¿cuánto más íntimamente tienes que conocerlos? Ahora piense en ser capaz de enseñar a sus invitados las cosas que nunca han pensado, cosas que no sabías que existían. Piense acerca de ser capaz de prodigar su amor en ellos a sabiendas de que provienen de un lugar donde el amor se tuerce y no existente que con demasiada frecuencia. Piense en ello. Tienes la oportunidad de ser "Jesús" a sus invitados y hacerlos sentir como un millón de dólares. Eso es lo que hacemos, a menudo. No tiene precio.

Nos esforzamos para hacer una diferencia no tiene precio cada día. No queremos tomar a la ligera Lo que nos ha hacer. Al igual que las vidas que llegan a servir, su interés y participación con nosotros no tiene precio. Vamos a centrarnos en lo que no tiene precio para nosotros, y seguir con todo lo que tenemos.


Recuerda...todos pueden oír El amor.

Aquí está una foto de 'inapreciable' en acción.

Priceless

Here's a photo of "priceless" in action.

When you think of something priceless, what comes to mind?  Memories, dreams, events, or perhaps a jewel or antique?    

What goes on at Signs of Love, each and every day, is priceless.  So few get to do this kind of work, and that alone makes it priceless.  Our work is priceless in the eyes of those rolling up their sleeves, and it’s priceless to those who are receiving our love.  Each and every day those we serve give us priceless memories of how their lives have been forever extended.  Not extended in time, but in breath & depth & meaning & worth & understanding.  Priceless. 

What are the priceless things that happen in your life?  Just in the last couple months, we have been able to intentionally love on deaf children (and adults) through our mini-camps.  Essentially, this has been a time of inviting them into our home (mission house) for extended days, and pouring everything we can into them.  What a profound difference is made when we actually live with the least of these.  Think about when you have guests in your home.  After their stay, how much more intimately have you got to know them?  Now think about being able to teach your guests things they’ve never thought about, things they never knew existed.  Think about being able to lavish your love on them knowing they come from a place where love is twisted and all-too-often nonexistent.  Think about it.  You get to be “Jesus” to your guests, and make them feel like a million dollars.  That’s what we do, often.  It’s priceless. 

We strive to make a priceless difference each and every day. We never want to take lightly what He has us doing.  Just like the lives we get to serve, your interest & involvement with us is priceless.  Let’s focus on whatever is priceless to us, and pursue it with all we have.  


Remember...love can be heard by all.

El Roi

As one flies into Honduras it’s pretty hard to not see the beauty.  The ocean to one side, and on the other rolling mountains of lush rainforest. 

Now zoom in: Within minutes of getting off the plane it is hard to not see the hunger.  The barefoot boy washing windshields in hopes of receiving a few coins.  The crippled man whose foot is rotting begging for just enough to buy his next meal.  Being the second poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, there is much hunger.

But what about those that hunger to be seen, those that feel invisible? Don’t we all have this desire deep within us, for someone to see us. And not just to see our physical appearance but to really know as us as we truly are? 

Mother Teresa said, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”

This is the hunger of so many of the deaf people in Honduras, “Someone see me!” The community around them says, “You are deaf, you are nothing.” and rarely acknowledge their existence except to tease.  The only time their family sees them is when they put them to work.  They have no voice, they are not heard, and they are not seen.

This was the plight of Hagar as well.  She was a slave and after finding herself on the run, alone in the desert, God sees her, despite her mistakes and inperfections.  Genesis 16:7 says, ”And the angel of the LORD found her...in the wilderness...” After God instructs her, Hagar says, “You are a God of seeing [El Roi]...Truly here I have seen him who sees me.”” (Genesis 16:13)

Signs of Love makes it a point to “see” these precious people, to look them in the eye. Often times, when we first meet them, they don’t look back, they are afraid and quickly shift their gaze to the ground.  But one of the most remarkable experiences is to look into the eyes of a child that has never been seen, with the eyes of Christ. 

It has been so exciting to have the village minicamps.  We get to spend 3 days with a small group of deaf that we usually only see for 2 hours once a month.  During this time we have gotten to “see” so much more of these amazing people! 

We are privileged to look upon and 

love Selvin, and we trust
that he will truly know El Roi 

Hilda really likes butterflies and wants to make jewelry when she grows up.  She is patient and is skilled in cooking.

Melkin likes hugs, she believes she can do anything and will try anything new.  She is good with animals and smiles all the time!

It’s been said, “The eyes are the door to the soul.” When we look at these special people like no one else has ever done we are opening a door, a door to share Christ.  That person may not know the name of Jesus (for that mater they may not even know their own name!) but as they grow I know that they will remember the first person that ever “saw” them... Christ in us!  And I pray that they would come to have a relationship with El Roi—“the God who sees.”

Vapor

There is a common saying here in Honduras: “Si Dios quiere,” which translates to “If God wants.” I have heard this phrase countless times throughout the past year, and have come to deeply appreciate its meaning. Loss is well known to many Hondurans. This country has an understanding of the fragility of life that we Americans often choose to ignore. They understand that life is “but a breath” and can vanish at any moment. And so, when I say, “Ok, see you next week”, they respond with “Si Dios quiere.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about the fragility of life these days. It is a vapor, a mist. It is there one minute, and the next minute it has vanished completely right in front of your face without you even knowing it. Life is tricky that way. It’s so there that you forget one day it won’t be there. The other day, I listened to a sermon, and in that sermon the woman asked, “ What will you do with the ‘vapor’ that you’ve been given?” I’ve asked myself this question countless times…

So here is my goal: to waste my vapor away on His kingdom work. To love strong. To give compassion to all. To fight for the least of these. And to keep seeking His guidance as my vapor dissolves away. And when I fail (because I know that sometimes I will), I will get back up and try again.

As I work alongside the servants at Signs of Love, I see how they are using their “vapors” for God’s kingdom work. I watch as they encourage, teach, love, challenge, empower and embrace those who have been considered “the least of these” for so long. Many of the “least of these” have never been given an opportunity to attend school, have never been given the right to learn sign language, and some have never even been allowed to step outside their homes. They are oppressed. But God has brought the servants at Signs of Love to remind them that they are NOT abandoned, NOT forgotten. These precious Deaf are Loved. Cherished. Adored. And as they realize their worth, they find a hope and a strength that carries them.

Now that is vapor-worthy.

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”   James 4:14

The Future

For many of us this word holds a number of different emotions. For some of us, there may even be a bit of fear behind it. When I was in high school, the thought of the future was terrifying. The future meant growing up, leaving my family and beginning a whole new life. Now that I’ve grown up (just a bit), left my family, and started a whole new life, I’ve realized the future is not what is terrifying, It’s the unknown that really frightens me. The future may hold many things, and not knowing what they are is the scary part.

Diana, our new Honduran volunteer teacher, 

teaching the youngest group at our school. 

We love her and so do the kids!

Since working as the teacher for the Deaf for Signs of Love, I have been given new eyes to view the future. I no longer view  the future as the scary unknown, but as an opportunity for change, an opportunity for new workers to rise up and join the harvest, an opportunity for Signs of Love to grow as an organization through the Mighty Hand of our Father. I am overwhelmed with excitement by the thought of what God is planning for the future. I believe God is working and cultivating hearts right this second, and preparing Hondurans to become the leaders of tomorrow. Being in the school Monday-Friday has allowed me to witness the children from villages, who a month ago had no language, carry on a conversation with not only their other classmates, but the teachers as well. We have also been meeting Hondurans who have taken a huge interest in the Deaf and Signs of Love, who with the right guidance and love of the Father, will bring something really special to Signs of Love Honduras. And God is still working in other areas! The past few Sundays, many children from the school have begun attending Deaf Church, which is really exciting in itself. Not only are they coming to church regularly, but they also have engaged themselves by volunteering during the service, answering questions, and helping to re-teach biblical concepts to the other attendees. These kids blow my mind! They are so smart and I just know God has huge plans for their lives and I cannot wait to see them unfold. Meanwhile, we pray. Since all these wonderful things are happening, I know the enemy is on the prowl. Please join us in praying for the future leaders of Signs of Love, the ones being cultivated now, and the ones who may not yet be found. Pray that each day we do not lose an opportunity to build up these future leaders, along with the leaders that have already answered the Call and are leading right now. We all know how the story ends, the enemy will lose, and we will not fear the future or the unknown, because nothing is unknown to the God of the Universe, and I know with all my heart He is leading this organization into great and marvelous things!