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Deaf ministry still vital in Moldova
MOLDOVA — Bringing God’s Word to deaf people has been an important part of the Interconfessional Bible Society of Moldova’s work for several years. When Bible Society staff visited a Bible study group for deaf people in May, they discovered at first hand just how much this ministry means to the people it reaches. Peter Stratulat, 47, and his wife Olga, 43, are both deaf. They live in a one-room house in the village of Karagash, where they grow vegetables. If they work hard, there are enough vegetables to feed them all year round. Because they are deaf, they have always struggled to learn new words and so they find it hard to read anything except the simplest texts. The highlight of the week for this couple is the Tuesday evening Bible study at the home of Victor Malar. This young deaf Christian lives in Tiraspol, 8 kms from Karagash. There is no public transport between the two places. Even if there were, Peter and Olga would not be able to afford the fare. So each week they walk there and back, even in the dark and the cold, encouraged on their way by the great warmth and fellowship they find among fellow deaf Christians. Mr Malar is now 22. He came to faith when, as a teenager, he took part in the Bible Society’s first summer camp for deaf children in 2001 (see World Report 366/8). Unlike many deaf people, he has a job and his own flat. He has developed a ministry towards other deaf people, opening up his home for them to meet together to read and discuss the Scriptures. They are helped by two sign language interpreters and a deaf preacher, Oleg Pavlov. Deepen their knowledge Everybody who had assembled at Mr Pavlov’s home on the evening when the Bible Society staff visited was very eager to see the biblical materials that they had brought. Their smiling faces and the signs they made clearly expressed their joy at being helped in this way to deepen their knowledge of God’s Word. After the meeting had finished, nobody was in a hurry to go home. Continuing to talk in sign language, they gradually made their way outside and accompanied the visitors to their car. This time, Peter and Olga did not have to walk home. The Bible Society staff drove them to their village, where they proudly showed them their home and garden. Unknown words “We are happy because we came to God together and we’re equally interested in what the Bible says,” Peter told the visitors. “We don’t understand much, because there are too many unknown words for us, even in the Children’s Bible. But we do try to read more and more and I’m sure that the Lord will help us to understand his Word. I see God’s hand in everything now and I feel his love.” This report refers to project 82104. Earlier reports about Bible work among deaf people in Moldova can be found in World Report 389/7, 381/2 and 378/12. (WR 405/18 - 09/10.06) [4 photos] |
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