God answered your prayers! 

We were able to meet the leader of the Miyagi Prefecture Deaf Association who is in charge of distributing necessities to the Deaf in that prefecture. He asked for ten cases of bottled water. It's unclear what other specific needs there are. They are not able to take items to the Deaf who are in the shelters because the other people will be disappointed if they don't get some things, also. 

CONTINUE TO PRAY for the DEAF OF JAPAN 

*Twenty Deaf will be moving soon into prefab temporary housing. 

*Some other houses need to be mucked out. 

We are looking forward to trying to work together. It's hard to be effective traveling back and forth.

CONTINUE TO PRAY for US….

We are weary, but are headed off tomorrow again (April 19th) for one more trip to Sendai City, Ishi-no-Maki City and to three other locations north of there. We will be staying in a Karate Dojo (practice room) that we are told has water and electricity. We hope there is a public bath nearby : ) 

Three vans and a truck are going up. Ed bought a van load of veggies (potatoes, carrots, cabbage, onions), blankets. A colleague packaged a ton of rice into 2 lb. zip locks. We heard today that some people have become angry and combative when the food ran out at a distribution site. 

*Pray that the distribution will go peacefully.  

We are leaving at 6 AM in the morning and driving straight through to Sendai City, 13 hours. Us old birds aren't looking forward to that long a haul! 

This morning I randomly opened my Bible to read: 1 Chronicles 21:1-30. 

"David said to God, "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands 

of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into 

the hands of men." (V 13) Mercy is God's unmerited favor. The people 

of Japan are in deep distress: earthquake, tsunami, radiation fears, 

and now a blizzard. Aftershocks continue to unnerve the victims. And 

again Christians to share in the evacuation shelters throughout the 

A colleague has asked prayer that the prevailing winds from the 

Pastor HR's house in Sendai was completely destroyed. Everyone in his 

family is safe. He has moved back to Yamagata to the home of his 

parents. (Yamagata also suffered damage in the quake.) Last night, I 

video-chatted with a Deaf friend from another evangelical 

denomination. She said their pastors in the stricken area have been 

evacuated. They are asking their church members living in Nagoya, 

Osaka, Kobe and on to Fukuoka to open their homes for one month to 

We are working with DAG, our Japan Baptist Mission, ViBi (The Visual 

Bible translation group in Tokyo) and relief work with the Japan 

Evangelical Mission Association to find out where the Deaf are in the 

shelters, assess their needs, reach out to them. Their immediate needs 

are the same as you have been hearing on the news: blankets, food, 

kerosene, gasoline. Long term: where to live as they begin cleaning-up 

"Let (the Japanese people) fall into the hands of the LORD, for his 

mercy is very great." Turn their hearts to call upon you. We rejoice 

that we know of one person in Sendai who believed on you on March 

Deaf Leader: Lina

CASTING VISION

Lina and Rey casting vision for winning our lost loved ones

They dramatize the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus

THROUGH LINA A FAMILY EXPERIENCES PIECE

Lina shares….

"My brother had 3 strokes last week.  All of us siblings gathered 

at his house but there was so much quarrelling between them.  

I'm the youngest and the only Deaf in our family.  I cried and 

motioned for them all to gather around and tried to tell them 

we are here for our brother not for our selves.  As I began to 

hug each one they wept and the quarrelling stopped!"  

Pray that Lina's Family and the Deaf she reaches out to will 

know the peace that only He can give!

"You have been praying for these folks!  We will be in Mercedes April 18-21 for a regional training meeting. Please pray for us as we prepare the training sessions and materials. Mercedes has been a work that started in 2003 but we have never been able to get one of the Deaf Christians to take responsibility for the group. That is part of the purpose for the trip so please pray that the Lord will call someone and that people will respond to the Lord’s call. We will have a leader from Paysandú (the State over) present to also receive training, plus some from Montevideo. Ask the Lord to rise up a leader for Mercedes, to keep us safe as we travel and work in Mercedes and that the other leaders will be encouraged and equipped to be responsible for their groups."  

Charles and Mary Swanner IMB / Uruguay, South America

DEAF BELIEVERS in Colombia celebrate "He is Risen!"

 In Colombia this week is called "Semana Santa" (Holy Week).  When the Deaf Church Leaders in the city where IMB Missionaries Charles and Betty live,  found out that they were going to be out of the country and not be able to celebrate the Risen Lord with them on Sunday they asked them if they could have a Thursday afternoon "Maundy Thursday" time of worship before they left.  Charles and Betty said to them "if you take charge and plan the service and do all the work, we would be glad to attend." Charles and Betty plan to sit back and enjoy!   This is Charles and Betty's report of what happened…

"They wanted to meet in our apartment.  We thought only 15-20 would come. said fine.  BUT after 25 showed up, we needed to find another place QUICKLY.  We decided to walk down the street to the corner where we have a HUGE city park. They started off walking to the park.  A few more showed up and we told them to go to the park.  About 10 minutes later, we told our apartment porter/guard to please tell any other Deaf who showed up to please go to the park down the street.  The plan was to begin at 2 p.m., but Deaf people kept coming that we waited until 3 p.m. to begin.  All together we had 44 Deaf and 3 hearing attend. PTL!  That's 47 (more than doubled the number we thought would come! OH we of little faith."

FIVE Deaf adults responded to an invitation for salvation.

 "The Deaf church leaders did a superb job in planning and conducting the service with singing, testimonies, re-telling the story of the crucifixtion and resurrection of Jesus, a special offering to help any Deaf in the church with a special financial need was taken, and best of all? FIVE Deaf adults responded to an invitation for salvation."

Celebrate with your congregation this Easter morning the POWER of the RESURRECTION!  Deaf men and women are being raised to a new life in Christ! To God be the Glory Great Things He has Done!!!!! 

"Sign"cerely yours,

Charles and Betty Thomas

Here Deaf Muslims gather often to bow to Allah

A light shines outside the mosque where Deaf learn about ISA

Samuel Martin is Deaf and single. 

Samuel Martin loves the Deaf people who live in Central Asia.

Samuel Martin lives among them.

Samuel Martin has learned their Sign Language.

Samuel Martin hangs out with many Deaf Muslim Men. 

Today, Samuel inside this mosque waits in a specific place

while his Deaf Muslim friends make ritual bows to Allah.

The sign for Allah? Point upward to the heaven.

After his Deaf Muslim friends have finished bowing, 

they join Samuel and walk outside. 

Samuel (as always) ask the Deaf men to share with him 

what they know about this god (pointing upwards)

they bow to.  They know little.  

They bow because their family and culture demand it. 

They bow because their hearts seek.

Samuel shares another Bible Story with the Deaf men about 

who GOD (pointing upwards) is and who ISA (Jesus) is.

Day by day -- HIS LIGHT -- shines on their hearts.

PRAY ...

- for Samuel, that he will be HIS LIGHT in darkness.

that HIS LIGHT will penetrate the darkness.

- for Samuel to be bold in the face of great risks.

that his Deaf Muslim friends will turn to HIS LIGHT.

- for Samuel - he is alone. 

 Samuel is the only known Deaf Christian 

in a city of over 75,000 Deaf. 

*Samuel Martin is not his real name

Lorene Joslin has been our Dorcas!

.

 Lorene our Prayer Warrior

 Who is Dorcas? In the Bible there is a story about a woman named Dorcas. Dorcas' ministry touched many lives. When she died the people grieved deeply.  

 The IMB/SBCD missionaries (both long-term, short-term, and volunteers) have long benefitted from the love and prayer support of Lorene-our "Dorcas." Her efforts to mobilize prayer for the Deaf to know Christ was unparalleled. After her stroke, it was us who prayed for her. We all understood that Lorene's recovery would require a miracle and, miraculously, she was restored to us. In spite of the great difficulty she had with speaking, writing, and reading. She was able to continue her prayer ministry and for almost one year she bathed us in prayer.   On March 25, 2011, at the age of 78, after a second stroke, the Lord took her home! We miss her!

Remembering Lorene – Appointed and never "dis-appointed"

HMB Missionary  / California  1961-1964 

It was while taking a sign language class at Golden Gate Seminary when Lorene knew her life and heart was meant to serve the Deaf.

HMB Missionary / Texas

 1964-1971

Once Lorene became a missionary with the Home Mission Board in 1961, she remained a missionary!  She was never “dis-appointed” (as a friend puts it!). While with the HMB she was active in Deaf youth camps, teaching Sunday School, training interpreters, and interpreting for Deaf people in church and secular situations. She had frequent contact with WMUs and was always a prayer warrior for the Deaf.  

George & Lorene Joslin  

In 1971 Lorene and her husband, George, moved to serve with Virginia Baptists.  Lorene interpreted for the Deaf in church and in the community. She was certified at the first RID (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf) evaluation in Virginia in 1973. She was active in the Virginia RID and worked as an assistant to the Director of the Virginia Council for the Deaf from its inception (1973) until about 1980. In her church she taught Sunday School, worked in Vacation Bible Schools, and interpreted for the Deaf.  

Lorene in Ecuador

Between 2000 and 2002 the Joslins spend time as vounteer missionaries and as ISC Missionaries with IMB, in Ecuador. The Joslins partnered with IMB Missionaries, Bob and Peggy Mulkey, to start a Deaf Church that is still active today.  Lorene held weekly classes with the Deaf ladies and helped them grow in Christ. She went to their homes and witnessed to them. She visited the Deaf school frequently and ministered to the Deaf students and their teachers. 

Praying without ceasing! 

Following George and Lorene's work in Ecuador, Lorene became more involved in intercessory prayer and began a ministry of mobilizing United States prayer partners for Deaf missionaries. She received great joy from being able to share prayer requests from the missionaries working with the Deaf around the world.  Those of us who are missionaries knew we could always count on Lorene to spread our need for prayer.

Who will KNEEL in her place?

Who will PRAY for the missionaries?

Who will MOBILIZE others to pray?

Lorene believed that person is you.  It was her desire when she could no longer continue her ministry of prayer that her work, and the network she developed, would continue.

You have been receiving Prayer Point Updates.  Why? Because Lorene asked that we would continue the ministry she started. If you would like to be a part of this Prayer Point Ministry then please let us know.

Mexico City is a Mega City where 23 million people live. 

Over 100,000 Deaf live in Mexico City! 

The Mexico City Metro system in Mexico City is the SECOND largest subway system in the Americas (NY larger)!  Missionaries Stan and Lynn Stepleton meet Deaf on the Metro who work as beggars/peddlers but rarely do they stop to chat.  

PRAY For 

the many Deaf who “work” selling/begging on the Metro everyday -- that they will find the hope of Jesus.

PRAY for 

Stepletons who have moved to Mexico City to learn Meixcan Sign Language and to share the good news with the Mexican Deaf.  

PRAY for

Ray and Cynthia Hodgins who soon be moving with their children to Mexico City to join the Stepletons.

PRAY for

days and times when the Deaf beggars/peddlers will stop to talk and learn of the life Jesus can provide them. 

What do missionaries do when they

are in the United States?

Praise

Pray