Reality Check

Today was the day that I realized how important this ministry is to the deaf community in Baltimore.

Last night a deaf member of the congregation was murdered in his apartment. He was an older man who lived in low income housing that was built in the 1970's specifically for empoverished deaf people although the state would not allow the housing to be only open for deaf people and they mandated that the housing would be for all people of disablilites. Now only 30 deaf people live in a complex with 150 apartments, the rest of the apartments are filled with people who have been paralized due to drug addictions or other such disablilites. The apartment complex is providing a place for people in need but it also is an unsafe atmosphere. I spent the day job shadowing my boss and pastor while they counseled the remaining deaf inhabitants. We tried to pursuade them to make tough dicisions like leaving their home and their friends for safer housing.

Later this evening I occumpanied my supervisor to a meeting with two of the youth of our church who have been excepted into the secondary school program an hour away at galludet. Tomorrow we are driving them over to take a look at the school and fill out paper work. One of the young guys has been living with the other young man's family. He has led a tough life and was taken in by this blessed family. Through the hard work of this family and the deaf shalom zone this young man will now finally recieve the education that he deserves. Praise the Lord.

God has placed this organization in the middle of death and new opportunities. I am blessed to be spending my two years learning from and shadowing these amazing people that God is working through. wow.

Dear God please be with the members of the low income housing. Please be with the man who was killed and all who knew him. Thank you lord for providing good education for gentlemen who deserve it. And thank you for blessing the world with gracious families and co-workers! Amen.