Missionary Letter

March 5, 2010

Back in 2006, after five months on the field, we held the very first services of the Baptist Mission for the Deaf in our home. We had two Deaf young men who attended that first Sunday, along with the mother of one of the boys and two missionary families. It would be quite a while before there would be more Deaf than hearing attending the meetings. God has blessed and the Deaf outnumber the hearing at every meeting now. Unfortunately, because of our current financial situation, we have decided to give up our building and return to meeting in our home. It has been quite a change. We are now in very close quarters, but I think it helps the Deaf to be more focused on the preaching. While our daughter Caitlin is away at college we are using her bedroom for the children's Sunday School and Wednesday night class. The main services are now held in what used to be our living room. While this may appear to be a step backwards, God has clearly shown us through his continued blessings that this is all part of His plan.

In January, I had the honor of participating in the wedding ceremony of a faithful couple in the church. Israel and Yaura have been seeing each other for the four years that we have been here and they were married on January 15. I explained to them, although it was a very special day for them, it was also a day to give proper honor to God. The vows were given in sign language, and for many of the family members this was something new. It became awkward for me, because, as they repeated the signs for the vows that I gave them, they were facing me. In my mind it looked like they were giving their vows to me instead of each other. From this I learned that in the future I need to place myself behind the bride or groom to give the signs that they can repeat to their spouse. I am certain that God is able to use this couple in a mighty way, but for this to happen they have to be willing to be used of God. Please pray for Israel and Yaura as they begin their lives together as man and wife.

There still is much of God's work to be done and many Deaf to reach with the Gospel of Christ here in the Yucatan. By God's grace we have seen souls saved, new Christians baptized and then begin to grow and serve the Lord. Our goal has not changed. We continue to teach the Deaf to reach the Deaf for Christ. We hope to begin sign language classes in other Baptist churches all over the city of Mèrida to help us reach the Deaf. We have been contacted by people in the cities of Cancan, Celesttln and Playa del Carmen looking for help in starting ministries to the Deaf in their communities. In addition there is a great need for a Deaf school here. God continues to reveal many opportunities for ministry and we pray for wisdom in discerning his will.

Our immediate challenge is maintaining our current ministries while facing a serious reduction in our support. As we mentioned earlier our ministry has been affected by the economic situation in the United States. We have had several supporting churches decrease their amount of support or suspend it. We have reduced our spending, but at the same time we continue to see prices rise. Please pray for us as we return to the States for a couple of months to raise additional support. If you know of any churches that will be adding new missionaries to those that they are already supporting I humbly ask that you forward their names and contact information to me via our e-mail address thirty4psaol.com. Thank you for all of your support and please continue to pray for the Deaf and the work that God is doing here in Yucatan, Mexico.

Trusting Jesus,

Bill Green