Church for the Deaf in Old Cairo, Egypt

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1 إقليم الكنيسة األسقفية / األنجميكانية القدس والشرق األوسط The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East أبروشية الكنيسة األسقفية / األنجميكانية بمصر وشمال افريقيا والقرن االفريقى The Episcopal / Anglican Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa Church for the Deaf in Old Cairo, Egypt Half Year Newsletter January June 2012 The Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa 5 Michel Lutfallah Street, PO Box 87, Zamalek 11211, Cairo, EGYPT Tel: /3/9 Fax:

2 My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Greetings in His name! As I look back over the past six months, I have learned to walk in faith with the Church for the Deaf. Walking in faith means to totally surrender ourselves to Him and let Him lead us, even though we do not see what's ahead of us. We continue to trust Him and believe that He will bless us by growing the Church for the Deaf. Proverbs 3:5&6 makes this promise to us; "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways remember him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight." The Church for the Deaf has focused on three things over the last six months. First, we love others. Jesus clearly stated that this was one of the two greatest commandments. Second, we share the good news of salvation. Third, we serve in a variety of ways; helping those in need, sharing our resources, and lifting others up in prayer. Jesus is our perfect example of all three. His entire life was marked by caring for people; both those who love Him and those who did not. Loving in practical ways is our chance to tell others about what He s done, FOR us, IN us, and THROUGH us. In fact, we're still on earth not merely to hear more teaching but to act on it and share with others what we learn. I sincerely want to thank God, as wherever we go, whatever situation we are facing, God is there ahead of us. He always claims the situation in His name and will use us and the situation to show that He alone is powerful and glorious. We are to be strong and courageous because God said, I am with you. I want to thank God for the new opportunities that He gave us over the past six months. This includes the Sunday School for hearing children of deaf parents, the new ministry in Alexandria, the opportunity to visit children who have cancer, visiting Myanmar and training teachers in the deaf school, and distributing food to deaf people. Finally, we thank God for the licensing of two of the deaf as Lay Ministers for the Church for the Deaf. We thank God for Bishop Mouneer, who always shows love and concern for the Church for the Deaf. Finally, I want to thank Madam Clair, the director of the Deaf Unit, for all her help and support. May the Lord bless you! Rev. Faraj

3 Celebrating Coptic Christmas (January) On the 7 th of January, all of the children from the Deaf Unit celebrated with the deaf congregation. The children love celebrating two Christmases in Egypt one at All Saint s Cathedral together with other Anglican churches in Egypt, and one at the Church for the Deaf in Old Cairo. Hands of Praise performed two songs, and even Deaf Santa Claus made an appearance, using Sign Language, asking them what they want for Christmas. Gifts and presents were distributed. When deaf children celebrate Christmas and learn about the birth of Jesus, God touches their hearts and fills all of our hearts with joy. Deaf People Preparing Food Packages for 80 Deaf Families (January, April, and July) Coptic Orthodox Christians in Egypt fast for 40 days before Christmas, and many of the deaf take part in this fast. The day before Christmas, the Church for the Deaf distributed food for 80 families who are very poor. When these families receive the bag of food, they experience the practical love of Jesus. The Church for the Deaf seeks to help other deaf people with basic needs. Deaf people in communities are often isolated, as they cannot get necessary information or communicate very well with their neighbors. Sometimes people don t know there are deaf people in their area.. For example, they cannot receive food and water because they cannot hear the voice of people providing food and water so they do not know that it is being handed out. The Church for the Deaf organizes the food distribution every three months. Members of the church prepare the food in advance, and bring it to church in packages to be distributed. The rest of the food is bought using the financial offerings from the Sunday services. Both those who prepare the packages, and those who receive them, express their joy and thankfulness with a big smile.

4 Starting a Sunday School for Hearing Children (February) Last year, we were blessed by the attendance of many hearing children, who started to come with their deaf parents to church. They used to entertain themselves during the service, playing football or other activities. My wife Ragaa and I started to think about ways to make the time fruitful for these children. In February, Ragaa and Ameen (a hearing young man) started a Sunday for the hearing children during the evening Sunday service. The children study the same Bible story that their parents learn in church, which enables the family to discuss the story together after church. Over the past 6 months, we have noticed improved relationships between hearing children and their deaf parents as they started to show a special kind of respect and understanding towards each other. Peace Making Conference (March) The Diocese of Egypt organized a three day Peace Making Conference, which was attended by representatives from the Anglican churches and ministries in Egypt. It was a big blessing for two deaf people, Maged and Clement, to share in this conference, assisted by two interpreters. After the conference, Maged and Clement shared what they learnt with the other deaf people. They continue to help others apply peacemaking principles to marriage and family life. This has made a positive difference in the life of the Church for the Deaf. Training Deaf and Hearing Teachers in Myanmar (March) On the 16 th of March, I was invited by SIL America to lead a one week workshop about multilingual education in a deaf school in Myanmar. This workshop gave me the opportunity to teach many hearing and deaf teachers about bi-lingual deaf education, teaching methods, grammar of sign language, and use of teaching aids. During this visit, I met the Archbishop of Myanmar, and we prayed together for the future of deaf ministry in Myanmar. I also attended a deaf church in Rangoon. It was a big joy for me to learn the Burmese sign language, and communicate with deaf people from another country. Together, we learned one song in Egyptian sign language, God is Good.

5 Hanna Family Visits Singapore and Australia (April 2012) After the workshop in Myanmar, I met my family in Singapore, and we stayed for two days hosted by the Diocese of Singapore. It was great to meet with a priest and his wife who work with the deaf. They were very interested to hear about the development of the Church for the Deaf in Egypt. After watching a short video of the church, they were impressed by how the deaf themselves lead the service in their own language. We then traveled to Australia to join the Belgrave Heights Convention in Melbourne. During our time in Australia, God refreshed our minds and our hearts. It was also a good opportunity to meet many deaf people. I would like to thank God for Canon Medhat Sabry, the priest of Jesus Light of the World Church in Old Cairo, who looked after the deaf congregation while I was away. Celebrating Together (Easter meal) The Church for the Deaf celebrates special occasions and shares meals together, in order to develop stronger relationships in our community. We learn the blessing of sharing from these occasions. We try to live together like the first church in Acts, sharing together and living as one family. On Easter Sunday, we shared a meal together at a house of a family from the church. Other events (such as the party pictured) are held at the Church for the Deaf in Old Cairo. Visit to the Children s Cancer Hospital (May 2012) Jesus used to go from village to village to help people and pray for them for healing. The Church for the Deaf is a silent church ; we believe more in actions by showing God s love in practical ways, rather than just staying in our church and talking about it in sign language. In May, a group of deaf children and adults visited the Children s Cancer Hospital in Cairo. We did activities with the children, prayed with them, and offered some gifts. Some of the severely ill children learned the sign for I love you. This helped us to share with them the love of God. The parents of the sick children were so happy to see deaf children praying in the hospital.

6 Day Out Training and Retreat (May 2012) Each year, the Church for the Deaf goes on a one day retreat, where we teach the Bible and grow in fellowship together. This retreat always impacts the lives of those who attend. Many come to a more accurate knowledge of God through studying His word. As they draw closer to their God, they find increased joy in life. This year, we visited St. Bishoy Coptic Orthodox monastery. This quiet and beautiful place provided an opportunity for people to reflect and respond to God. During this day, many deaf adults came forward showing repentance and renewing their vows with God. Starting a New Deaf Congregation in Alexandria (June 2012) Earlier in the year, a group of deaf people from Alexandria attended our Sunday service. It was the first time for them to take part in a service that was fully led by deaf people in Egyptian sign language, and they were so happy. They invited us to attend their meeting in the hall of a hearing church. After several visits, we agreed that they need their own church. The new church will meet each Wednesday at St Mark s Anglican Pro- Cathedral in Alexandria. Initially, some of the deaf leaders from Old Cairo will travel each week to lead the service, and some training. The end goal is to train deaf and hearing leaders so that ultimately they can lead the new congregation. Licensing Two Deaf Lay Ministers (July 2012) After four years, the dream became true! Bishop Mouneer licensed two of the deaf, Clement and Maged, as lay ministers at the Church for the Deaf. This is the first time in the whole of the Middle East for deaf people to be licensed. This was a joyful occasion, and the congregation were so proud and thankful to God that the moment has come when deaf can lead the deaf. This is a big step in the life of the church, and not only will it prepare them for ordination in the future to lead the church, but also we hope will lead to future deaf churches being planted all over Egypt. At the same service, Bishop Mouneer baptized Esta, the daughter of Clement and his wife Nirmeen (both deaf). This was the first time for a child to be baptized at the Church for the Deaf. Over the past year, Maged, Clement and two of the other deaf leaders have been attending a course at the Alexandria School of Theology in Cairo, which gave them an overview of the Bible. It was so difficult for them at the beginning, but we thank God for the teachers who made the teaching accessible to the deaf.

7 The deaf congregation prays every Sunday for the project to translate the Bible into Egyptian Sign Language. They want to receive the good news in their own language. The well trained deaf team continues to work on the project and is ready to make final versions of the translation when the facilities are available. The team keep practicing the translation, and continues to get feedback each week at the Sunday service at the Church for the Deaf. Update on the Bible Translation Project We are in the process of making a three year plan with the Seed Company and Wycliffe for translating parts of the Bible. We can start the formal project, once we have built a studio which is being planned. We were encouraged by visitors from the Seed Company and Wycliffe over the past six months. The Church for the Deaf is praying for: Hearing interpreters who can help at the Church for the Deaf and the Deaf Club. Facilities to be ready for the Bible Translation project. The upcoming four day retreat for the deaf congregation at the Red Sea in August. The new deaf congregation in Alexandria. New deaf children who will join the Deaf Unit, and the Church for the Deaf. Opportunities for deaf people to have jobs, so they can support their families. Deaf employed people to be able to communicate well with their hearing colleagues. A bus for the church The possibility of supporting deaf people and their families in Upper Egypt New seating for the church, as we have very old benches. The new lay ministers, Clement and Maged. Deaf or hearing people who can lead Sunday School. Financial needs of the Bible translation project and other activities of the church. Thank you! We are excited about how God has been working in the Church for the Deaf, and we are so grateful for your support. We pray for God s will to be done at the church and that we would faithful to God s leading. For more information about the Church for the Deaf, please contact: Rev Faraj Hanna Priest of the Church for the Deaf farajhanna@yahoo.co.uk Ms Rosie Fyfe Partnership Office, Diocese of Egypt rosie@dioceseofegypt.org