Partnering with the Future Deaf Jamaican DTS Students - Merry Christmas!

Hola, Everyone!   I can hardly believe that the church internship season ended a few weeks ago, December 15. I am currently on a Christmas break until December 26. I will share the wrap-up summary about an internship in the next newsletter. I was supposed to send you a newsletter this time, but the Disciple Training School (DTS) is an upcoming season on January 7th, and I would like to focus on the future Deaf Students of DTS. You will get a Christmas message from me after this.   Some of you know that I joined DTS as a student three years ago. Wow, time flies! I will be a DTS staff this January for the first time, and I am pretty excited about it! Anyway, I would still like to explain briefly about the DTS for some of you who are unfamiliar with this program. Youth With A Mission (YWAM). YWAM is "a global movement of Christians from many cultures, age groups, and Christian traditions, dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. We unite in a common purpose to know God and to make Him known." I did my DTS at YWAM DC. DTS is bringing "you into a more intimate relationship with God. It also gives you an opportunity to discover your passions and your part in God’s purposes for the world. It is for those who long to follow Jesus in new ways with a different perspective."  DTS has two phases that take 5 months total. The first three months will have the lecture phase where we spend 12 weeks in the classroom to learning more about God. In the last two months, we will take an outreach trip to another country to experience how to share the gospel with unreached deaf people.   The future Deaf Jamaican DTS students have often seen American and other foreign missionaries in Jamaica—especially hearing white missionaries. While they thank God for the hearing missionaries who planted the seeds in their lives, they still feel something is missing in their faith, and they are so hungry for a deeper relationship with God. In the beginning, they did not see themselves as deaf Jamaican missionaries because they had never seen anyone like them in missions before. Additionally, things like access barriers, the fear of getting out of their comfort zone, and poverty rates have hindered deaf-black people's empowerment. However, these students decided to throw out the lie that they can’t be “deaf dark-skinned missionaries” and have stepped out to obey God’s call on their lives.  They feel it is important for people to see how our powerful God can do the impossible by using a variety of people (i.e. different races, economic status’, backgrounds, limitations, genders, etc.) They have been inspired by me as a black DeafBlind missionary. Seeing how God has been using me has inspired them to believe that God will use them as well! Now, it is their TURN to be missionaries, and they are requesting your partnership with them so that they can spread the gospel of Jesus to the world!   I have been working with the students to make their own individual fundraising videos. They explained about YWAM, DTS, their passions, and a request for partnership with them. They finished spreading the word to their family and friends via their Facebook, Whatsapp, and Instagram. I kindly ask you to pray for them to experience God’s amazing provision. I made a video with short clips of their videos that I want to share with you. Here is a video below:   Donation Information:   (Names: Letshan Donaldson, Clifton Blackellar, Kenroy Longrin, & Peta-Gay Graham)   Please click on this link to learn how to give. https://www.ywamjamaica.org/donate-pay   Choose the option "Make Team Payment" to donate by credit card or scroll down to choose one of the other options below (wire or check).   When you give, please email the DTS leaders at mcclelland@ywamjamaica.org with a name of four future DTS students above, so that they can keep track and make sure all the donations are designated into the separate account already set up through YWAM JA for giving toward the DEAF WORLD DTS students. Donations are tax-deductible.   MORE INFO on YWAM Deaf World DTS:   https://www.ywamdeafworldjamaica.org/   Thank you for taking your time to learn about the future deaf Jamaican DTS students. They would be greatly appreciated for your support. Here is my Christmas message for you:   This has been a difficult year for many of us. And yet, despite all the ups and downs, Christmas is a reminder to us all that our hope and peace are ultimately found in Christ, the true Savior of the world. I want to share a short story in the Bible with you that inspired me. Joseph and Mary left their biological family to obey God’s plan to find a place to stay and give birth to Jesus. They risked themselves by stepping out of their comfort zone and putting their trust in God to go through their struggles. They couldn’t find an available room so they settled for a barn where Jesus was born around animals.  It is really amazing to me how God showed compassion for Joseph and Mary, because He sent people like the wise men and shepherds to visit them especially to meet Jesus. God did not forsake them.   I left my family, friends, plans, and home country to follow God’s call. This was not an easy thing for me to do but it was worth it! God sent people into my life that I can call family.  We are all God’s family no matter what, even if we don’t share biological blood. God never abandons you nor allows you to be alone during difficult times. God’s love is flowing like a river through us.     May you experience the wonder of Christmas, the joy of God’s abundant blessings, and the peace of Jesus this holiday season and always.   Isaiah 9:6   “For to us a child is born, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”   Merry Christmas to you and yours!   Love in Christ, Kevlasha Humphrey       Church Internship Family - Christmas Picture YWAM JA Family - Silly Christmas Picture