God listens: Reed & the Ecuadorian Deaf community
By Rebecka King | Ecuador in South America
Reed and Zoila
Reed Redding, an audiologist student from the U.S., carried out a two-month internship in Ecuador working with the Deaf community. Through God’s work, Reed raised awareness for hidden needs among the Deaf.
Both SIM and Reed’s university, Corban University, facilitated the internship. It allowed him to serve at Centro de Audición y Lenguaje (CEAL), the hearing and speech centre in Loja. CEAL has one floor devoted to audiology and three to speech therapy.
Reed said: “It has been remarkable to see how audiologists work outside of the United States. While there might not be as many resources available, they are capable of making what they have work for the needs of their patients.”
Reed spent most of his time on the audiology floor, where he observed hearing tests, ear cleaning and hearing aid maintenance.
He said: “The team has welcomed me into their family. They've even put me to work filing reports when there aren’t any patients to work with.”
Meeting Zoila
Reed also built relationships with the Deaf outside the centre. One Deaf woman, Zoila, the sister-in-law of an SIM Ecuador worker, met Reed when her family invited him over.
Zoila is a Christ-follower, but she doesn’t have access to the Bible or other Christian resources. That’s because there aren’t any faith-based materials translated into Ecuadorian Sign Language, which is her primary means of communication apart from reading her parents’ lips.
Reed was able to listen to her perspective as a Deaf Christian and encourage her as a fellow believer.
In his internship, Reed was able to research the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community and find out what resources they require. He was able to witness how God sees every person in their daily challenges and hears when his people call to him.
SIM Ecuador is seeking more people like Reed to work with the Deaf community in Loja, encourage believers and share with those who live and die without hearing the good news of Jesus Christ. Are you interested in ministering to the Ecuadorian Deaf community?
Pray with us for:
• God’s work among the Deaf community in Loja, Ecuador.
• people to work with the Deaf.
• the Bible to be translated into Ecuadorian Sign Language.
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