The DMI blog aims to let people know about the deaf kids, teachers, pastors, schools and churches that DMI supports in developing countries, and encourage support for them by telling their amazing stories. Please share this blog with your friends.
It’s my third day in Myanmar visiting DMI’s Muir School for the deaf. The monsoon rains have lifted and the kids are kicking up a dust storm in the middle of the school ground by belting a soccer ball around. Though there are laughs and guffaws and squeals, the battle is intense and right in the middle of them all, giving the boys absolute what-for, is Wendy. Like the others, she plays barefoot and she plays hard but she is the only one wearing a dress. Clearly, she’s having a ball.
Wendy is not her real name. Her real name is Ning Khan Lun but it’s impossible to pronounce correctly so let’s just go with Wendy. Wendy struck me as extraordinary right from the start. Bright as a button and vivacious, she is obviously very clever. Yet here at DMI’s Muir School for the Deaf in Kale, at the age of 13, she is only in grade one. I ask her why.
She grew up in a village 80 kilometres away so never knew about the deaf school until last year. For the first twelve years of her life, she received no education. She never learned how to study, how to read or write, or even communicate. She lived in a very lonely, silent world. Yet amazingly, she shared this silent world with her younger sister and brother who are also deaf. Now, they all live together at the school.
The life that Wendy describes before coming to the school was miserable. She was bored because she had no friends to play with, frustrated because she couldn’t communicate with them even if she had them, and upset because she had no means to learn – something that she is so highly capable of doing. Her life was empty. My heart starts to break for her but then she stuns me with this:
“I like being deaf.”
Excuse me? I have to ask the translator to check what she said, and that is indeed what she said. She likes being deaf. I ask her to explain this.
Since coming to the school, she has entered a whole new world where she can learn, make friends and communicate with them. She loves her teachers and loves studying (especially sign). She soaks it all up like a sponge. There is no subject that she doesn’t enjoy studying and there is no aspect of school life that she doesn’t enjoy whether it’s learning in the classroom, eating lunch or kicking that soccer ball around. It’s because of this school that she has come to love life and she has come to love being deaf. Being deaf is who she is, it’s her identity, and now she wouldn’t want it any other way.
I ask her a rather unkind question to test her on this: If there were an operation or a miracle cure for her deafness would she want it? Surely she would, I thought. But her answer is clear and emphatic and stuns me once again.“No.” If she were no longer deaf, she explained, then she could no longer stay at the school and being here, amongst friends and teachers and the caring learning environment – despite the obvious lack of material comforts – to her means more than anything else. It’s then that I’m overcome by a profound truth:
Wendy’s need for love is greater than her need to hear.
I’m curious about this learning environment. It’s rare to see a youth so enamoured by the opportunity to study. What we take for granted in the West! I ask her what subjects she likes the most but she can’t decide. She thinks about it some more and then shares with me her love for morning devotions.
Every morning at 7:00am they have a devotion time before classes. All the kids together. Wendy really enjoys this time and loves learning about God. She finds God’s Word fascinating and enjoys singing in sign language. I show interest in this so she immediately jumps up and shows me how to praise and worship in sign language. She looks so pleased. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a child happier in the moment.
Before I close the interview Wendy has one more surprise for me. I came to Myanmar and to this school thinking about the needs here – the physical, emotional and spiritual needs. I came ready to give and ready to pray for them. But Wendy is ahead of me. Though she is deaf and she is young and she doesn’t have a single possession of her own, she says that she would like to pray for me, and she does. Her prayer is beautiful. I’m humbled and I’m inspired by this girl. I came here to change her life, but she has changed mine.
If you would like to know how you can support Wendy, any of the other kids, or help meet any of DMI’s needs, please click on the ‘donate’ button below, or mail to info@deafmin.org
Enjoyed reading it again; hope people will be touched by this beautiful story.
I can’t find any section to tick that says,”Notify me”. Therefore, I’m notifying you in this way to say I would like to keep receiving these blogs on personal stories.
Hi Glenys,
Right at the bottom of the page under all the comments there is a box next to the words “NOTIFY ME OF FOLLOW-UP COMMENTS BY EMAIL.” Under that there is another box next to the words “NOTIFY ME OF NEW POSTS BY EMAIL.” (And at the very bottom there is the big blue “Post Comment” button.) Click the little box nest to the words “NOTIFY ME OF NEW POSTS BY EMAIL.”
This story is my favourite of all. We are so proud of all our Deaf children at our schools. Thanks Jolly Pastor for writing their stories.
God bless you DMI crew and all the people who are working tirelessly, giving their love and support and God bless especially the Children. Praying for everyone.
Thank you for keeping me posted
Wonderful story and a wake up call for the rest of us to be grateful and thankful for all we have in life. God bless you Wendy! Maree M.
Such a moving story that brings a deeper connection with this amazing work
Thank you so much for this excellent update.
Thanks.
Really appreciated this story of Grace and Love.
I am also a Wendy and this story really touched my heart as I read it. Thank God for Deaf ministries and all the sacrifices first of the Muir family and then of all the volunteers , givers, workers etc who have obeyed the ‘call’ and enabled so many like Wendy to not only find life in the midst of deafness but Life in God and all this means. So humbled and encouraged.
Such a lovely story, thanks for telling us. It shows how the work of DMI is so very important to these folk.
Beautiful and touching story. It’s good that DMI exists to help them.
We pray on for Deaf Ministries and the Muir family.
Brilliant way to share blogs with us! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this wonderful story. I am really touched to read it . I praise the Lord for you Neville, your family and the DMI
Wonderful to get an insight as to how those with limited or no hearing in other countries make up for the loss in such a wonderful way. Go God!!
Very touching
What an impressive girl! Thank you for sharing this. I really enjoy reading it.
Thanks
What an amazing little girl, thank you for sharing her story.
Thanks for taking us with you on this journey
Praise the Lord for the DMI and all the staff and helpers who give new life to so many like Wendy who have found hope and help and hopefully new life in the Lord Jesus!
Thank you
Thoroughly enjoyed reading Wendy’s story. The blog makes it so much more personal and encouraging to hear first hand how God has given Wendy hope through the DMI ministry. Bless you for your faithness.
Thank you for sharing the wonderful blogs with us!
This a great outcome for this young girl and I am moved as I read it. However the sad thing is that there are many more “Wendy’s” out there who have not yet be reached, hence we all need to keep up the work. Thank you for sharing
Thankyou for sharing. Great points from Wendy re change in life for her family. She seems absorb what is given to her with grateful heart Fantastic to follow this blog . Reminding me to pray with such a visual of Wendy. To be grateful for her encouragement
What a powerful story, Andrew! Thanks for the work you are doing to raise awareness and promote the vital work of DMI. To God be the glory!
Thank you for making these stories available to us!
Thank you for all your work and for sharing information about the people helped by our donations and prayers.
I love reading about the children and seeing their photos.
It’s a joy to read about Wendy and that she likes being Deaf! I pray that God BLESSES and uses her every day of her life!
This is a truly beautiful story and I love the photos of the children looking so steadily at the camera.
Thank you.
very interesting.
A beautiful story about a beautiful soul! Thank you
I love the stories , but also gives us an Insight into what it could like to be deaf and also with out speech . Makes us appreciate the fact that we can hear and speak. Vince
Thanks
Thanks for sharing. Very inspiring.
Always lovely to hear stories like Wendy’s….keep up with the good work DMI….
Very moving!
Andrew, this is indeed a very touching story. Thank you for sharing the blog with me.
Thank you. Looking forward to posting next time! ☺
A powerful story indeed, thank you for sharing.
Beautifully written blog and very touching story about children we would otherwise have never heard about.
What a moving true story. Looking forward to learning more about the children being supported by DMI.
I am humbled by Wendy’s generous heart and attitude. Children can teach us so much. Thank you for sharing, Pastor.
What a wonderful story! Praying for Wendy and the ministry of DMI. Thank you Pastor Andrew. We are praying for you too.
Great reading, Andrew-san. Looking forward the next post.