How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? —Romans 10:14
When Vesta Sauter, founder of Deaf Opportunity Out Reach (Door), first arrived in Romania to minister to the Deaf, she had a real problem. (Because Deaf communities function like cultural and language groups, Deaf Americans prefer a capital D.) How could she find Deaf people? Bucharest is a huge city, and no one seemed able to help Vesta.
If God wants me to minister, she thought, he’ll have to show me where to start.
In a taxi she searched the streets, looking for anyone . . . anything . . . that might be a clue. As the cab passed an overgrown, trash-strewn city park, she saw a man standing on the corner—signing to another man! In a flash, Vesta was introducing herself.
That night, the two men took her to their Deaf club’s meeting, where Vesta signed to the group, “I want to tell you about Jesus. He is alive, and he wants a relationship with you, the Deaf people!”
From that first encounter, an amazing ministry developed. In the next several years, DOOR sent more than thirty mission teams to Romania and saw five Deaf churches planted. Those church members then coordinated an outreach to the Deaf in thirty-plus Romanian cities!
Imagine what can happen when you pray to God, “Show me where to start.”
Excerpted from Daily Gifts of Grace © 2012 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Comments
Thank you for sharing your powerful prayer. Too often I ask myself, “What do I need to do first to make this happen?” So much better to ask, “Lord, show me the way!!” I have a friend that ministers to the villages of Romania. It was so great to read about someone else who God has called to the mission field of Romania. God is doing a powerful work there. Thank you for being a worker in this field!
Thanks so much Joni, I needed to hear that today.
Great proof of gods hands to.guide us. I am from oradea in Romanian. We will see when we open our hearts and minds and allow ourselves to do gods plans for our lives
Bless Vesta for her obedience and trust in the good Lord. And for her efforts to reach the Deaf. I would like to find out more. The Deaf are such a hard group to reach, and like all of us they NEED the Lord. My mother & adult brother are deaf and do not sign. It limits them so considerably. I do sign and have worked as an ESLI.
Again thanks to Joni’s and Vesta’s discipleship. To God be the Glory….
Great news!
What a wonderful demonstration of God using her uniqueness to honor Him!
God bless Vesta and her faith. The meeting she was given with the man in the park was the grace of God’s divine appointments. I had heard these words many times but got to experience them first hand on a trip to China. It changed my life and my faith forever. God’s work was done in a most amazing way.
Pretty cool start to my day. Read another blog that just encouraged me to “Just do it” and take the first step to something that had been on my mind for a long time. My first step was putting it all on paper, which I just did. That wasn’t so scary, but now, taking the first action is kind of scary. I’m now asking that same question. Show me where to start.
I feel as though I am at a turning point in my life. I am asking God, “Where do I start?” God is guiding me in directions in which I would never even consider. But, I trust in the Lord and feel He is showing me where to start.