San Pedro Sula Deaf Ministry Center

This ministry was started by the father of Kimber Humphries who just graduated last year and now works at Lee University. The San Pedro Sula Deaf Ministry Center in Honduras meets the needs of the outcast in Honduras. Deaf people are considered outcast. The deaf children are a sub class to the sub class. There are about 60,000 deaf individuals in Honduras; only 300 know sign language.

The facility that houses the ministry to the deaf is on rented property with a payment of $1500 per month. They are about to purchase land that will allow them to build their own center. They are training teachers to do sign language, because some know sign language and others are qualified teachers, but don’t know the sign language. So they are attempting to teach the teachers sign language and certify those who know sign language as teachers.

All schools in Honduras have uniforms. Therefore, uniforms are needed for the children. ACE material is $50 per year per student. The facility houses a clinic for the deaf and it is next to the hospital.

Many local ENT doctors are now sending patients to the center for testing and for hearing aids. It is not a ministry for children only.

It is for all ages that are deaf. It includes intervention programs, discipleship programs, a community center, children’s programs, adult programs, and church. This facility will feed those who come in who are hungry, but they do not have a feeding program. When they were doing a feeding program down by the river, they found six deaf children in a 3-mile area of the river.

Someone from the US gave them the contacts for a hearing aid device that is worn on the belt and needs no batteries. $250 would supply a student with one of these hearing aids (normally $1000 hearing aids). Someone else donated a machine to make the ear molds for the hearing aid devices. They have purchased audiology equipment and they have the only machine in Honduras that will allow them to test babies. They are currently praying for an audiologist. The clinic will help with preschool deaf children.

Former LU Alum and Missionary to Honduras Paul Dyar shared one of the testimonies: They put one of the hearing devices on a 3-year old student and you could see it in her eyes when she began to hear the sounds, as well as a huge smile came across her face!

Clubs and dorms are being asked to sponsor a child for a $250 hearing aid or $50 would cover the cost of education for one student -- ACE program for 1 year.

Missionaries Paul Dyar and Cheryl Humphries will have information for you during Missions Week and you won’t want to miss them!

HOGAR ESPERANZA – "Home of Hope"