Belarus Deaf Mission
In 1986 a catastrophic accident at
the Chernobyl
Nuclear Reactor released a large amount of nuclear radiation into the
atmosphere.
Seventy percent of that contamination fell on the small country
of
Belarus, in Eastern Europe. (Belarus had been part of the former
Soviet
Union.) Many Belarussian children born since that time are
affected
with serious health problems caused by radiation poisoning, problems
such
as thyroid cancer, leukemia, and glandular disorders. Many
of
the children so affected are orphans.
Every year a Christian ministry called ABRO,
the American Belarussian Relief Organization, brings some of those
children to the United States to receive medical care.
Mrs. Rebecca Coyne, of Chapel Hill, NC, is a CODA who has worked with
Belarussian orphans for many years. Through her efforts, ABRO is
finally able to
begin helping deaf orphans and
bring them here for medical attention. She
is inviting Deaf Christian families in the Washington, DC, area to
serve
as hosts for Belarussian deaf children, or to host an adult chaperone
who
will serve as the children's Sign Language interpreter, for six weeks
in the
summer -- June and early July.
The group of deaf children will have two hearing chaperones: one
who
knows Belarussian Sign Language and the other who can speak both
Russian
and English.
Hosts will be responsible for housing and feeding their guest, and
taking him/her the medical appointments. They also may have time for
recreational activities.
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, or if
you want to serve as host, please contact me at r.friedrich@juno.com
or contact Mrs. Coyne at coyne_rebecca@yahoo.com.
Please put "Belarus" or "ABRO" in the subject line.
Please read more about this ministry at www.abro.org.
Click the link to "articles" to read about Mrs. Coyne's
work. Click the link to "programs" to download ABRO's host
handbook and application form. And be sure to check out the "group
pictures."
Pastor Ron Friedrich
Christ Lutheran Church of the Deaf
Silver Spring, Maryland