ARE YOU DEAF?    DFO 1040         8/81

         [HomeARC note (10/98): The Charter states the Family's current policies, and the rights and responsibilities of members regarding the Right of Mobility, and regarding faith healing and getting outside medical attention, especially in regards to children.]

         1. From June & July News Briefs: Our seven-year-old deaf boy was run over by a truck while riding his bicycle on the dead-end street. He was dragged 60 feet by the truck & his hand was severely injured--something super important to Zion, since he uses his hands to talk. We've been through some tremendous heartache & all is not clear. So many years ago Dad wrote us a little note saying that the lessons that we learned raising Zion would benefit many.--Uriah & Sharai Shondo; USA

         2. (DAD'S ANSWER:) WE'RE SO SORRY & ARE PRAYING FOR YOU!--But I must tell you the truth: In the first place it was absolutely ridiculous for you to let a deaf child ride a bicycle, & on a street, completely insane, where he can't hear the sounds of the traffic or their horns, neither can he hear warning shouts of people. I can't understand how you could let him ride a bicycle at all!
         3. Probably the reason the boy became deaf to begin with was because your hearts were not right with the Lord on the mission field.
         4. GOD OFTEN DEALS WITH PEOPLE PHYSICALLY ACCORDING TO THEIR SPIRITUAL HANDICAP. He let the little boy become deaf as an illustration to them how deaf they are to their Father's call. I'd say they'd better get back to their mission field in a hurry.
         5. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY WERE GLAD TO HAVE AN EXCUSE TO GO HOME.--What they thought was an excuse! But there is no excuse, not really. When I was in the Christian & Missionary Alliance, more missionaries left the field because of their children than any other reason. (Maria: It's amazing that the only injury is one of the hands that is so vital in his communications!) It's certainly significant & it certainly ought to be symbolic to them to see that God is dealing with them in sign language! It's just as though God is illustrating in the boy their deafness to God.
         6. I WONDER HOW THEIR PRAYER LIFE IS? They can still communicate with their son, but he can't communicate with them. Well, God's still able to communicate with them but apparently they're not doing well with communicating with God! There's some kind of a spiritual injury which has hindered or almost nullified their communication with God. They are the ones who are suffering the most. If they were in right communication with the Lord it would be very clear to them why. There's no excuse for it not being clear. Maybe He was disobeying in going out in the street, but maybe his disobedience to them is just a reflection of their disobedience to the Lord.
         7. I'M ALWAYS SUSPICIOUS OF PEOPLE WHO USE THEIR KIDS AS EXCUSE FOR RETURNING TO HOME. That's the most frequent excuse used by faint-hearted missionaries. God's Word says "or children"!--Anyone that forsaketh father or mother, brother & sister, husband & wife, house & lands & so on, or children, it says! (Mt.19:29) They were not willing to really give him to the Lord.
         8. GOD IS HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING THROUGH TO THEM to allow this accident to happen to the boy so that he can't even communicate with them now! If this is a physical illustration of their spiritual condition, apparently they have gotten to the point where they no longer are able to communicate with God. God help them to see the light & repent!
         9. LET ME WARN ALL YOU PARENTS!: IT'S A DANGEROUS THING TO BE DEAF TO THE VOICE OF GOD!--And it's even more dangerous to go back on Him!--To turn your back on your field. God will not tolerate being put in second place nor His work being neglected! No matter how much you try to serve Him at home, if He wants you on the foreign field & you deserted His best, you can expect some dire chastening! Look out! It's coming sooner or later! Repent NOW!
         10. YOU'D BETTER GET BACK TO THE FIELD REGARDLESS OF THE COSTS, OR YOU MAY LOSE MORE THAN YOU FORSOOK IN THE FIRST PLACE! God & His Gospel calling on the field of His choice won't take second place to your children! They are part of His work, but if you put them first above the fields of the Lost & His will & desert the plow you put your hand to, & turn back, you're not worthy of His blessings!
         11. I ASKED THE LORD FOR SOME SCRIPTURES FOR YOU, & these are what He gave: Heb.10:26,27,31; Ex.20:3-6; Heb.12:1-13; Isa.55. So there is yet hope! Hallelujah!--And there is another Scripture,--or is it a Scripture, or a prophecy for you?:
         12. "TURN YE, TURN YE AGAIN, O THOU BACKSLIDING DAUGHTER, & I WILL FORGIVE THEE, O thou unfaithful wife, & I will receive thee again unto Myself, & thou shalt yet again serve Me, & thy children with thee!"--Hallelujah! GBY! WLY & RPFY! His will be done!--IJN, amen! As I read this & was praising the Lord at the end for His faithfulness in speaking to us, I got one more precious message for you from the Lord! Hallelujah! Praise His Name! TYJ!
         13. "AMEN! LET IT BE SO! She shall indeed heed the voice of the love of her father & receive his seven kisses of love!" (This was followed by seven actual kisses! Hallelujah!) TYJ!--So I guess that means it's all true & you'll believe it & hear again His voice & heed it & repent & return to His will & love!
         14. --AND KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU TOO! GBY!--SORRY TO HAVE TO SPANK YOU, but that's part of a father's love, both mine & God's!--And I do hope you receive it! GBY! ILY! We're praying for you!--Do it TODAY!--Tomorrow may be too late!


Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family