• We’re getting started in our first microenterprise endeavor! Thanks to Susan Stauss who showed us how to make unique and exquisite mosaic crosses. These crosses are being made by the hands of the dDeaf, and all proceeds will go towards benefiting the dDeaf reached by Signs of Love. Put more simply, when you buy a cross you’ve employed a deaf person, and fed her family for a week. If you’d like to order a cross, please contact us at info@signsoflove.org

• In May 2007, Joy Pfanner, a Baylor University student and long time volunteer with SofL, and Robin Hanna, SofL founder, went to Sri Lanka to conduct a feasibility study. Despite its unrelenting civil war and poverty, Sri Lanka is a land vibrant with beauty, culture, and resilience. Sanjho Eri and his wife, Anukshi, are Deaf, and are living testimonies of this vibrant land. They want to see hope and opportunity brought to the deaf of Sri Lanka. This is why Sanjho contacted Signs of Love, which has led to the begginnings of a partnership. We look forward to sharing more about our exciting progress in Sri Lanka!

• In June 2007 we had our 7th Annual Northern Coast of Honduras Deaf Camp, and according to our campers, it was the best yet! We had 160 campers, 120 of them were Ddeaf children and Ddeaf adults from some of the most rural villages in Honduras! BIG thanks to the 20 North American volunteers who helped to make this a raging success. The Baylor University Team was indispensable this year, as always, bringing their expertise in language development/teaching techniques, and an onslaught of supplies to carry us through the year! They also produced black light theatrical shows that were the most spectacular entertainment camp has ever seen. The team from Inter-Community Church of God in Covina was also amazing – we’ve termed them the ‘Fantastic 4’ – they are 4 Deaf men from California and they were so fun and loving, and prepared some gripping dramas. We also had a team from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor who prepared some enlightening seminars. We couldn’t have done it without them!

• North Hills Community Church (www.northhills.us) from Southern California sent a youth team to serve with us in Honduras August 2007. This was Signs of Love’s first time hosting a youth team, and it was phenomenal! This team served the rural deaf with such love and excitement that everyone hated to see them leave. North Hills, you should be proud of the difference you’re making in this world!

• Jessie Solomon, a Baylor University graduate student, spent her entire summer volunteering with Signs of Love in Honduras. We are indebted to Jessie for her service with us. This summer brought many challenges, and Jessie maneuvered through them all with ease, patience, humility, and LOVE. She is extremely knowledgeable on many subjects, especially Deaf education, and she invested into our program through training some of our leaders, and training a teacher of the Deaf at a local special education school. She also gave us many new and fresh ideas to improve our program. She helped us scout new areas for deaf people, and assisted in our village programs. She also led a youth team we hosted in August. This list could go on for a few pages – needless to say, Jessie has impacted hundreds of lives during her time with us, and she has left us a better organization. It’s our hope that after she graduates she’ll join our SofL team!

• Amanda Carcamo Pineda, one of our dearest Signs of Love leaders in Honduras weds October 20, 2007 to Orlan Medina from Trujillo. Both are Deaf and spectacular! We look forward to them joining our staff in Honduras as a married couple, and expect great things coming from their humble and Christ-like hearts.

• In April, 2006, Mario, Patricia, and Robin went to Zambia to work alongside some incredible Deaf Zambian leaders. These Deaf Zambian leaders would like to see SofL branch out to their country. Mario and Patricia were humble ambassadors of the Deaf, and they were able to get out their message that “the oppressed deaf can overcome their obstacles to make something valuable of their lives.” They were featured on the national television station, ZNBC, and in the national newspaper, Times of Zambia. Their highlight was working amongst the deaf in rural villages, teaching Zambian Sign Language, and bringing hope. Currently we are gathering resources to be able to branch out into rural Zambia.

• In February, 2006, Rosa and Robin went to Bangladesh to partner with Bengali Evangelical Association (BEA) where they facilitated a camp for rural deaf Bengalis and their families. It was the first time these deaf had anyone come to teach them, the first time they were introduced to Bengali Sign Language, and the first time they met a Deaf woman fluent in sign language, and functionally literate! They were in awe of Rosa, as she shared her love with them, gave them hope, and assured them of their potential. Currently we are training Rosa and her husband, Carlos, to implement a SofL program in rural Bangladesh. Their anticipated date of departure has been postponed until 2008.