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By Peggy Johnson

The first ever Global Deaf United Methodist Congress of the Deaf was held in Baltimore in July of 2005. It was a Pentecost experience that transformed the deaf world.

South of the Florida Keys, the Cuban Deaf Methodists got word about of the Global Deaf conference. They wanted one too.

Could the American church send them money to have an islandwide Deaf conference? They were not able to participate in the meeting in July due to the political barriers that prevented them from freely traveling to the United States.

In a relatively short time, funds were sent to Cuba and the dates were set for the first ever Deaf islandwide Methodist Conference. The Cuban Deaf group sent an invitation to me to attend the conference and they asked me to bring a delegation. I felt totally inadequate for this task. I did not remember much Spanish and I did not know Cuban Sign Language.

I sent an e-mail to Rev. Yolanda Pupo-Ortiz, who is an actively retired pastor and a native of Cuba. I told her I was willing to be 'Moses' but I needed an 'Aaron' to do the Spanish speaking. She immediately responded that she would go.

That was the first sign from God. Four other remarkable pastors joined our 'dream team.'

At the Cuban Deaf Conference Jan. 23-26, we witnessed an outpouring of joy and Spirit unlike anything I had every seen.

The theme was 'Libres del Silencio: Usando mis Manos para Cambiar al Mundo' (Liberation from Silence: Using our Hands to Change the World). One hundred and thirty Deaf people from all parts of the country gathered at a church in Holguin, Cuba for four days of worship, Bible study, signing, drama and much fellowship time. There were also about 50 interpreters and hearing church workers at the conference as well.

The sanctuary was filled with people every night and there was fiery preaching and altar calls. The Deaf people slept on foam mattresses in the church and ate food that was cooked outdoors over a wood fire.

Our team ate in the home of the conference coordinators, and were treated to an amazing cuisine of Cuban delicacies. On the last day our hosts surprised us with a roasted pig for dinner. The cook announced 'the pig is here' and I wondered what was he talking about? There on the kitchen table was a huge roasted pig with a tomato in his mouth.

We also visited the beaches of the island and saw its breathtaking views and a land that was pure and natural, untouched by development and commercialism.

Deaf people in Cuba had the advantage of education in government schools and also there was free health care for all and some government-provided sign language interpreting.

In Cuba, as in other countries, Deaf people have a difficult time finding employment and many earned very little money ($25 a month) and lived with their extended families. Electricity came and went at times and hot water for bathing and cooking was heated on a stove. Most people used bicycles for transportation and a lucky few drove 1950?s cars.

The tenacious spirit of Deaf people shined through the poverty and hardship like a lighthouse shining in the night sky.

They survived on very little money and faced so many obstacles. There was not a thing in America that I face in my work that was nearly as difficult as what they had to overcome on a daily basis.

I vowed never to complain again about anything, ever, after seeing what sacrifices these people made for their faith.

They were also incredibly loving people. I cannot remember I time I was hugged and kissed so much. Their affection was genuine and they continually commented 'we are amazed that you would come.'

I was amazed I came too and very glad. On the flight home from Cuba I was tired, dead tired, dog tired, but I couldn?t sleep on the plane. Songs of Cuba were in my head and heart.

Usually on other trips the sight of Baltimore lights would thrill my heart, but this time it was different. I was happy of course to be coming back home but the thrill was not there. I suspect it was because I left a piece of my heart in Cuba and I hope to go back there to retrieve it some day.

The Rev. Peggy Johnson is pastor of Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf in Baltimore.