Ministry Update (July 2024)

bookworm1964
Aug 12, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Feb 11

Dear Friends and Family,

So much has happened since the last time I wrote to you and I am eager to share with you what the Lord is doing!

A Recap of the Past Few Years

After graduating college in 2019, I was hoping to go to Haiti to work with Harry and Melissa Peart in the deaf school that they had started in 2016. Because of civil unrest, we were unable to return to Haiti. We were hoping to return in 2021, but then the Haitian president was assassinated. Since then, Haiti has experienced an unprecedented level of chaos. We were unable to return, and most missionaries have left Haiti because of the hostility. In October 2021, I started interpreting on Sunday mornings at Bible Baptist Church in Landrum, SC. In May 2022, the Lord showed me clearly that I needed to stay in this church and help them build their deaf ministry. And in June 2022, I resigned from my mission board, as I was no longer headed to Haiti.

In September 2022, I started a sign language class at Bible Baptist. The class initially started with about30 students. Praise the Lord for those interested in learning ASL! The next semester the class dwindled to about 20. And by the third semester I had about 10. (It is normal for interest to dwindle like that.) I prayed that through this class, God would give me two that I could train to interpret and take the Deaf ministry after me. God answered my prayers through Lindsey Price (18, female) and Mark Dey (64, male). I began interpreting class with these two in January of 2024.

How God is Leading Next

In August 2022, I went with Silent Word Ministries International (SWMI) on a mission trip to the DeafNation World Expo Convention. While there, David Bennett (the director of SWMI) took the time to talk one-on-one with each member of the team to ask about what God is doing in their lives and how SWMI might be a help to them. David Bennett told me about a deaf school in India that he hopes to use as a training center for people to get experience working with the deaf and to get training in how to start deaf schools in other places. I knew right away that this was something I wanted to be involved in.

I officially joined SWMI in June 2024 as a missionary to the deaf. Lord willing, I will be taking a 4-week mission trip to India to visit the deaf school in September. My primary goal for the rest of this year is to continue training the two new interpreters in my church to prepare them for when I leave. My secondary goal is to begin laying the groundwork for an effective deputation ministry: this includes getting prayer cards, setting up a new website, contacting and visiting my previous supporting churches, as well as making new contacts. Lord willing, I will begin deputation full time in January 2025.

The first step after deputation will be to go to this deaf school in India for 2-3 years to receive the necessary training to be able to start similar schools elsewhere. I would like to be working with a team as we travel to these other locations, stay for as long as needed to get a new deaf school started, train national believers how to run the school, and help them start training others as well.

Recent Happenings

June 16 – I had the opportunity to give my testimony at the church where I grew up (Fellowship Baptist Church of Duncan, SC). The church voted that evening to take me on for support!

June 17-20 – This was my third year attending the Deaf Baptist Fellowship of America conference. This year the conference was in Arizona. It was a great time of fellowship and preaching!

July 11-13 – I was able to go to the ASL Institute. This is a 3-day sign language workshop put on by SWM. This year I was able to bring one of my interpreting students with me! Praise the Lord for her heart for the Deaf!

July 15-18 – This was my second year working at Harvest Deaf Camp. This year I was involved in the teen program. I had the opportunity each night to teach the devotions in the girls’ dorm. Praise the Lord for 2 souls that were saved!

Next on My Schedule

August – I am excited to attend David Bennett’s Deliberate Discipleship Retreat.

September – Lord willing myself and 3 others will be going on a 4 week mission trip to India to visit the deaf school.

Praises

My first official supporting church is my childhood home church!
Two souls were saved at Harvest Deaf Camp!

Prayer Requests:

Stability for Haiti and the ministries that continue there
For Mark and Lindsey as we continue interpreting class
- for their heart for the deaf to grow
- for their sign language skills to grow
That all of my previous supporting churches will partner with me again
For the upcoming trip to India
- for the funds needed to travel
- for travel visas to be approved (this is key)
- for safety while traveling and while in the country
- for any other necessary preparations

Your fellow laborer,

Lois Boswell

Matthew 9:37-38 – Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.