The Robb Family and Deaf Missions
 
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Deaf ministry delegates from 19 countries around the world gathered together for the four day World Deaf Assembly of God (WDAG) 2009 conference.  It's difficult to explain the impact of this conference as a whole simply because there are so many facets that impact the lives of those in attendance. Of course there are the messages from the Word of God by international Deaf pastors and Hearing pastors who are working in Deaf ministries around the world. Lives are touched and encouraged. The heat of ministry is quenched by the water of the Spirit in these tremendous congregational meetings.


This is only a part of how one is likely to be impacted at these meetings.  There are also the missions reports which are presented by representatives from every country present.  One would think that the smaller countries would be mostly impacted by what God is doing in the vast ministries like America and other countries represented. However, this writer believes just the opposite is true.  It is humbling to see what God is doing in and through the lives of Deaf men and women who have yielded themselves, spirit and body, for the master's use.  These brothers and sisters have mostly started with nothing and have seen the hand of God move mightily in their circumstances.  It is awe-inspiring, as you sit over a meal, or in the conference lobby at 11:00 at night with one light burning near the elevators to talk about their families and their ministries in Japan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and other far away places where most of us will never walk.


One thing that becomes clear again and again in a conference like the World Deaf AG Conference, is that the God which we serve is also active in the lives of those around the globe, in many of the same way in which we experience Him in our cities and churches and ministries.  He is no respecter of persons and the one who appears to be the lowest in every measurable area of life, often times, turns out to be the one being used by God the most.
 
 
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Though there are still some details to complete in the move from our old 8 year home in Brookhaven, Pa (which, by the way, we loved...the location and the First Church of God people) to the new South Philly home; we're moved!


Philly Deaf had been leasing space from the First Church of God congregation in Brookhaven, Pa for eight years, after we had been at Full Gospel Assembly of God in Brookhaven for seven years.  The location change was due, in part, to two variables.  First, because of the change in ministry times and days, the finances of the ministry had declined so that we were not able to continue paying the lease cost on an on-going basis.  Second, there was a need for Philly Deaf to become more accessible to the Deaf community of South and West Philadelphia, proper.  Calvary Temple of South Philadelphia graciously opened their doors to the Philly Deaf ministry, and it became the Philly Deaf South location.


We continue to meet in Kensington (north philly) but the name has changed from Philly Deaf K Chat, to Philly Deaf North.  So that the names of: K Chat (Kensington) and B Chat (Brookhaven) have become:  Philly Deaf North and Philly Deaf South.


We've come full circle.  Deaf Christian Church (DCC) that started in Brookhaven in 1995 actually started in 1993...where?  Right! Calvary Temple in South Philadelphia.  Now 16 1/2 years later, we met for the first Deaf service this past Sunday evening, September 27, 2009.  Praise the Lord!
 
 

The year 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the Robb family becoming full time nationally appointed A/G  missionaries with Deaf Missions in Philadelphia. We marvel at God's wonderful provision through friends, family, and churches.  We are so grateful that in ten years we have never missed a bill or a meal because God provided through missions givers everyday. We must look back and count the many wonders God has done in these ten years. 
We will look at official milestones that mark the past ten years, but more significantly we celebrate the people who have received care, found Christ, been encouraged and grown in their ministry abilities. Because of privacy we cannot tell all  Deaf Missions stories. But generally You've helped us in these personal ways in Deaf people's lives...

Personal Stories
The marriages we have counseled
The sick who received ministry
The spiritual teaching taught in Sign Language so Deaf people understood God's word
The poor who benefited from gifts from the ministry
The events that have been made accessible through interpreting
The Deaf  people who felt less isolated through fellowship with other Deaf believers at planned deaf events
The children of Deaf adults who received ministry while their parents were being spiritually feed.
The many meals provided so that a Deaf group can fellowship over a meal instead of grabbing a burger before the meeting.

Official Milestones
2002 Deaf Christian Church outgrew it first home and we began to lease an office and a meeting space from First church of God, Brookhaven.
2003 Todd Miller joined the pastoral staff of DCC. Trina Herzog joined the ministry as support staff.
2005 Deaf Christian Church celebrated its 10th anniversary.
2006 The Robbs focused on establishing an inner city Deaf ministry in Philadelphia while Todd continued leading  DCC.
2007 The Deaf  inner city ministry in the Philadelphia  became "Philly Deaf". In August Philly Deaf became a 'multi-site' ministry as Philly Deaf and Deaf Christian Church merged to provide more strength for serving the greater Philadelphia Area.  David became the Care Pastor for the ministry and Care Leaders were appointed amoung the mature Christians to lead the two local Deaf groups.  Also, the Robb family welcomed Ana Sofia into our family in September.  And Barbara started and began coordinating the Bible Quiz ministry  at Calvary Temple.
2008 David received his Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) National Interpreter Certification. Barbara began traditional homeschooling, having withdrawn the boys from the internet charter school. Philly Deaf North Kensington kitchen facility and 1st floor bathroom were completed.
2009 Isaac and Andrews' Bible Quiz Competed at North East regional finals.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of a precious silent minority through your faithful prayer and giving to the Robb Family and Deaf Missions.

 
 

Isaac, Drew, and Sofie

I went to the doctor with Isaac two weeks ago for a check up on a growth that had developed on the inside of his lower gum.  The doctor asked, "when did this start?"  Isaac answered, "About two years ago!"

This growth started just after all of his permanent teeth finally came in, and it's been growing slowly ever since.  But at this point, it's gotten so big that it had started pushing his tongue to one side of his mouth.   When I looked at it recently, I was surprised at the size of it.

Barbara had tried to take Isaac to begin the process of getting this taken care of, but he ended up being between insurance coverage and we couldn't afford to pay for the procedure outright.

Thankfully, the boys are covered by insurance now, and we've been able to have it checked by the primary doctor, referred to the Oral Surgeon and the surgery already done.   All at no cost to our family.

The Doctor had said that possible risks were:  paralysis of the tongue or face, loosing his lower teeth at the surgery location, and more...  Thank the Lord, none of these possibilities were probabilities with God.  Isaac came through the surgery like a trooper and is currently recovering.  We go back later this week to get the results of the biopsy of the mass which was both bone and tissue.

 
 

Late in the afternoon, Christopher was swimming near his father when he got caught in a current, and his dad paddled rapidly to retrieve him.“We were both just sucked out,” Marino told Lauer. “The forces just took us out so quickly, it totally took me by surprise.”

I read an Andy Stanley vacation story as part of our family devotions yesterday.  He remembered when he was young, going to the beach with his family in the camper.  One year, he said, the under-tow (or under-current) in the ocean was especially strong.  Now, the under-current is the water undre the surface that can pull you away from the shore, either down the beach from where you were, or, more dangerously, out to sea.    Do you remember a father and his autistic son, last year, spent 2 or 3 days out at sea floating until they were rescued...all because of the current?    Andy said he remembered swimming on the first day and after a little while looking back at the beach and wondering "why did dad move the trailer?"  In fact, 'dad' hadn't moved the trailer, it was still in the same place his dad had parked it, but the under-current had slowly pulled him more than 40 yards down the beach.  The amazing part about this, is that, you never realize that you're moving away from safety while this is happening.   Swimmers get themselves into trouble like this for two reasons.  1) It's happening so smoothly, that they don't realize they're moving...because everything around them is moving in that same direction...away from safety. and 2) the swimmer is paying attention to something fun or his activity in the water, or someone else, and he fails to look back to the shore.    Andy said his dad was worried about this happening and becoming dangerous to the kids. So, he setup a pyramid of coconuts 30 yards down the beach.  he told the kids, "when you find that you've drifted past that pyramid, get out of the water, walk back down the beach, and then get back in where it's safe.   So, the lesson?  Well, it's pretty clear.  You don't have to give up all of your fun in order to be safe.  That's only one lesson to learn.  Another is that we need to set up "points of reference" in our lives and make sure to look at them often to make sure that we're not drifting away.  Because if we don't, it will happen so slowly, so smoothly, that you won't even be aware of it until you look around one day later and ask, "how in the world did i get this far away from my dad?"

 
 

It's not a sauce, it's not a drink.  It's that town in llinois where David's brother, Alan, and sister-in-law, Chardell, live.  What a joy to visit family during the holidays.  We're enjoying time together, sharing what's happening in each other's lives since seeing the other last.  Chardell is a special sister-in-law, loving and caring for each member of the family, as much as Alan does.  No doubt, we'll attend the Nazarene church and play a game of "train," with dominoes.  Of course, Alan, a mechanic as long as he's been working will do his annual automobile service on the family van.  He takes great care of us in that way.  We'll be in Minooka and Morris in a few days, but that story comes later.  Feliz Navidad!

 
 

We're spending some time with David's highschool buddy as we prepare to celebrate with his family for an early holiday season.  We'll be back in Philadelphia for the Philly Deaf Christmas eve candlelight service.  The family that we're with, The Andy Hunt family (wife Kimberly, Children: Caleb, Bethany, Tyler, Rebecca, Anna, Joshua, and Levi) have been an absolute delight to be with.  Our personal lives and families have taken many of the same twists and turns throughout the years.  They're the 'old married couple' at almost 25 years together, but thats just because of marrying young.  Andy and David are the same ages.  Both families had their last child when both Barbara and Kimberly were 41.  "How good and pleasant it is for bretheren to dwell together in unity!"  

 
 

It is financially a trying time for all citizens of the world.  Iceland's economy is tanking and Europe is scrambling to prop up it's financial institutions.  The United States government is funneling billions into the failed mortgage sector, and more appropriations are likely for auto makers and financial institutions.  All of this at a time that we're looking to swear in a new president and are fighting terroristic wars on two fronts. 

No, doubt you are having to make some adjustments in their family activities and budgets as we are.  But we wanted to just write and say "Thank You" for standing with the Robb Family and Deaf Missions over the years and especially during this time in our economy.  We continue to seek God's direction for the future of Deaf Missions in the greater Philadelphia region.  Like you, we're constantly evaluating expenses.  We've turned back the thermostat a notch or two, and Barbara does a great job at being creative with what's in the cupboard. 

All in all, your faithfulness in giving has gone a long way toward meeting every need that we've had.  There's not usually much left over at the end of each month, but you've been a great provision for us toward continuing to minister to,  "The Silent Minority.'  (a phrase from Ed Lawrence, my CBC professor)