Interview with Merry | Trinity Deaf Ministry
Below is an interview with Merry, a deaf person in our worshipping community. Here, she shares her backstory & her input for Trinity's blossoming Signing Ministry.
Trinity: How long have you been deaf?
Merry: I was born deaf to a mother who was hard of hearing and a hearing father. My parents enrolled me at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf when I was young.
T: How did you find Trinity?
M: I met Sarah Garner a year ago at another church that had clothes donations, food, and other . I would attend every week to wash clothes and eat. One Sunday she was there and offered to interpret the church service for me. She then began picking my family up and taking us to Trinity every week. I enjoy going to church at Trinity.
My dad died on Dec 28, 2011. The staff at Trinity sent flowers, Allison McGill came and performed the graveside service for my daddy, and Aaron Hodgin played guitar at the service. People from Trinity brought food for my family for a week after my dad died. This made me happy and helped me feel like a part of the church. Michelle Trojanowski brought my family food one night. I remember her saying to me that she was sorry that I was experiencing this grief. She prayed for me and said she was glad that I am a part of the Trinity family. After my daddy died I experienced great sadness. I wanted to go to church to feel comfort and remember my dad. At that time the people at Trinity were also feeling sad because Michelle was missing. It helped me to know that they feel grief also. Sharing pain with this community helped me to understand that it is ok to be sad when you lose someone and that God is there to comfort us.
T: What is one way you would like to become more involved in Trinity this year?
M: I would like to take a class but I would need an interpreter.
T: If you could take a class on anything, what would you like to learn about?
M: Baptism.
T: Trinity is planning to start a small group for Deaf in the fall, would you like to be a part of that?
M: Yes, I think that is a good idea. It is good to have time to talk about the Bible and understand better what is preached on Sunday.
T: If people who are hearing want to get involved in the Deaf ministry do they need to know Sign Language?
M: It would be helpful for them to take a class and learn some. But if they do not know Sign Language it is ok. People don't have to be shy, they can come say hello and talk to us about their family. If they do not know Sign Language they can write down what they'd like to communicate or Sarah can interpret for me.
T: How has the other people in your family become involved at Trinity?
M: I have 2 kids. Angelica is 6 yrs old and Luis is 2 yrs old. They are in the children's ministry at Trinity. Angelica enjoys game nights and likes Mrs. Julia a lot. Luis is very close to Sarah and also Daniel Bass. Angelica and Luis like spending time and doing things with Sarah and Daniel.
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