Heather Carter
URUGUAY


Steve, Heather, Luke Bethany and Philip Carter

Hello,

I’m Heather

Who am I? Really I’m a missionary wife, living in Uruguay. South America. We have lived there for 8 years now, although originally we are from the UK. My husband is a vicar in a local parish and we live there for three years and then have six months in the UK visiting the various churches that support us.

What do I do? – About 5 years ago I was at the stage of wondering what my future would be, my three children now being out of the need for constant care and I hoped to be able to have a role other than, wife, mother and maker of tea to all who call at the vicarage! - we were able to spend some time at Springharvest,(a Christian Celebration week in the UK) where for the first time I saw a sign language interpreter working. It was fantastic - watching her, set my heart on fire for God in way that hadn’t happened in a long time. It spoke to me so clearly and I felt so very much in His presence.

When we arrived back in Uruguay in 1997 I set about finding the Deaf church and club in Uruguay, only to discover that there was no deaf church and that the deaf club was going through a deep crisis of hurt and division. I also found a lady who would teach me Uruguayan Sign. So that filled the next two years learning USL and trying to think of ways to set up some form of church? Bible group? Something? But also feeling very, very unprepared to tackle the task alone. As well as feeling that someone would have to do it and a nagging feeling that that someone was me! Although I had done a degree in theology and in theory, could be ordained, I first needed to convince my bishop and try to find some further training.

 

What came next? – After the next furlough, We returned to Uruguay with no clear idea as to what God would have me do.

My hope was to come into contact with some young deaf folk, that they will come to faith and could then be trained up as leaders for a future ministry here.

With the possibility of being ordained as Chaplain to the Deaf within the Anglican Church of Uruguay at some point, which would make it much easier to offer such things like ‘rites of passage’ Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Weddings and Funerals, directly in Sign.

In November 2001 I was accepted by the Bishop as an ordinand and I hope that I will be ordained at Pentecost 2002.

In Feb. 2001 I met with some deaf folk who were looking for a place to meet as an ‘alternative’ deaf club. As a church we were able to offer our buildings for them to meet in. They ‘moved in’ in April and have been a wonderful group to meet with. As yet there has not been much interest in the church from them, but I hope and pray that as relationships grow and their trust in me deepens, I will one day have the privilege of being able to share the Good News with them.

 

Facts about Uruguay.

It is a socialist state, with no formal religion. R.E is not allowed to be taught in school. Christmas Day is called ‘Family Day’ and Holy Week is called ‘Tourist Week’. About 4% of the population claim to be R/C and about the same claim to be Protestant. A much larger percentage are Spiritualist, Moonie, Mormon or Jehovah Witness’

There has never been an official census into how many Uruguayans are deaf. It is estimated that 17.000 of a population of 3.4 million are deaf.

There are deaf schools and clubs in most counties, the schools remain strictly oralist, and are only for primary education. Those who want to continue their education must do it in the mainstream system - either by lip reading the entire class or by providing their own interpreter. An expensive option.

As you can appreciate, this is a new area of ministry. We have ideas, plans, aims and hopes. But we are still a very long way from having an ‘official’ Ministry among the Deaf. We also are hearing people with hearing ‘ideas’. We’d be glad to have any feed back/ideas/ suggestions that you as hoh / deaf people/ experienced chaplains might have.