She had grown up in Morganton, where there is a school for the deaf. The church she attended taught hearing members some sign language so they could communicate with deaf parishioners.

When Seagroves' daughter, Taylor, started school in 1999, she could already read and write and was bored at school. Her mother decided to teach her sign language to challenge her. She never suspected where that renewed interest in sign language would lead.

Turner's Chapel Church in Sanford takes part in a ministry to deaf schools in Jamaica sponsored by the CCCD. Having grown up around deaf people, Seagroves decided she wanted to be part of that ministry. Her first trip was in 2000 and she has been back a number of times since then.

“Debbie has a tremendous affinity for the deaf and the deaf ministry of CCCD,” said Rev. Bruce MacInnes, pastor of Turner's Chapel. “She works hard at it and shows a real concern for them.”

In addition to ministry trips to Jamaica to work with the children, she also coordinates visits to the United States by a deaf youth choir, “Hands in Praise,” which has performed at a number of churches.

CCCD was started in 1958 by missionaries from Canada. The organization operates three schools for the deaf, in Montego Bay, Kingston and Knockpatrick, serving a total of 265 deaf children. It also runs the Jamaica Deaf Village for deaf families, where is its developing production facilities for them to produce products to sell, such as rocking chairs.

Seagroves, a Deep River resident, is now a regional representative for CCCD. She travels around the South, sharing the stories of the deaf children of Jamaica and their needs. She loves to tell stories about “her” kids, hoping that people's hearts will be touched to donate, sponsor a child or even visit the schools.

One of them, Sheldon, is 14. He enjoys walking with his friends at school, as all teenagers do. For him, it is a far different experience than for a hearing, non-crippled youth. Not only is he deaf, but he also has cerebral palsy and uses a walker. Having to hold on to a walker means that his hands are not free to have a sign-language conversation. He walks with his friends, but cannot talk with them.

Seagroves hopes to bring him and other crippled deaf children to the United States for corrective surgery and is currently contacting hospitals. American Airlines has already agreed to donate the flights.

“When I told Sheldon I was working with hospitals who might help him, the first thing he did was point to two of his friends who also need help,” she said. “He didn't want to go without them. I've never seen a child so happy and so content with life. He always has a smile on his face.”

Each of the children and youths she works with has his or her own touching story.

“My heart is really in this ministry,” she said. “These kids didn't do anything to deserve to be born into a poverty-level country, to be deaf. I went there thinking I would give away; instead, I am so blessed to spend time with them.”

For more information on the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, call Debbie Seagroves at (919) 775-5057 or go online to www.cccdjamaica.net/.

By Katherine McDonald
http://www.sanfordherald.com