Summary

SummaryI grew up as the only hearing child in a Deaf home, serving as my parents’ interpreter and feeling invisible in my own family πŸ˜”. By my third year of college, I ended up homeless and living in my car, desperate for real help. I cried out to Jesus for a safe home and loving communityβ€”and He answered! πŸ™πŸΌ I moved in with Christian sisters who discipled me, and He healed my heart and restored my relationships with my parents ❀️. Today, I’m a full-time campus missionary sharing my story and the Gospel, and a part-time ASL interpreter, living in the hope and joy that only Christ can bring πŸŽ‰.

Hello! My name is Elisa and this is my story. I grew up in a Deaf home, both of my parents are Deaf and that makes me a CODA which stands for Child of Deaf Adult. I also have four younger brothers and sisters and we are all hearing.

Throughout my childhood I knew who Jesus was and I went to church but I didn’t have a genuine relationship with him. My childhood was complex and a challenging time for me. I was the designated interpreter for my family and I felt like my opinion, thoughts or feelings didn’t matter. This caused pain, disappointments, anger and I felt rejected by my parents and the world.

Everything changed my third year in college. I ended up homeless and was living in my car. I felt stuck and that there was no one around me that could help me. I tried different world(ly) things to help like partying and relationships, but I still felt empty on the inside and those things never truly satisfied me. So I decided to pray to Jesus and I asked him for his help, and for him to provide a safe home for me to live in with people who would love me the way he would. If Jesus would provide just that I would follow him again.

Jesus answered that prayer! I moved into a home with Christian girls who discipled me back to the faith. After that moment I started going on campus and sharing the Gospel and my story with other college students like myself. Now, I am a full-time campus missionary and a part-time ASL interpreter. I’m thankful for God by blessing me with both of my callings and work.

God healed my heart, he healed my relationships with my parents, and he saved me. Following Jesus has given me joy, happiness, peace and hope for the future. I know my God is good, faithful, and will see all of His plans to completion.

Thank you so much for watching my testimony. Goodbye! #eugenedeaf #eugeneoregon #overflowHope #deaf #deafcommunity #deafculture #deafworld #signlanguage #asl #deafawareness #coda

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Overflow Hope
Local stories. Real hope in the Central Lane County community. These are the stories of people in the greater Eugene and Springfield, Oregon community who have experienced Jesus Christ change their lives. Their stories prove Christianity is more than religion and that it's possible to change your life. There is hope when you are hopeless, lack purpose or motivation, struggling with anxiety and depression, or just know there has to be more than life than this. We hope these stories show you that Jesus is alive, loving and willing to meet anyone who cries out to Him.
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