Andrew Miller is the International Director for DMI. When he’s not eating pavlova in Sydney, he’s travelling around the world raising funds and DMI’s profile in developed countries or visiting the fields we support to see what’s needed and how our funds are being managed. Either way, he works tirelessly to avoid unidentifiable food and meets lots of weird and wonderful people who he just can’t resist interviewing…

#19 Willy

Welfredo D. Reonal (Willy) is a graduate of Bicol Deaf Action and now a much-loved teacher at the school. As a husband, father, teacher and pastor, he apparently doesn’t have a care in the world – until he thinks about it a second time. But the childhood he came through? Now that was a hardship that is not easily forgotten…

Andrew: What is your role at the school and how long have you been teaching here?

Willy: I’ve been employed here for 24 years, teaching kindergarten and grades 1 up to 3. The lower primary school years.

Do you enjoy it?

Yes, I do. Sometimes it’s hard to teach them because they’re just at the beginning of their educational journey and it’s difficult to see how they will take to learning.

What have been the biggest challenges you have faced in the classroom?

The biggest challenge for me is how to start teaching these little children. They’re so young and have been without communication for all their life so it’s very hard to prepare their minds to learn. But I believe as they grow they can become strong students.

Can you tell me about your family growing up?

I was one of 11 children growing up and I was the only Deaf one in the family. People had many children in those days!

What was it like being the only Deaf person in a family of 13 people?

I felt so lonely. I had no one to communicate with. They were all hearing and all I could do was watch them moving their mouths but it all meant nothing to me. Being Deaf, I was always left out, left behind, left alone. My brothers and sisters used to always tease me as one who had his ‘tongue cut out’. The only sign they would give me is the thumbs down sign because that’s what they thought of me. That’s how they would tell me that I never had a future.

That must have been so distressing. So what’s your relationship like now with your brothers and your parents?

They are really surprised now much I have exceeded their expectations. They’re really amazed and I feel so vindicated. Now they’re even jealous of me because I’m more successful than they are! I was able to graduate from college, experience life overseas and get a good job at school. Now when they see me they are really happy for me and they feel proud of me. Not many of my brothers and sister sisters were able to graduate from college, but I did. I showed ‘em!

Weren’t any of them kind to you?

I was close to my third brother. He was really good to me and today we have a really good relationship.

Did you grow up in a Christian home?

No. I’m the only follower of Jesus in the family. Now I’m grown-up, they observe me and and see how I live. I didn’t smoke or drink or have any serious vices so they are really amazed and wonder why.

So how did you become a Christian?

Phoebe, the previous director of the Bicol Deaf Action school, came to my home and enrolled me at the school. I enrolled in grade 1 at the age of 15! That was when I learned about Jesus. I went to a hearing school before then but it didn’t do much for me. I was really happy when Phoebe brought me to the school here so over the next two or three years when I was 16 or 17, I grew in my understanding into what I consider a full Christian faith.

When were you baptized?

Neville baptized me when he came to the school. I was in grade 5. I was 20 years old at the time.

Did you know Neville well?

Oh yes! I could feel that Neville loved me so much because he really supported me and cared for me. I was always so happy to see Neville when he came to the school.

Can you tell me about your family now?

Now I have a wife and God has blessed us with two beautiful girls. All my girls are beautiful and intelligent. 

Is your wife Deaf or hearing? How about your daughters?

My wife and I are Deaf Both our daughters are hearing.

What was it like for you and your wife as parents to raise hearing children?

Sometimes it’s hard. I try to teach my children just like a parent of hearing children, and sometimes that’s okay, but I also teach my children how to sign so that they can communicate with us. That’s why, as a father, I was sometimes strict with them. We needed to communicate!

How old are your girls now?

The oldest is 15 and she’s in grade 10. My second daughter is 9 years old and she’s in grade 4.

I believe you started a new church in this area. Can you tell me about that?

I am so happy to be leading the church. I like to encourage people. I like to encourage the Deaf to be saved, and to really know Jesus.

What’s the name of your church and how many member are there?

It’s the Guinobatan Immanuel Church for the Deaf. Usually 16-18 people attend. Sometimes 20. 

And do you lead the church by yourself or do you have someone to help you?

I lead the church, but my wife helps me too.

What do you like the most about leading the church and what is the most difficult thing about leading a church for the Deaf?

I just like training them up in the faith. It gives me such joy.

How about the challenges?

I have no particular challenges! Everything’s pretty peaceful!

Wow. You must be an amazing pastor.

Hang on. I’m thinking about it some more.

One of the really hard things is getting the Deaf to come to church sometimes because they can’t afford the transport. I have to find ways to get them to church – including picking them up on my motorbike! But sometimes my bike breaks down so yes, that’s a challenging part of leading a church.

Actually, now that I think of it, that happened on the very first Sunday. I was leading the church and my motorbike broke down so not only could I not pick up other people, I had trouble getting to the church myself!

What would you like to see for your future?

I’d like to see success. My great hope is that the Deaf that I’m leading in the church and the school will grow in their faith and become good and mature Christian people. If there comes a time when I’m sick, or later when I have to retire, I want to make sure that there are people trained up, who can step up and become Christian leaders after me.

Do you have a favourite Bible verse or passage?

John 3:16 is my favourite. I know it’s a commonly recited verse but for me it’s special because it captures the pure essence of the gospel: how God loves everyone and people need to be saved, and God has provided a way for us to be saved through his son Jesus.

What do you think is the greatest need at the school here?

Certainly in the classrooms there is need for more materials, especially visual ones and books. I would like to have a TV so that I can show documentaries and teaching programs visually.

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If you would like to sponsor Willy, or any of DMI’s teachers, pastors, schools or projects please go to https://deafmin.org/donate/ or click on the button below.