UMTV Brief

Welcome to UMTV’s Web Brief; I’m Reed Galin.

You don’t have to be a child to believe in Santa Claus.  For deaf father Michael Singleton, this Christmas is extra special.  It's the first one he'll spend with his kids in nearly four years. And it was a shopping mall Santa who made it all possible.

 Lindsay Ferrier reports.

 Signing Santa Story:

You would think Michael Singleton is too old to believe in Santa Claus. But then you don't know about his one Christmas wish.

“If I hadn't met Santa Claus, I wouldn't be here right now.”

United Methodist minister Curt Keller played Santa at the local mall. That's where he met Michael. But when he said hello, Michael didn't respond.

“So I looked at him for a moment then I started signing to him. His eyes got wide. Santa Claus signs! Then we started talking, and he told me about how his kids were taken from him three years ago.”

Michael's kids had been in foster care ever since his wife was accused of spanking too hard. Michael was at work when it happened. But because this deaf man couldn't understand state workers, they decided he too was to blame, and took his children away.

“I felt like nobody cared. Nobody wanted to help me.”

Nobody but Curt Keller. A licensed family therapist, he got access to Michael's files and discovered his new friend hadn't done anything wrong.

“It’s just because he's deaf – and some people refused to accept that – that he lost his children for almost four years. It was really hard on him.”

After months of effort, Curt finally managed to convince the state that the Singleton kids deserved to be with their father. 

“It's like an angel just came to save me.”

An angel in a red suit, who gave the only Christmas gift Michael Singleton ever truly needed.

Open Ears Intro:

United Methodist Beverly Geldreich knows well the challenges of getting by in a hearing world.  She lost her hearing to nerve damage as a child. She offers some advice for the people around her, particularly fellow church members.

Open Ears Commentary:

“I feel all churches should have interpreters for deaf people. Deaf people want to be involved in the hearing community and the church also.”

“Sometimes it’s very hard. Sometimes the church leaders will move back and forth, and turn different ways to look at the choir. And when our church leader’s up there praying, with his back facing us … that’s why we have an interpreter right in front of us using her mouth and her hands, to sign to us. And it helps when people get closer to me when I can see their faces.” 

“Most hearing people do not know how to communicate well with the deaf, but there’s a lot of help out there, like sign language classes.”

“The best way to be a good neighbor and friend would be to get more education, and be more understanding about how the deaf communicate. Most of all, smile and be a good listener.”

Home for Christmas Intro:

We would all agree that no child should go hungry or without – not in this country.  But, some do.   Two retired United Methodist farmers are working to make sure that their neighbors are well fed, clothed and embraced with the holiday spirit.  It’s quite a challenge for them on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission, S.D.

Home for Christmas Story:

This is the second poorest county in the nation, the highest suicide rate in the nation both with adults and youth, 87 percent unemployment. This is a culture in despair.

In this desolate stretch of land in the middle of South Dakota, hope is branching out of the home of Pat and John Luecke.

Pat Luecke, Tree of Life Ministry:

“The first of November we turn it into a store. We bring everything that has been sent to us all year that is new for Christmas; we bring over here.”

Pat calls it their Tree of Life ministry.

John Luecke, Tree of Life Ministry:

“A whole bunch of utensils.”

The basic necessities are sometimes difficult to find on the Rosebud Reservation. 

Pat Luecke, Tree of Life Ministry:

“They get a variety of things. They’ll get one big toy such as maybe this, and they’ll get one large item of clothing, which may be just a shirt or maybe just a pair of pants.”

One of the ministry’s most precious gifts – two boxes of food per family.

Pat Luecke, Tree of Life Ministry:

“The people that we try to help are already trying to help themselves. There’s a large segment of the Indian community, especially among the women, that are working really hard trying to better their lives.”

This United Methodist ministry works year-round to support their neighbors spiritually, emotionally and physically.

“I think John is the luckiest person in the world.  He has to haul a lot of boxes, but he sees the joy that it brings.”

Tag:

Last year, the Tree of Life ministry delivered gift boxes to 800 families on the reservation.  This year they are hoping to deliver a thousand.  Most of the gifts are donations from people across the country.

Tease next week:

On the next UMTV Web Brief …

A Native American twist on the birth of Jesus.

Thanks for watching; make it a good week.