DOOR-Americas, Buenos Aries, Argentina
Believers’ Fellowship Planting Trainer
Initially, Allan was the only Deaf child in his family. But when his parents learned that he was Deaf and began to learn LESCO (Costa Rican Sign Language) to communicate with him, they realized that he would be happier if he had a Deaf sibling. So they adopted a Deaf brother for Allan.
Allan is known and respected as a leader in the Deaf community. He was selected for a competitive internship in architectural restoration at the National Theater of Costa Rica, and he organized and ran the national Deaf football (soccer) league for several years.
Allan's mother brought him to church, and told him Bible stories, but he didn't understand much of it. He would have called himself a Christian, but it wasn't until a Deaf Christian leader began to spend time with Allan and share with him deeply about Christ, that he truly understood what salvation meant, and became a believer himself.
Just months after that, Allan became a student at DOOR-Americas, eager to learn God's Word so that he could teach it to other Deaf people. He felt a deep calling and responsibility to use his leadership abilities and the training he had received for God's glory among the Deaf.
Verónica is also the only Deaf person in her family. She was born in Nicaragua, and lived there until she was 11. Her mother had moved to Costa Rica, and Verónica stayed with her grandmother. But when Verónica was 11 years old, her mother found a good Deaf school in Costa Rica, and Verónica was able to join her mother there. Verónica completed her schooling in Costa Rica, and met Allan there, too.
Allan had been dating Verónica when he became a Christian, and in his enthusiasm for his new-found faith, he introduced Verónica to Jesus. They continued to grow together in their faith and their relationship, and were married in January, 2007. By then, both of them were working as full-time staff at DOOR-Americas, teaching and training Deaf people from various Latin American countries, (Allan graduated from DOOR-Americas in 2004 and Veronica in 2005.)
Both Allan and Verónica, at separate times, were sent to Argentina, either to recruit students, or to follow up with graduates. Each of them individually, felt a deep burden for the Deaf of Argentina. Eventually, the team in Costa Rica followed God's leading to close the training center, and go out as missionaries to other countries.
Allan and Verónica are currently serving in Buenos Aires, Argentina, reaching, training, and empowering Deaf Argentineans to reach their Deaf community for Christ.