Tuvalu: Peteli, whose name in English means “Bethel,” is a 14-year-old girl who is almost totally deaf. She has relatives who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, so she had attended some meetings but did not benefit greatly because of being deaf and unable to read. On her own initiative, Peteli learned to lip-read. More recently, Dale, a missionary sister, began to study with her using the brochure Enjoy Life on Earth Forever! Dale used the pictures to teach Peteli about the Bible and the text to help her learn to read. This was especially challenging because Dale was a new missionary still learning the language, and Peteli needed help in learning where to place her tongue in order to pronounce words correctly. Peteli is eager and works hard. After just three months, she started to read. She and her teacher prepare comments for the meetings together. Peteli carefully practices beforehand and proudly comments at the meetings. She sits in the front row at the Kingdom Hall so that she can concentrate on the speaker’s lips. Dale writes: “Jehovah is becoming a real friend to Peteli, and her eyes often fill with tears when we talk about the time when ‘the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped.’”​—Isaiah 35:5.

[Picture on page 57]

Dale and Peteli, Tuvalu