A Message From Our Founder
The unimaginable happened.
I awoke from a medically induced coma on Thanksgiving Day in 2010, deaf. After a near death experience with Bacterial Meningitis, God’s grace granted me a second chance to live.
Although incredibly grateful for my life, my return to daily living was all but normal. As a person born of normal hearing, I didn’t awake every morning, thankful to God for my hearing. I know now that I should have, as should you.
Before meningitis I lived the typical lifestyle of a normal college student; enjoying freedom from responsibility, and independence from my parents. But, as a new member of the hard of hearing community, God used this moment of transition and undivided attention to grow my character. Looking back retrospectively, I’m so very blessed to have had faith enough to trust Him.
Sounds of Serenity was named in a moment of spiritual brokenness, as I was adjusting to a life without a sense I was born with. That meant no more music, seclusion from dinner table conversations with family and friends, sitting in front of lecture halls completely unaware of what the professor was saying, and utter exhaustion from using other senses to make up for the loss. In a moment of humility in realizing that I could no longer carry this burden alone, I gave my worries, fears and exhaustion to God, in the form of the Serenity Prayer. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Amen.”
It was in that moment that God spoke through my pain, and challenged me to turn misfortune into a powerful testimony, and blessing for others.
No, I couldn’t change my hearing loss, but I COULD accept that my God makes no mistakes, and that every valley has a mountain top awaiting us if we are faithful enough to persevere. I COULD, use the platform that God has blessed me with to CHANGE the things I can, and that meant realizing that life is best lived when it is spent helping others. The WISDOM gained through it all, was in having God slow life down; to refocus on true purpose. Less of me, more of Him, and constantly seeking opportunities to be a blessing to others.
The decision to reach out to children that may have the same experiences with loss of confidence surrounding hearing loss as I had, added immeasurably to my own healing process. The opportunity SOS has given me to meet, mentor and nurture children with hearing loss has been my greatest accomplishment. I am forever indebted to those who have walked hand-in-hand with me, contributing to my dream of making sure all children, privileged or not, have the right to hear, learn, and socialize.
If you are reading this, I thank you so much for taking the time to learn more about me and the roots of Sounds of Serenity. Together, I wholeheartedly believe that we can evoke lasting change for these children, so that they in turn go out into the world and make disciples of others, by sharing their testimonies of your generosity. May God be glorified through our endeavors!
Andrea Mingo – President and Founder