Bridging the Gospel to Cuba’s Deaf Community

Yaily Valdes never expected her life to take a complete turn. Trained as a lawyer and later involved in communication and media ministry, she now serves at the Cuban Bible Society, where she helps lead in translating the Bible into Cuban Sign Language.

“I didn’t know any deaf people. I had no connection to this world,” Valdes said. “And today I cannot imagine a single day without them.”

What began as an unexpected encounter has become her life’s calling.

An Unexpected Beginning

Valdes’s journey into deaf ministry started, not with a plan, but with a conversation.

While visiting the Bible Society’s library to study, she met members of the translation team and offered legal guidance on a project they were navigating.

“I just helped them as a professional, as someone who knew the Bible,” she said.

That moment led to something greater. Shortly after, she was invited to join the team.

“I felt strange at first,” she admitted. “I come from communication, from media—but God brought me here.”

What began as an unfamiliar experience soon became a calling, as she learned sign language and grew deeply involved in serving the deaf community.

“It has been a time of preparation and deep study,” she reflected, “learning alongside a group that for many years has been marginalized and often unseen.”

Today she serves as assistant and general coordinator of the sign language Bible translation project—a long-term initiative that has been underway in Cuba for more than 14 years.

Translating the Bible Into a Visual Language

The work is complex and deeply intentional, she explained. Unlike written translations, the Bible in sign language is produced entirely in video format.

“We study the text, and then we sign it,” Valdes explained. “It’s not just translating words—it’s translating meaning.”

Because many deaf individuals in Cuba have limited access to Spanish in its full depth, translation requires expanding concepts that hearing audiences often take for granted.

“For a hearing person, if I say ‘Jesus came,’ they understand everything—His birth, His life, His death,” she said. “But for a deaf person, I have to explain each part of that story.”

Each video segment is carefully crafted, often just a few minutes long, to ensure clarity and comprehension. The Gospel of Luke has already been completed, consisting of more than 100 video segments now being used in churches and shared across digital platforms.

The translation team, composed of two hearing members and four deaf participants, works collaboratively to ensure that the message is both theologically accurate and culturally meaningful.

A Mission Beyond Translation

For Valdez, a member of the Playa Adventist Church in Havana, the project goes beyond language—it is about access to salvation.

“My passion is to bring the Bible and its message of salvation to the deaf community in Cuba,” she said.

The need is significant. Of the more than 57,000 deaf individuals in Cuba, only a small percentage identify as Christian.

“They need to know Jesus,” she said simply.

But access remains a challenge. Many churches are not yet equipped to serve deaf individuals effectively.

“What is the point of inviting them if no one can interpret?” she asked.

To address this, Valdes has been actively training church members and upcoming pastors, helping them understand both the need and the opportunity.

“We are not just raising awareness; we are building sensitivity,” she explained.

“Sadly, there is still very limited ministry for the deaf within the church,” she added, noting ongoing efforts to encourage and develop the work at the local level.

Becoming a Bridge

Valdes describes her role, not as a translator, but as a bridge.

“I realized something I had never understood before—that when the Bible says ‘every tribe, language, and nation,’ it includes them,” she said.

“God speaks to them. They pray to Him in sign language. And I am just a bridge.”

Through her work she collaborates closely with deaf team members, assisting in biblical exegesis, historical context, and theological accuracy while ensuring that the message is faithfully communicated.

“They are my teachers,” she said.

Despite coming from different denominational backgrounds, the team has become united through a shared love for Jesus and His gospel, forming what she describes as a spiritual family, Valdes explained.

A Life Transformed

What started as a professional opportunity has transformed every aspect of her life.

“This has changed my life and my family’s life,” she said.

She now spends much of her time with the deaf community, traveling, learning, and serving alongside them. Even her young son has begun learning sign language.

“They call me their voice,” she said. “They say, ‘We don’t speak, but you do. And you understand our needs.’ ”

A Dream for the Church

Valdes’s vision extends beyond translation.

“I dream of seeing deaf individuals baptized in Adventist churches in Cuba,” she said.

She points to regions such as Guantánamo and Holguín, where large deaf populations remain largely unreached.

“I know the church can reach them,” she said.

Despite challenges, such as limited awareness and the need for greater involvement, she sees progress. “During the past months we have seen more receptive hearts,” she said.

Called for a Purpose

Looking back, Valdes recognizes that this journey was never accidental.

“I was born for this,” she said.

Her story is a reminder that mission often begins in unexpected places and grows through willingness to respond.

“God places you where He will equip you,” she said. “This is not just emotion. It is commitment.”

And for Valdes, that commitment continues, one sign, one conversation, and one life at a time.

The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division news site.