Deaf but normal.

That was the message Mrs. Virginia Wilson, as musical director of the Bermuda Deaf Awareness Association, wanted to get across to the public about Bermuda's hearing-impaired when she began organising variety shows using their talents many years ago.

"We did poetry, dance, mime and more,'' she recalled. "The aim was expose Bermuda to the silent world of the deaf and sensitise people to the fact that the hearing-impaired were not only intelligent but could do everything anyone else could do.'' The concerts also raised funds to buy equipment for the deaf, and to assist with their education abroad.

After years of taking her show to the hotels and nightclubs, as well as teaching sign language, Mrs. Wilson saw another need -- to open up the world of religious worship to the deaf.

Not unnaturally, as member of St. Paul's AME church senior choir, she founded her deaf ministry on home ground. Today, she is its director.

Now ten years old, the Hands of Faith, as the St. Paul's deaf ministry is known, has proved a resounding success -- so much so, in fact, that it has also been adopted by the New Testament Church of God and the First Church of God.

Beyond Bermuda's shores, the deaf ministry now operates in St. Kitts and Deerfield, Florida -- where it is known as the Hands of Glory and Hands of Praise, respectively.

Each summer, Mrs. Wilson travels to St. Kitts to work with her group there, hopefully to broaden their opportunities and horizons.

"When the hearing-impaired are finished school in St. Kitts they can only get work in a factory,'' she explained. "In Bermuda, I'm proud to say the deaf are trained and educated to do everything. They can go away to school, come back and get into the work force.

"In fact, they are working in just about every skill there is. They're in the banks, the library, the post office, and we even have a hearing-impaired teacher in the school system.'' Next year, Mrs. Wilson hopes to bring in a dance instructor from St. Kitts to teach liturgical dancing, which she sees as the next phase of her church work.

At St. Paul's the deaf ministry is operated by a team of volunteers, all trained in sign language by Mrs. Wilson, who continuously interpret throughout the worship service.

Because of the intense level of concentration required, at least seven interpreters are on duty per service. One will sit in the congregation "buddying'' -- simultaneously signing as a back-up in case the working interpreter fails to understand something or needs clarification.

Everything from hymns to announcements, prayers and sermons are signed, so that the deaf can "worship God in spirit and truth just like we do,'' Mrs.

Wilson explained.

To further enhance St. Paul's deaf ministry, special bibles and hymn books are also available from the church library.

The Hands of Faith ministry also extends beyond morning worship. Its interpreters also assist at weddings, funerals and baptisms -- as well as life beyond the church at the hospitals and in the courts. Members also give concerts and undertake overseas invitational tours.

"We go wherever there is a need,'' Mrs. Wilson said.

Certainly, the woman who introduced sign language to Bermuda has no shortage of interpreters to draw on, for she conducts regular courses at St. Paul's AME Centennial Hall for anyone interested in this form of communication with the deaf.

"Introductory courses are 12 weeks long, and start with the basics,'' Mrs.

Wilson said. "Each person proceeds at his or her own pace, and intermediate and advanced courses are also available.'' Over the years, the courses have proved extremely successful, attracting hundreds of people of all ages "from five to 65,'' and from all walks of life.

One of the "graduates'' works full-time at Northlands School interpreting for deaf high school students. She began learning sign language with Mrs. Wilson at age seven.

At Devonshire Pre-school, where she was a class teacher, Mrs. Wilson recently took up the newly-created position of Educational Interpreter for the Deaf following the enrolment of a deaf student. The post is first in the pre-school system.

"It's a breakthrough, and something I prayed for,'' she said. "And I make sure the student is exposed to everything.'' As intriguing as sign language appears to the layman, it is not something to be learned overnight, nor has it a finite end.

"It is very time-consuming and you never stop learning,'' Mrs. Wilson confirmed. "It takes lots of patience, enterprise and stick-to-it-iveness.

How long it takes to learn the basics depends on how much time you wish to devote to practising. Also, if you don't use it, you lose it.'' Thus, from time to time she also organises workshops featuring visiting instructors who give refresher courses for local "signers,'' and personally keeps up date with books and other literature.

Her previous training includes studies at Washington, DC's famed Gallaudet University for the Deaf, and the St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind in Florida.

Explaining that sign language is actually a combination of hand signals, body movements and facial expressions, Mrs. Wilson said that many of the "common motions,'' such as beckoning to mean "come here,'' were the same as those used by the non-deaf. Just as they are on the spoken word, so too are different emphases placed on gestures to create added meaning. Sign language courses cost $40 per term, and take place on Wednesdays at St. Paul's Centennial Hall, beginning at 5.30 p.m. For further information contact Mrs.

Wilson at 292-5428.

Photos by David Skinner NO PLACE LIKE IT -- Bermuda Deaf Awareness Association musical director Mrs.

Virginia Wilson signs `home' for a class. In the photos below, students and teachers sign a variety of words. Body movements and expressions are key to the language of signing.

`LOVE' as expressed most enthusiastically by Ms Jennifer DeRosa Holder.

`IN' is no problem for five-year-old Nerah Lynn Wilson to sign.

INSTRUCTOR Ms Hazel Waters shows how to display `anger'.