I was born in Iowa and later, as a young girl, moved with my family to Long Island, New York. When I was 13 years old, while attending Word of Life Ranch in Schroon Lake, NY, I accepted Christ as my Savior and dedicated my life to serve the Lord. After spending some time at Nyack Missionary College, I married my high school sweetheart, George Knakal. We were married for 39 years and raised 5 children together. Presently, I have  13 grandchildren.

In 1986 the Lord called me into Deaf ministry. Following the Lord’s prompting, I attended Suffolk Community College, earning my degree in American Sign Language/Interpreting and Deaf Studies. I established and coordinated a Deaf ministry for 29 years at Island Christian Church, 17 years as a full-time staff member. The Lord instilled a deep desire in me to empower and equip Deaf Christians for worship, service and leadership in both ministry and in their lives. It was exciting to see this vision become a reality as I served at the church: “Deaf reaching Deaf for Jesus Christ,” and this desire in my heart is still strong today.

When my husband, George, passed away in 2009 after a 19 year battle with cancer, I earnestly sought the Lord’s guidance in the next chapter of my life. Following the Lord’s leading, I sold nearly all of my possessions and my home of 35 years in New York. I was willing and ready to hear where the Lord would direct, and ready to go where He would send. While I waited, I continued to serve the Lord and reach the Deaf on Long Island as well as in Trinidad and Tobago with the gospel of Jesus.

In 2013, I felt that the Lord was presenting me with the opportunity to work with D.O.O.R. International. In 2014 as a missionary with the Deaf, DOOR  sent me to their Bible Training and Translation Center in Kenya where I am presently training in their 2 x 2 program and Deaf Believers fellowship.

I look forward to partnering with DOOR to reach the Deaf back home in the States.