Arua’s Deaf : Understanding their journeys

This month I showed some of the local deaf people we are
getting to know a brief testimony from Shakeel, a deaf friend at
Coventry Deaf Club. Through it he helped me understand his
past, present and future. My hope was that it would motivate
Arua’s isolated deaf to do the same.

It did! Shakeel’s account has turned out to be a really useful
starting point to gaining a better understanding of deaf
people’s individual circumstances here. I am being inundated
with remarkable, diverse accounts. Several have given me permission to share their
stories with you. I will publish some extracts in a future newsletter.

My long term idea is that deaf people in both Arua and Coventry want to exchange some
of their personal history, key struggles and aspirations. It may even lead to a deaf
exchange visit.

First Paid Job For Temia!
Temia (far right), an unemployed deaf woman was the first to complete a testimony for us
outlining her love of
practical work and her
desire to train as a
builder, so that she could
pass on some vocational
skills to deaf students.

We found a local builder
willing to train her and, to
Temia’s and our delight,
he was so impressed with
her that he decided to
start paying her! This is
her first paid job! The
other builders became
intrigued and asked me to
produce some sign resources to help Temia teach them some sign vocabulary during their
lunch-breaks. They picked up USL really quickly and chuckled as Temia gave each a
signed-name relating to one of their facial features!

Whilst there was only a few weeks work available, her confidence was boosted and
galvanised some other unemployed deaf to be more proactive. She now has an interview
for a year-long sponsored building skills course!

Family News: Visit to Kampala and Jinja
Last week we left Arua at 5am to drive to Kampala (see map)
with some other missionaries to take part in the 10K running
race being held alongside the half and full marathon. All were
sponsored by the mobile phone network MTN. Jerome beat me
by 5mins and Maria was only 5 mins behind me. Helen watched
our bags and cheered us on.

Then we went to Jinja (see map), the source of the Nile and
home of YWAM Uganda’s first base to meet their team, to
learn from them.
We took two boat
trips on the Nile;
one above and one
below the dam
generating hydroelectric
power for
the local area.
Another dam is
under construction
which will
submerge islands
used by local
farmers and falls
popular with white-water canoeists and rafters..
A year or two ago I discovered a biblical town where the River
Jordan was dammed to let Joshua cross on dry land is named
after me. Well, well.. I’ll be ..!

Arua’s deaf : Access to HIV tests?
On our return to Arua via Kampala we collected our visiting friend Claire Stradling (left) from Entebbe airport. Claire, a nutrition specialist had been part of a medical team providing voluntary inservice training for nurses in Johannesburg hospitals in the more effective treatment of people living with HIV.

As I find often happens, World Aids Day was being publicised by Arua’s council whilst Claire was here to witness it and the HIV sign-language training topic the day before. Claire was such an encouragement to us – and saw the funny side when she discovered the sign-name she had created for herself was very similar to the sign for a condom!

The deaf quickly spotted us and their association vice-chair explained that they weren’t offered a blood test because the nurse dealing with them couldn’t understand their responses to the consent form questions. Once I explained to the nurse that I could provide communication support she re-took their details and they were all tested. Claire practiced her new sign with a very young deaf couple and held their baby whilst they were tested.

‘Buddy’ Approach
We are working with local teacher of the deaf, Jonahansifan, to plan a Community Sign Workshop program based in the village of Alioce on the outskirts of Arua.

In this ‘buddy’ approach a friend/relative of the deaf person also attends the sign workshops. The buddy approach proved to be very effective in workshops I piloted with local deaf advocates last November. Attendance was more sustained and higher than usual. Sign vocabulary acquisition and restoration of self-esteem and hope was also faster. I believe this was achieved because the deaf person had a relative/friend with whom to come, and to use, the newly gained vocabulary in between sessions.

Once numbers are known a community meeting will be arranged to clarify specific needs and practical arrangements in preparation for a January start.

Head-teacher at Eruba Deaf Unit, Arua
has also asked us to help co-ordinate a week long sign-language training workshop for his hearing staff. Members of Arua Association of the Deaf are willing to delver the workshops with our support.

Our twice-weekly sign-language classes continue. We join local nurses also wanting to improve. One memorable conversation I had recently concerned a deaf female teenager in the latter stages of her pregnancy. She was anxious to see if some-one from Arua Association for the Deaf could assist with communication during her labour.

There were two challenges: -she was unsure how imminent her child’s birth should be and there were only two fluent signers in the locality – both male. One partially deaf but a father himself; the other hearing but single…

Drama at Deaf Church
At Arua Deaf church, dramatised readings are now being used regularly and dramatically increasing the insights the drama team and viewers gain.

Whilst in Kampala we were invited to share experiences at 50-strong Kampala Deaf Church. The dramatised bible reading of the story of Jonah was fantastic. Their Church of Uganda Deaf pastor, David Bulime has founded a bible training school for the deaf on the same site. We hope to learn more from them next year.

Home-making/-schooling
Maria: Hey  Have been a bit busier these last few weeks. Home schooling is going on as ever – we didn’t even get a half term the slave drivers! Lol only joking :P In Jinja, Mum was able to coach and assess us in a nearby pool for the swimming part of our GSCE PE, uninterrupted by others. On one swim I was joined in the pool by a monitor lizard over a metre long! Getting it out gave everyone much laughter.

Something I’m really excited about is this new Fair Trade Fabric Business I am trying to set up, primarily between local tailors here and my school back in England. It was one of my dreams to create opportunities here for the local people and so I’m really looking forward to developing this! The ball is rolling! 

I have made quite a few new friends and am actually learning a bit of German because quite a few of my new friends are German.  Am playing a lot of volleyball, basketball and soon we will be playing in a local league! Also visiting the local prison with a small base team.I do my own kind of personal update thing and so if you want to receive it email my parents and they can pass your email onto me. Ta! M x

Jerome; Hello I’m drinking hot chocolate shortly so I will be brief we have 9 chickens things are ok. Its too hot at the min but I’m getting to play basketball a lot. Jinja was ok.

Laurence: Hi everybody. Staying in Kampala and Jinja was great. Glad I didn’t have to do the fun-run. Phew woo!  We sometimes having mango wars with other kids on the base, although it can get a bit messy. Having our first visitor, Claire Stradling, from Nuneaton last week was great. Hope you enjoy my poem below.

Whoflungdung?
Said the monkey who swung,
at the bee on the tree, from which he swung.
From the tree he could see whoflungdung
T’was the bee on the tree whoflungdung.
Funnily then the monkey flung dung
at the bee on the tree from which he swung
WHOflungDUNG? WEflungDUNG.
THE BEE AND MONKEY FLUNG DUNG!

YWAM ARUA base co-leader
John Wright, YWAM Arua base co-leader, is from the UK, with a sister in Coventry! He is also partially deaf. He met and married his American wife in NE Uganda.
His vision is to release the potential of the East African church, particularly the youth, through discipleship and leadership training. The goal: Leaders and youth with a passion to honour God, to serve their community, and model God’s concern for all mankind, particularly unreached (and usually very needy) people groups in the countries bordering NW Uganda and beyond.

John recently took a team of YWAM students to an isolated village tribe in Southern Sudan. The village elders had asked YWAM for help to build a track to connect them with the nearest village. Simply reaching the village was very difficult because of the thick under-growth and steep, uneven terrain. In the village there is poor housing, high alcohol dependency, and child illiteracy, and an obsession with animal skull altars. The team completed the track with some villagers who were willing to help. The transfer of hope and desire for future partnership really impacted the team and base.
John and Vicky are also supporting the growth and development of the YWAM Yei base in S. Sudan, situated in an area of great need. The base team currently provides a pre-school for over 100 children, primary health care clinics and discipleship training.

Update Nov. 2009: Family news, Setting-up home / home-schooling, Meeting Arua’s deaf again, Getting to know the YWAM Arua team.

Family news
Laurence: Hi everyone. Hope you’re all enjoying England. Uganda is okay. We’ve got a dog called Snowy, but she’s kind of small, which isn’t great as she’s supposed to be a guard dog. We won’t have her for long though as we will be giving her to our watchman called Nixon and getting one or two tiny Alsatian crossbreed puppies from next door. They are extremely cute at the min and can fit in one of my hands. (I’ll try to get photo’s on facebook within a few days).
When they grow they will be really good guard dogs as their dad is a mahoosive German Sheppard. Maria and Jerome have agreed on names - if we get two they can call them beauty and beast; but if we get one I get to call it Diesel. Okay, that’s about it on dog news goodbye.

Jerome: Hello people reading. I hope the weather in England isn’t too cold- here we are entering the dry season. I’m settling in and my room is starting to look a bit more homely. I have finally got some curtains.
I have been involved in the garden since we arrived and all our seeds have now germinated. We have a range of veg. and fruit, from small strawberries to rhubarb. We also have cucumber, watermelon, pineapple, sweet corn, mango tree, onions, tomatoes, roma beans, basil, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and passion fruit.

We will buy a few chickens soon and some new dogs which my brother mentioned. We have bought a bike which isn’t entirely reliable but I have got around ok on it with Laurence on the back. We found a tennis court in Arua but at present I can’t get in touch with the coach. The diet is ok as my mum is supplementing it quite a bit. We have also finally got solar! So I think that’s all. Bye!

Maria-Well…I’ve been kinda chuckin myself into things. I’ve gone along to the Ugandan sign language classes with mum and dad and have been to the deaf school. Learnt how to make chapatti and can now make them perfectly circular – oh yeah get me. Have been pleasantly surprised to find out that I am now an ‘Auntie’ to a load of Ugandan kids! The puppies are totally gorgeous, it’s really cool to see them cos we wouldn’t have gotten the chance to play with them back in England. There are 7 of them and I wish we could have them all!

My bedroom is cool. Not only do I have the best bedroom in the house, but I have a double bed, nice wardrobe, desk and a light that works! I SOO gotta better deal than the boys! Ha :P

Have made some friends and found a nice café in town and a place for picnics.
Weather is amazing, sun and blue skies most of the time and its warm enough for skirts n tees. I’m getting used to the skirts, they aren’t so bad if you wear shorts underneath lol :PMiss u, hope u don’t die of the cold :P Maria x


Setting-up home / home-schooling
In addition to ordering furniture from a local carpenter and buying utensils for the house and garden, locals Kevin and Nixon (see above) are working for us, assisting with domestic chores whilst we home-school, and with security of the compound at night. We use some of the local meal recipes but supplement it with imported food from the supermarket where the taste difference is too big a battle!

For the last month we have managed without light or power and intermittent water. Its pitch black from 7pm till 6am. But while I’ve always liked kerosene lamps six weeks nightly use was enough! Then, last friday THERE WAS LIGHT! This has made recharging the laptops for home-school and emailing much easier. Then, this week, guttering was fitted for water harvesting as the town supply will be even more intermittent in the dry season.


Meeting Arua’s deaf again
We are attending twice-weekly sign-language classes to improve our Ugandan Sign-language fluency. Lessons are free and they are hosted at Arua’s Disability Centre. This is fine for those living within walking/ commuting distance (4 mile radius) but this centre serves the whole region so sign classes are not accessible to most people.
We have made some good friendships in the local deaf community.

Temia, one of the young ladies that we helped attend the deaf conference in Kampala, has become my Ugandan sign language trainer. She’s great fun and has a rhythmic way in which she moves and signs. It’s almost as if she is constantly dancing.
At 7.00am last Sunday we joined our deaf and partially sighted Pastor Allan and a small team on outreach to a local village, Alioce. The pastor of Alioce church had a partially hearing and fully deaf child. It was both a challenging and rewarding day. Allan preached in sign to two intrigued congregations. The incidence of deafness is high and people are keen to receive guidance and support. After the service we met many deaf people and their families.

A number of other deaf had not come to the church service because of personal beliefs and other reasons so I suggested that we go and meet the deaf. It was a long afternoon! We ended the afternoon in an Elders house because he had adopted his orphaned niece who was one of the people we wanted to find. We chatted about educational, vocational, and social opportunities for the deaf of this large parish and agreed another meeting was needed, before leaving. Helen

I recently re-visited the local Deaf Unit to handover a volleyball net funded by partners back home. The deaf students and staff gave a really warm welcome and then enthusiastically helped their head-teacher and I mark out a court on which they can train and eventually compete. Helen, Maria and I have been again since, scoring or umpiring bench/ volley ball as needed. Good fun. Adam


Getting to know the YWAM ARUA team.
We are gradually getting to know the YWAM team here. There are about 20 adult staff here, half with families generally younger than our own. There are also about 10 single staff, mostly in their late teens/early 20’s whom Maria and Jerome are enjoying getting to know too.

Staff are mainly from Uganda, with some from Sudan, DR Congoand Ruanda too. All have some fascinating and challenging stories. We and the base co-leader, John, are from the UK whilst his wife is American. Sharon, another base co-founder is from Australia.

Staff meet altogether at the beginning and end of each week to bring our focus back to our Maker, to learn more about Him and exchange insights, developments and challenges we are experiencing and pray about them.

Between us we are supporting the base catering and maintenance needs one afternoon each/week, and have started a base kids club on a third. (Picured)


Several staff are taking more of an interest in sign-language, having known deaf people in the villages they grew up in, but being unaware of sign-langage until recently.

Numerous local staff are employed to slash the base (no mechanical mowing here) and to build, plumb and wire up more accomodation for staff, students and vocational trainees. Watchmen and the base guard dogs maintain security.

We are thankful for:

Wisdom:
- unity of mind/spirit in our family as we plan home-schooling (h/s)
- offers of additional h/s resources
Friendship:
- opportunities for us all to exchange blessings, insights and challenges our Maker is taking us through, with other development workers and their families
Health/Travel Protection:
-Laurence’s speedier recovery from a second bout of malaria thanks to more specialised advice.
Finance Received:
- for a motorbike for cheap/quick travel

A Vocational Training Opportunity:
- emerging for a deaf unemployed youth
Local Passion:
from the leadership of St. Phillips Deaf church to develop more creative and interactive services

If you plan to financially support our vision please get in touch now. We can help you set it up. Thanks. A&H

Good friendships in the local deaf community

12.10.09
In the relative safety of being under our mosquito net I feel more comfortable to write. Its pitch black except for this screen. Adam is with Laurence writing a letter under the subdued light of a kerosene lamp. Oh for solar power. We will really value it when we get it.


Come and meet our Pastor, Allan, of St. Philips Arua
Allan who was ordained during Adam’s last visit to Uganda in November. Adam made good friends with him. Two weeks ago Adam and I were privileged to attend Allan’s and Asha’s wedding. It was a wonderful experience. Allan is deaf and partially sighted. His wife has full vision and full hearing,- a great asset to Allan. The newly weds are joining us for lunch on Saturday.

Allan is also our Pastor. Since being ordained he has lead the weekly deaf service at St Philips. A week last Sunday we attended this service and it was so joyful. The simplicity of the service made it very accessible to hearing and deaf alike.

Wedding of deaf-partially blind local pastor, Rev Allan Alems

We did also accept an invitation to attend attend the wedding of deaf-partially blind local pastor, Rev Allan Alems. deaf –blind Pastor for People With Disabilities (PWD), and his fiancé Asha. A real colourful, all day, community affair, with lots of mini-ceremonies we’d not seen before.

International Deaf Awareness Week, Kampala, Uganda 24th, 25th sept. 2009

Thanks to your support we were able to subsidise the travel costs of an extra six young deaf adults wanting to represent the Arua District in Kampala, amongst larger delegations of deaf from many other parts of Uganda - over 400 delegates in total. There was encouragement from other National Deaf leaders representing Australia, Finland, Holland and Nepal there, to pubicise and claim the legal provisions Uganda's deaf have now beeen accorded by the government

Next we visited a deaf school and a deaf kindregarten, the first of its kind. Increased awareness is swelling the numbers of the former dramatically; but without increased funding to match.

Then a march through the city to hand in a petition to the Social Affairs Minister at his office, and then to the studios of Uganda's Broadcasting company. The petitions called for improved access to education, work and information through more sign-language interpreted services and programs.

Finally, there was a cultural celebration in Kampala's Centenary Park where deaf delegations from different tribes performed dance and drama. good to meet other workers involved in deaf projects in other parts of Uganda.

Alicoce sign workshops begin

Last week was the first of seven visits planned to the Aliochivillage.





All 27 deaf villagers arrived each with a hearing family member or close friend. They were then introduced to the deaf team and split into small groups for basic introductions and later for basic sign teaching.





Many of the deaf were so very shy and timid, many cried and one boy just curled up on the floor shaking. Adam explained that this was because many of the deaf had never met other deaf people before and so they were dealing with a whole host of emotions on this first meeting.





I am pleased to say that at the end of the first session everyone was more relaxed and there were many happy faces. At the end of the session each deaf person left reassured in the knowledge that they had someone, a hearing friend or relative, with whom they could practice signs for the following week.




Two deaf students from Erubajoin AlioceSign Workshops...


.. each week to encourage those deaf from Aliocewho are of a similar age. They have really encouraged them.


The deaf students took on their hearing class-mates this Wednesday, in both football and volley ball, winning and drawing respectively.

Entebbe to YWAM ARUA 2009

Was an eventful trip beginning in narrowly escaping a riot in Kampala which began just as we returned to our car from a bureau de change (£1= 3000 Ugandan Shillings (UgSh).

The riot appears to be a tribal dispute over some land, which led to several deaths and considerable shop looting in and around Kampala. We got out just ahead of an approaching mob thanks to our quick-witted YWAM Arua base driver, Yolam, who had come down to collect us and our belongings.



We ran over a huge rat in the dark, upcountry, before arriving about 36 hours after taking off from Birmingham airport.

























Our good friends and co-founders, Sam & Agnes Abuku gave us a lovely welcome and have let us stay with them for the next fortnight until the house we are renting is complete and furnished with essentials.

FAMILY NEWS
The night after we arrived the base staff and their families made a welcome cake for us and gave thanks for our safe arrival, willingness to join them and prayed that we would each settle quickly into family life, base life and our mission there .







Yesterday I reacquainted myself with one of many kinds of frequent visitors to rooms we’ve stayed in in E Africa…









Maria has been taking an interest in learning the guitar from someone on the base. We also celebrated Jerome’s birthday with a visit to the only swimming pool we know of in the region - at a hotel, followed by some more familiar food and a very heavy downpour. At Jerome’s request we are going to buy him some chickens to keep for his birthday.

Laurence and I now hold Ugandan green chillies in great respect! My consolation for a fiery mouth was watching Laurence’s expression change when he tried them for himself, having just accused me of over-reacting!


Laurence has been ill with malaria and needed a drip for 24hours because he was too weak to eat. Thankfully he is making a speedy recovery and is eating normally again. Getting him up early, is still difficult however!!



We are currently juggling home-schooling, and Helen is liasing with the builders completing our home and a carpenter who is making some beds and shelving units. Setting up our internet connection has also taken a week. Hence updating our blog has not been possible till now.




Our appreciation of clean water on tap, hygienic waste disposal and electricity (in town only) have increased again here as all three are very intermittent here.
Supply cuts extend the time needed to do the most basic of tasks, clarify priorities pretty quickly and limit the amount of refrigerated goods shops will stock. No-one here has electricity. A few on the outskirts have solar. We are considering investing too but now manage with oil-lanterns and a torch. till mosquitoes or tiredness force us to retreat behind our bed-nets.

Our Send-off Party and Commissioning - A big THANK YOU!

To all of our friends and family who helped make our Send-off Party really special and memorable.

Some of you helped us publicise the event, others set-up, catered for, served and cleared up after the event. Others rehearsed and then entertained us, or gave communication support to our deaf guests.

Many made the effort to travel long-distances, to see us at other times due to prior commitments or simply phone apologies because poor health or other mis-fortunes (e.g. car wheel-clamped un-expectedly)!

We hope you:
-made a new friend as well as meeting some old ones.
- gained a clearer picture of the need, vision, mission and goals you are partnering us in.
- enjoyed the African flavour we gave to the evening through the samples of life in Arua , NW Uganda, East African food, song and dance.

PLEASE E-MAIL US A PHOTO OF YOU OR THE ENTERTAINMENT ASAP THANKS.

We were so grateful to be co-missioned from lifechurch the following morning, through prayer We have been a part of this fellowship for the last 12 years.

We want to heed the advice we believe God gave us through Brian Niblock, Africa South Area leader for AOG World Ministries: for me to take time to build firm foundations so that others can, and do, continue our vision beyond our lifetime there. Also that Helen would be a mother to many there.

We recognise that our mission work will be most effective if our family is settled, so this will be our focus for the next couple of months.

Hope you enjoy our latest news from Arua. Quite eventful..

Thanks everyone. Adam and Helen

Come visit us: see for yourself!

Come, visit us and see for yourself -- good things are happening with the deaf here in Arua.


Today as Adam drove off with 24 deaf or hard of hearing and one hearing person on technical support I was praying not only for his and their protection in the laden truck but also for God to continue to inspire, guide and provide for all our partners and our work with the isolated deaf.


Over the past few months we have been encouraged as the numbers at St Philips Deaf church have increased. Pastor Alan (partially deaf and blind) has repeatedly encouraged us and thanked us in our ministry under him. Indeed Alan was on the back of the truck as they left for the village earlier.


What particularly delighted me was the increased sense of purpose amongst the deaf, especially the young deaf at church. They were and are all so keen to get involved.


God is transforming lives and we want to support this. Today an additional 2 Muslims, with whom we have become good friends, were wanting to join the group. Happy Easter!



This Easter Saturday, we are showing ‘The Passion of the Christ’ here at the YWAM base. My concern is that there will be too many for us to accomm-odate. God knows and he will show us what to do. Jesus’ passion continues to brings us new life & fresh hope. A & H

Update Nov 09 (Ballooning, Signs and Wonders)

So after years of knocking, on God's part mainly, we have flights booked for Arua,Uganda on September 9th.

I recently followed a balloon flight as an onlooker , from weather check through unpack, cold inflate, hot inflate, erection, embarkation, launch, climb, float, gaze, float.., countgarden trampolines, float.. , spot deer, descend, abort landing, scend, decend, land, permission to retrieve, pack up and.. .. a glass of champagne!

There was fascination, excitement and fear, concentration, and through it all, TEAMWORK - from start to finish. It struck me tonight that our vision also has many of the attributes of that balloon flight.

Your partnership has got us this far and will be the fuel that brings our vision nearer!

We shortly get into the basket now that most of the the preparation is in place.

So please come and join us for


and on Sun. 6th September,
10a.m., also at
The Christian Centre
when we will be comissioned during the morning celebration.


Not only do we want to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness to us by hosting an evening of fellowship and fun, with a strong African flavour, we want an opportunity to say thankyou and farewell to friends and family in style.

Deaf Sports Leaders Course for 15- 18 yr olds


I was employed by the National Deaf Childrens Association to run this at Mary Hare Deaf School, Nr Oxford.What a great week we had with such enthusiastic young sports men and women.

We covered a broad range of sports and personal fitness strategies. these then led onto competitive self-created team events. Everyone was so creative in their thinking.

The younger participants on the camp enjoyed participating in the short afternoon sports events that these young leaders either led or helped to organise. This included the NDCS Mini Deaf Olympics.
Everyone was so keen to work together and learn together.

Communication wasn’t always easy because some students were oral communicators (lip-speakers/readers) whilst others were signers. Those who could lip read and sign had the advantage.

A big thank you to all those who helped me improve my communication skills. I had such a rewarding time as a tutor. Indeed it was another valued part of my lifelong learning experience. I have encouraged the participants get out into the community and show off their sports leadership skills and sporting abilities. Thanks everyone. H

SUPPORT LOG -We want to say "thankyou" for:

· A buyer for our car
· More partners in Midlands, including Coventry Deaf church and Coventry Deaf Club.
· Financial provision for:
-visas, medical insurance.
-Laptops(2)for home-schooling,
-Resources to develop and duplicate a text-free Ugandan Sign Language manual and other teaching aids
-Transport to and refreshments for sign workshops in remote villages
-Sports equipment and transport for deaf boarding school children

Asega, the chair of Arua Deaf Association

is grateful for the voice-recorder we have just sent him to help them record the lyrics of the traditional stories and songs of a remote village with numerous isolated deaf people.

He added:
Dear Fielder,
I am sorry to delay this reply as I was feverish at home. Yes, I tested the Voice Recorder and it works perfectly. I have read those instructions on the manual and it is easier to use. We are now prepared to visit Offaka on the 28th of July, 09 and you will receive all the details thereafter.

Fielder, I thank you greatly for the "horse" work you are doing to eliminate stigmatization/discrimination of the Deaf in Arua District in particular and West Nile as a whole. The work which I am highly praising/appreciating will be the first of its kind in the whole of West Nile Region to releave the Deaf from being primitive to civilized, darkness to light, hatred to love, isolation to sociality, embarrasment to joy, burden to relief and then self reliance.

I read through the latest Deaf Connections News update of July, 09 and I am really feeling happy with the kind of work your doing...
Thank you very much for your support.
..GOD BLESS YOU.
ASEGA BADRU OSMAN

Thanks too, to two of our partners, for scanning the USL manual so I can compile text-free illustrated equivalents more quickly.

Please keep sharing our journey - there will be several ways...your experiences, financial support, praying for us, even joining a group to pay us a visit.

A & H

Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 TM

Update July 09 - Branching out

I recently gave the tree in our front garden a No. 1 haircut guided by our experienced and grateful tree-fella neighbour, Phil. That tree has given me much food for thought over the years. And it did so again recently because we are, in another way also branching out.

Our neighbour, "T'reesa" (honest - but not "T'reesa Green", she insisted) opposite volunteered her son to collect fallen branches and within 10 minutes there were 10 kids enthusiastically echoing my shouts of "timber" from up the tree and filling empty green waste wheelie bins that our other neighbour, Mick, had requisitioned! The amount of insect life astounded me, and itched me, - for days after!

Many passers-by watched and commented at me perched at the top of the tree, offering either encouragement, concern for my safety, shock at my apparent cruelty and thanks for reminding them to do theirs too! Best of all was an offer of paid work of a similar nature nearby.. Most crucial of all was remembering I can no longer rely on its foliage to give me privacy when I change in our bedroom... The kids criterion was checking they could still clamber up into it!

To me that tree has seemed to symbolise my life quite closely in that me, like the tree, needs more maintenance than I first realised and that I have to keep this up, for mine and everyone else's sake. Pruning my own life has not always been my top proirity, nor easy for others who have tried to help. I am grateful for their persistence..

We are also having to heavily prune our involvement in our neighbourhood, and thats not been easy to let go of.

Blessings Adam & helen

I am the Real vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing He prunes back so that it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

John 15 v.1

Good News -We want to say "thankyou" for:
· The loan of a motorbike (125cc), from now till September. - thanks to Dave& Joyce(R.I.P.) featured in our June newsletter ·

· Financial provision for:
-flights; a voice-recorder;
-sports equipment for use at Arua deaf School
·
· Several new deaf connections partners offering prayer support or financial support, or both;

two further invitations to make deafconnections presentations;
·
· Gaining the commitment of a very experienced and wise accountant to support our financial accountability and tax affairs.



THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT ..
We have just sent the voice-recorder to Arua Association for the Deaf to help them record the lyrics of the traditional stories and songs of a remote village with numerous isolated deaf people.

Thanks too, to one of our partners for delivering this on his travels and helping progress our accomodation needs.

More thanks to Peggy, my deafblind friend, who has taught me more about hands-on signing.

Wimbledon: Signs and Wonders

Tennis rage caught up with me recently as I Iost my cool whilst playing tennis with my son Jerome (above) recently. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a lady trundling her son’s push chair behind my baseline. My opponent, Jerome, was keeping me pinned to my base-line with his long forehands. If the score had been “love-all” I might have reacted differently, but it wasn’t and I clearly couldn’t!

Wondering how to re-compose myself to face my more youthful opponent, I realised I had to find the lady afterwards and apologise for my over-reaction and gladly she did too.

Both of us admitted we were struggling to cope with the situation we were in and had lashed out indiscriminately. We both moved on having smiled, shaken hands, with one less opponent and plank in the eye.

Shortly after I also realised that I deep down I know that I don’t hear some of the day–to-day warning sounds that would alert me to a hazard – in this case a passing mother and child. I could easily have clouted her with my racket unintentionally. This issue is even greater for people with severe/profound deafness, of which there are many in Arua

My Maker keeps signing to me in the marvels and challenges of my days. I know that if I wonder upon them more his smile and mine will be broader and longer.

Lots of good news - especially about possible accomodation (see above.)

THANK YOU to the many of you who have supported in many different ways.


Blessings, Adam

This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world
that we might live through him.1 John 4:9

Good News – June 2009

Our met needs
· Suitable accomodation for us on YWAM Arua base ..moved a step nearer with a neighbour offering to rent us her half-complete house, and an offer to pay for its completion!
· Interest from other potential partners in the Midlands and beyond
· A good friend has offered to help format and collate and duplicate the text-free USL booklet
· Passing our motorbike CBT

Our Needs
· Unity of mind and spirit in our family and on the YWAM base.
· God’s protection for health/travel.
· Wisdom regarding our planning for going and childrens’ 2011next steps.
· More partners in Midlands + beyond
· Financial provision for:
-Flights, coaches, visas, medical ins.
-Laptops(2), Internet access
-Two motorbikes plus one to borrow (125cc), from now till September.
-Resources to develop and duplicate a text-free Ugandan Sign Language manual and other teaching aids
-Transport to and refreshments for sign workshops in remote villages
-Sports equipment and transport for deaf boarding school children
-Resources for leadership/vocational training for unemployed deaf youth -Transport/accommodation to enable Uganda’s deaf to convene yearly and to enable a small group to visit the UK 2011

Deaf/Uganda Culture Evenings/Presentations

…have sprouted elsewhere thanks to family and friends in Otley, W. Yorkshire, Grace Academy Coventry, Nottingham and East Grinstead, West Sussex. More are planned in Wokingham, Berkshire and Farnborough, Hampshire (the town where Helen and I met). Thank you Marjorie and Ray(above), Janine, Andy and Tim (below), Joanne, Julia and Dave, Jenny, Jayne and Geff, and Paulette, who hosted /co-organised these.

We are experiencing a real desire amongst those we have met at these events to partner us in our vision and mission. This has been through one-off donations, promises of regular prayer and financial support, and further links to follow up.
Meeting and hearing about old class-mates has been a lovely surprise. A.

Go-SIGN Deaf Bible Weekend

was a great time of learning with, and through, old and new deaf friends from across the U.K. We looked at what Jesus modelled at the Last Supper.

Action for Deafness - Hearing Aid Clinics

Chair of Trustees, Jenny Fielder gave my uncle Leon’s hearing aids a wash, cut and blow-dry when I visited him and my aunt recently.

The service is voluntary and just one of many the charity provides deaf and hard of hearing with in West Sussex.

BATOD update: Causes of children hearing loss.

... was the subject of a British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BAToD) meeting I attended recently. The speaker, a specialist in this field, observed that currently the causes of hearing loss in children she saw was split almost equally between environmentally (e.g.infections, perinatal factors, ototoxic drugs, head trauma and noise induced hearing loss) and genetic causes.

Can sign-language help people with speech difficulties?

I remember meeting a man in his 20’s who’d lost most of the use of his voice box as a result of a car crash. He was learning sign fast! So when I met Joyce, pictured here with her son David recently, this question arose again. She has had a tracheotomy and is the third person we have met who has speech difficulties and for whom sign-language could make communication easier. Thanks to Janine at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and Grace Academy’s Auction of Promises, for their student’s Africa trip, we were able to take Joyce and Dave to a signed performance of ‘Allo Allo’.

Thanks to Peggy, a deaf-blind lady ..

… her communicator guide, Lorna, and the support of the Herbert Gallery in Coventry, I have gained many insights into hands-on signing and how I can safely and effectively support a deaf-blind person. Staff at The Herbert Gallery made my visit with Peggy really enjoyable by organising a tour for us in which Peggy would be able to touch all exhibits. Peggy loved it. She then went on to meet one of my sign students, Julia. Both really enjoyed themselves.

Mission update: April 2010

April 2010 Mission Update


Good news:
•First Aliocesign-language workshop well-attended . Nearly all local deaf come with at least one friend/relative
•Ugandan Sign-language Resources and Display for AruaTown Library handed over.
•Mobile Sign-language displays for Classrooms at Erubain immediate use by both staff & students
•Great support Helen received during her brief but v. fruitful Ukvisit to finalise children’s exams.
•Clearer understanding current developments in Sudan’s elections to be held in next fortnight


This Month’s Focus:
•Aliocesign-language workshop preparation and delivery
•Helping to make our base’s next discipleship training school accessible and affordable for local deaf.
•Meet AruaDistrict officials re needs of deaf.
•Maintaining family health as exams approach
•Organising our 2010/11 flights to Uganda

Endorsements by YWAM, Lifechurch and former colleague of Adam and Helen Fielder:

I AM SO EXCITED WITH THIS VISION! It matches together with our base vision to be a bridge of God’s healing to the people of West Nile, Sudan and Congo by re-building broken lives and restoring hope. Having lived with the Fielder family I have seen how they practically live with the challenge of deafness with character and skill. They are a strong model and testimony to the deaf community, quickly understood by them. Their work will help restore hope to the hopeless in our community. Sam Abuku, Co-founder, YWAM Arua

The ‘Fielders’ are a highly gifted family who have a proven record of commitment and reliability. They demonstrate a passion to follow God’s leading in their lives and are to be encouraged for their boldness in responding to God’s calling. They’ve chosen to touch and influence those who are less fortunate, partnering with isolated deaf people in Uganda. As a church we stand with them as they take on this new challenge and trust you will prayerfully consider partnering with them. Kev. Westfield, Mission Director,
lifechurch international

Adam’s plans will have an enormous impact on the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. He is embarking on a journey that will demand strength, passion and determination. Adam has all of these.
Dave Alger, former colleague

Work on a text-free, illustrated Ugandan Sign-Language (U.S.L.) booklet for everyday use..

... began recently with the production of a text-free, illustrated menu,(above), for our friend Amber's Deaf Culture/Uganda Culture Evening. The food was similar to that we had in Arua! Many shared their experiences of crossing language barriers.

Could you host a similar event in your area to help us raise financial support?

This pilot text-free Ugandan Sign Language (USL) booklet sample
is being produced in response to requests by the parents and teachers of numerous isolated Ugandan deaf people for a text free USL booklet for everyday use.



This initiative has the Ugandan National Deaf Association’s support and the scanned USL images are used with their permission and retain their copyright.


It is our shared hope that the finished booklet will provide Uganda's isolated deaf and their communities with a powerful, affordable, accessible communication tool to enable them to strengthen relationships, learn, earn and participate

Our vision is to bring isolated deaf people

to see themselves as Jesus does:
God’s workmanship, beloved children and co-workers.

We believe this is possible through the Deaf Connections partnerships we are developing in Uganda, the U.K. and elsewhere.

I was pleasantly surprised how readily available the images I needed were. My aim is to have a text-free, illustrated Ugandan Sign-Language (U.S.L.) booklet for everyday conversations ready for use from this September.

We are just under halfway to our monthly target of £2500 support per month from this September.

If you plan to financially support our vision on a monthly basis or through a one-off donation do please get in touch now, so we can help you set up with a standing order.

Thanks. Adam.

25th Deaflympics take place in Taiwan 5th Sept – 12th Sept.

is a forthcoming event we are hoping will get good TV coverage this year. I was invited, as a comminication support volunteer, to the joint City of Stoke Athletics Club/DUKA Deaflympics trials for Britain's top deaf athletes on the weekend of 18-19th April.

In the event I wasn't needed, but it was good to learn that such events are happening in the NW Midlands. Helen

Deaf Youth 4 Christ Camp

The deaf 18-35 year olds I'd recently met locally either had work commitments or were reluctant to go on a camp with a deaf group they were not familiar with. Adam

Midland Deaf Sports Association Ball

This was a great night out to which 150 + deaf came. The disco was signed and subtitled to maximise access. Signing rather than speech was THE way to communicate! Good to learn how other deaf people have adapted to succeed.

Deaf-bikers

was another deaf organisation that I came across lately. They have a rally in June which I hope to attend, having done our compulsory bike training (CBT). We plan to have a motorbike in Arua, Uganda as it will be a quick and economical way to get about. Feel the breeze is their tag-line.. Ad.

“At Work With The Deaf Community In The West Midlands”..

.. was the title of a short film I saw recently. It was premiered by the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry and produced by ‘Zebra’, a deaf run film company. It gave me a fascinating insight into deaf peoples’ experiences of work-related issues – both good and bad. e.g. access to training opportunities, health and safety, discrimination, unions and job descriptions.

One humourous story a deaf man shared was about a factory fire drill which he was oblivious to as he sat on the toilet. He was interupted by a note being pushed under the door telling him that there was a fire. His need for relief was only marginally less than his need to save his life! This event changed safety practices in the factory. How would a “At Work With The Deaf Community In Uganda “ film differ? Food for thought.. Ad

BATOD Annual Conference - Progress of Deaf students compared to their hearing peersBristol

Teachers of the Deaf (ToDs) gathered here to network, hear the latest research on the progress of deaf students compared to their hearing peers. One observation that interested me is the slower personal development of deaf students because they spend a greater proportion of their learning time with adults.

I attended a a workshop on how to conduct noise measurements for learning environments, by Campbell Associates. They highlighted three key measures they take:

• 1. Background Noise Measurement
• 2. Measurement of Reverberation Time
• 3. Speech Intelligibility Test

I can't think of many public spaces that score highly on these count but awareness is growing! Adam

Howzat!!!!!? - Elite disabled cricketers

Yesterday, the English Cricket Board gave me the opportunity to work alongside fast bowling coach 'Shine', at Loughborough University. He was giving tips and detailed practical advice through video analysis to a group of elite disabled cricketers. I () signed for deaf England players James and Paul.

Three partially sited and two blind cricketers were also present. With a rattling ball and a team mate calling from the wicket these guys were able to bowl at speed with accuracy and regularly hit the wicket.

As a sports specialist myself, I was fascinated and impressed by the quality of the whole presentation. I learned a lot about bowling and how to encourage a sportsman. A dvd is currently being compiled based on the days events, with me signing. It was a great experience.

Sensory loss can be compensated for we just need to be open to it... Cheers. Helen

Why do you want to sign?

That was the the question I asked students on the beginner's B.S.L Course I'm running. Reasons ranged from curiosity to wanting to communicate better with deaf patients to communication difficulties with a family member to a shared interest.

It was so encouraging that most of the nine students planned to use their B.S.L. skills with someone else in the group. Most courses I've ever attended consisted of students who had no-one they could practice with outside the class on a daily basis. Plans to be part of a end of course celebration alongside other evening community education courses running at Grace academy coventry are afoot.

Aboard NDCS' Listening Bus Roadshow

One of National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS') objectives is to offer up-to-date information for deaf children and their family/ carer/friends. The NDCS Listening Bus tours Britain on anual basis, providing an opportunity for them to see demonstrations of communication equipment and other resources.

Deaf children and their families/carers can try out alternatives and so make more informed choices. The Listerning Bus Roadshow been making a a year long tour of Britain for about a decade.

I helped Roadshow Coordinator, Damian set up the bus recently in a highly multi-ethnic area of East London , answer the questions of deaf children, their families/carers and friends who visited.

NDCS was pleased to be able to offer far more comprehensive information in Punjabi, Urdu amongst othe languages on this visit. With such varied needs, questions and cultural backgrounds amongst the visitors I was impressed with the help the Listening Bus offers. I was intersted to learn of damian's previous work with the Deaf in South America too.