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