Saturday, August 22, 2009

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

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

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