November 2010 Mission Update

We appreciate, and are still inspired by our hearing UK pastor, Glenn Barker(far left) & our
senior deaf Ugandan pastor, David Bulime, left, who were both called back Home this month.
Glenn and David have pioneered much & blessed many of us.

Signs and Wonders in Labone, S. Sudan -with the mixed hearing / deaf DTS team
• Living in Labone’s community .
• Learning from/working with Labone’s deaf/youth
• At the Refinery: Learning about ourselves.

Next steps
• Outline Programme up until April 2011.
• Kidz News: Universities, Guitar lessons, & Rabbits.
• Sudan and Congo DTS teams completing their outreaches in Gulu, N. Uganda and Eastern Congo.

This Month’s Focus:
• Enjoying a break in Kenya
• DTS student/staff debrief, graduation ceremony
• Co-planning an educational tour for two local Teachers of the Deaf

Living in Labone’s community.

Our mixed hearing/deaf team of 11 students and 5 of their dependents was here for five weeks.
YWAM Arua has local contacts here.

Malaria forced me to travel to Laboni a week later than the rest of the team, by public transport. The journey took 36 hours instead of 12 in a 4WD.

One part of our route was the most dangerous in all Uganda, in the years of conflict. Many of the camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) are still there.

Our team began and ended each day with time together to get to know God more and ask for God’s specific guidance for the day’s needs/opportunities and challenges. No drainage and a wet season made me very grateful to the person who advised me to bring gum boots.

To make a phone-call I needed to walk ¾ mile to get even an intermittent signal (front page photo).Our shower room (right) is shown just after one of our deaf students gave it a make-over, adding a bamboo shelf and mat.

Learning from/working with Labone’s deaf.

The speed with which our deaf students (circled) found and persuaded local deaf and a hearing friend/relative to learn sign-language was breath-taking.

They were a magnet for local hearing kids and youth too, who loved the races to grab the object signed from a topic.

Learning from/working with Labone’s deaf.

The speed with which our deaf students (circled) found and persuaded local deaf and a hearing friend/relative to learn sign-language was breath-taking.

They were a magnet for local hearing kids and youth too, who loved the races to grab the object signed from a topic.

Signs and Wonders from the mixed hearing / deaf DTS team in Labone, S. Sudan

Learning from/working with Labone’s youth

This local youth, came to us to help treat his severe case of jiggers (tiny worms that breed under the toe and fingernails).

He later shared that although only about 1.4m tall, he was aged 20, a heavy drinker and rejected by his close family over ongoing disagreements. He was near starvation and his isolated, rundown hut(Page1) a haven for pests and disease).

A nurse on our team persuaded the local health centre to treat him. A couple from the team visited him most days to chat & bring food (not provided).

Local youth, Joseph, (left), told me how he has left home because of his parents’ dependence on alcohol. His younger deaf brother is unable to leave home and has to fend for himself. We taught them both sign-language. Here, Joe shows the sign-name our deaf students gave him.

On request, one of our mature Kenyan students, Boaz also spent two long mornings teaching nutrition and more productive ways of farming from the expertise he had in this area. We also shared biblical insights on enriching our relationships following requests for support from many youth, single, dating and married

At the Refinery - Learning about ourselves on outreach in Labone, S. Sudan (Adam):

It never ceases to amaze me how many different ways my Lord God speaks to me, often repeatedly on the same topic, until I act on the message. He used people’s comments, a vision, a voice in my mind, animals, problems and sicknesses. No method was too. Heavy language I know , but I am constantly reminded of His desire to teach me if I am receptive am expectant, responsive and faithful.

Three passages were really impressed upon me whilst in Sudan. The first was about continuing to ask from Luke 11. I realised even more, now, how God answers me through my ‘neighbour’, and how greater neighbour-liness may well have prevented the death of a mother and a two year old whist we were in Laboni.

Then, I was struck afresh how the steps and lessons our DTS teams were going through were very similar to the account about Jesus beginning his work in Galilee in Matthew chapters 4 & 5. I also understood, more starkly and precisely, the needs, vision , mission and goals Jesus’ saw. Like the team accounting (above left),he wants nothing wasted

Then the parables of the sower and the wise and foolish builders were miraculously acted out - twice each, by the local villagers, and then the local weather system on two of our tents! Laboni peoples’ minds, and ours are very much like the different types of soil in the story about the sower. Laboni peoples’ lives and ours are also not built on totally firm foundations, but over the years the Lord has strengthened mine. May He do so for you too.

One of the local delicacies, bush-rat, (left), was a real mind battle for me, because of their distant cousin’s lifestyle in the UK! But, it was so tasty!

Being a multi-cultural team meant accepting different attitudes to stray dogs who needed care, discipline & work, but who carried disease and wanted our food. Using scripture we slowly learnt to see the truth in other’s views, the flaws in our own,change & forgive! Do feedback. Lets israel - wrestle with God!. CU. Ad

Jerome’s News Nov 2010

The rabbit hutch is nearly completed, with Loz’s help and my garden is looking ship shape for the dry season.

Tomatoes are beginning to flower and the cabbages are growing well. I planted sugar cane, water melon, potatoes and cucumber. I have read the dry season is long this year so I’m fortunate the land I have has natural springs.

We have started a football team and are planning to make a league for January.
I have been learning the guitar and am really enjoying it.

Newz from the kidz: Laurence Nov 2010

I have just recovered from what was either a non-deadly form of malaria or a diarrhoea and vomiting virus.

The clinic said I had typhoid and malaria after a blood test. However, shortly after ,a uk doctor we met pointed out that a typhoid vaccination can produce a positive test result for Typhoid.

Fortunately we discovered this before I started taking 5 daily typhoid treatment injections.

Apart from that I've been playing a lot of footy, working on the rabbit house, and playing guitar. Next week were Can’t wait to go to Mombasa for a holiday.

Family news Nov 010: Maria

In mid October I made my 5 university choices, after some indecision.! The courses focus mainly on either Politics or International Development. I I have received 2 conditional offers

I now work at a local cake shop on Saturdays. Enjoyable but sadly no free cake!

Last week I had a great time visiting Dad's relatives. My youngest cousin is now starting to walk!
I’ve forgotten what our winter was like, as in Uganda the hrs of daylight hardly varied. I'm not sure which one I prefer now!

Sept./Oct. 2010 Mission Update

Learning lessons. Looking forward

• Students continue to team-build and visit local people in need,right up to beginning of their 3 month field placement,
• Mixed hearing/deaf teams on YWAM ARUA’s Discipleship Training School have just left for needy areas of S. Sudan, Uganda, & Congo.
• Ugandan Sign Language teaching videos completed for Bible book names and for several new signed worship songs.
• Several base supporters have helped replace most of the stolen funds for extending sister base YWAM Yei’sschool buildings. Do continue to pray the thief/thieves come(s) forward.
• Signs and Wonders. At the Refinery
• Our youngest son Laurence returns

These Months’ Focus:
• Co-leading a DTS team to Laboni, S. Sudan (A)
• Jerome recovering from a fresh bout of Malaria
• Recommencing home-schooling (H & A)
• Finalising Outline Programme up until April 2011.

Students continued to team-build right up to beginning of their 3-month field placement

.. through team challenges such as an making an un-crushable paper structure using just 10 A4 sheets and paperclips.

They also continued to visit local people in need, such as TB patients to talk, pray with and bring food parcels as all patients are expected to provide their own food.

Prayer had a real sharpness and focus as at least one patient would die between one visit and the next.

Laboni, south of Torit, S Sudan,

Adam is co-leading a mixed hearing/deaf team team of 11 students and 5 of their dependents here for four weeks, where YWAM Arua has local contacts.

The following extract from a previous YWAM team visit report shows the felt needs: “In Pamaikongo the tone was no different, speaker after speaker echoed the need for intervention and change. Mark Odwar spoke with a lot of bitterness as he recount how they have suffered in the hands of the lords resistant army of Kony, and the Dinkas, he seems to believe that even God might have forgotten them since the government has also neglected them. He cried for Blanket as the place is very cold at night, health centre, schools and teachers, and cooking utensils.

Peter Maksoda who is the chief of the place recounted the effects of war upon them and said “we were destined for extinction then through the war but we are still destined now through natural calamities as diseases, famine and ignorance”.

One particular young man from Lakulo ayweri said ‘ we are so divided because we don’t have anything that brings us together, we therefore kindly request you to come and build us a church so that we can learn to live in unity.”

Ugandan Sign Language teaching videos for Bible book names and several new worship songs completed with Pastor Fred. from Kampala Deaf Bible school.

Pastor Fred and I had a fun and productive week together learning from each other and compiling some badly needed resources.

We plan to meet again to continue this work and document more specialist biblical sign vocabulary such as characters and concepts.

Pastor Fred really encouraged our deaf students too.

More hearing relatives met and encouraged–More Buddy sign workshops planned

I was glad to meet more hearing relatives, even if only distantly related, to hear their accounts of their family’s history and to help them to see themselves as vital partners with the deaf we support too.

One mother visited us, and then one of our deaf students, Phillam, took me to meet his family (pictured) near the Congo border.

Heavy rain delayed our return, by motorbike, till after dark after which the 9 mile journey was like motocross in many parts! One puddle we spluttered though was up to our knees! Phillam’s extended family and neighbours including numerous non-signing deaf would like us to bring a team for some buddy workshops. We are planning others in Maracha and Okollo shortly.

Signs and wonders I noticed this month included.. …:

.. a bus leaving Arua, bound for Kampala, 6 hours drive away, in the pouring rain, with no front wind-screen except a motorbike helmet over the driver’s head. Forward seats were occupied!

.. a motorbike cruising with a brightly-painted coffin strapped sideways on its rear seat/rack.

.. An ‘improved’ breed chicken whose skin split open at 3 months because they grow so fast! Ad.

At the Refinery -What’s challenging me -Finding the balance (Helen)

To put God first. You might think that being involved with missions that I always put God first. Well in reality I still mostly go my own way and God becomes an addition to my routine rather than the driver. My aim is to really know god more and be a better kid; ok old kid.

Secondly I want to be an honourable Mum, wife and teacher. It’s not on the school curriculum as such but basic bibilical understanding is what I think the boys need more of and they agree. ‘Teach a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it.’ Says a well known proverb. ‘parents do not exasperate your children’ says Proverbs. I desperately want to inspire Laurence and Jerome as I teach them and I want to honour Nicholas Chamberlain Technology College through making best use of the resources they have kindly given us.

As a long distance mum I am encouraged that with prayer and petition i/we can improve our relationship with Maria and encourage her to reach her God given potential. I know she deserves all the encouragement she can get. We learnt a lot whilst home schooling Maria but this year not only does Maria have year 2 of her A’s but some resitsto raise the level of her grades from last year. I am just so grateful that Maria has compassionate, gifted teachers that are guiding her through. Thank you NCTC staff so much if you read this.

Thirdly the wife bit. Well perhaps this should come second. I wouldn’t be here being blessed in this deaf ministry if it were it not for Adam and his hearing loss. My call I believe is to be scaffolding. Its not very glamorous I know but actually the more I accept the role the more enjoyment I get from supporting Adam in this very special ministry.

The deaf love Adam and I know he is doing a great work and he and the deaf need a lot of practical and emotional support which I feel I am learning to give. The more I give the more I receive. I know it’s an old cliché but it’s true. As scripture says it’s better to give than to receive.

It seemed like a timely connection when a deaf tailor met up with a business woman, Irene, at a business convention in Arua. Irene agreed to take on the deaf tailor for a trial period. However, after less than a fortnight, I had the unpleasant job of signing to the deaf youth that she would not be continuing in the newly offered job.

The deaf youth struggled in a number of ways, with punctuality; she even missed some days completely and her standard of work was below what was needed. Whilst I gave some initial sign support to this deaf youth and her family it quickly became apparent that the youth was in the wrong work place. Her employer Irene recognised that she needed to think more carefully about the implications of appointing someone with a disability.

At the end of the meeting Irene explained she was exploring the possibility of running a government sponsored vocational training course for people with disabilities. This was really encouraging because the forms were very detailed and required the submission of details for special needs provision and sign language interpretation.

All in all I believe this was a good but painful learning experience for us all. I will continue to follow up and encourage Agnes. Irene has asked her to continue to pop in to the tailoring business so that she can observe the other tailors and learn from them. H.

Children’s News Sept 2010

Laurence: Hi, I'm back in Uganda now. England was good, seeing family and friends, going to the Edinburgh Festival and Karting for my birthday. Jerome, Dad and I went to watch Uganda beat Angola 3-0 at the national stadium. Home schooling and no lie-ins are a jolt to my system!

Jerome: Learning about keeping rabbits now. On Malaria treatment again ..

Maria: New part-time job starting soon. Looking at English and Politics university courses.

August 2010 Mission Update

In full swing again!
• Settling back into Arua life ourselves.
• Staffing YWAM ARUA’s Discipleship Training School; 4 of 16 students are local deaf. (photos)

• Our base team experienced a major break-in and learnt some painful lessons from it.
• Job offer for Agnes, a skilled deaf lady.

• Review/draft preview of our programmes.
• Signs and Wonders
• Jerome returns with his friend, Mitch.

This Month’s Focus:
• Helping our base implement the lessons learnt from the major break-in. Please pray the money stolen (for extending sister base YWAM Yei’sschool buildings) & thief/thieves is/are found.
• Co-documenting and developing more biblical vocabulary in Ugandan Sign Language with Pastor Fred from Kampala Deaf Bible school
- Learning from each other’s deaf training programmes to further improve them.
• Clarifying our programme up until April 2011 when we return for the children’s next exams .

We have been thrust back in to base and Arua life ourselves.

Staffing our base’s Discipleship Training School (DTS) has been intensive but good. Four of the 16 students are local deaf. Concerns amongst both hearing and deaf about language barriers have been largely overcome. The atmosphere is now really inclusive.

All the student outreach teams are mixed deaf/hearing and thriving. They have been invited to the local hospital, prison, Eruba primary school and a Muslim secondary school.

Most of the DTS staff are shown above.

Thankfully Laurence’s arm has healed. H.

AlioceUSL Buddy Workshops: Further feedback and Outreach to new locations

Local partners, AliocePastor –Rev Solomon, gave further useful written feedback recently.

He said: "The language barrier between deaf members and their relatives has been broken, and communication in the community has also got easier…..The topics were useful and the dramas helped everyone memorise the new signs being learnt and some key biblical events.

"The myth that deafness is inability is dissolving. More deaf are now attending their local church because their services have become more accessible.”

At the beginning of July and August we provided transport for over 20 local people with disabilities, deaf, polio and blind to go to the outlying villages of Kova and then Ezuku.

The aim is to encourage their communities to see the gifts and potential of the physically challenged members and their families.We used sign-song, drama (above) and testimony. The villagers were really appreciative.

Promoting Deaf Access to Healthcare and Competitive School Sport

I recently took a couple of deaf students for malaria and typhoid tests at a clinic we trust.

The students shared the tribal remedies they have used in the past. Local nurses said that whilst research shows some remedies are effective, the lack of hygiene when they are applied often causes other infections.

Developing medical sign vocabulary moved a step closer when we recently met qualified and student nurses. They asked us for some deaf awareness training and some medical signs to aid initial assessment. We hope to co-develop these with local deaf people familiar with this area of vocabulary.

I made several visitsto Eruba Primary School this month to try and ensure that their deaf students be allowed by regional educational officials to be part of their school teams. There is no alternative event for these 45 deaf to compete in. Most regularly & happily play with/against their hearing counterparts, at a comparable standard.

Teaching staff have said that match officials and hearing players need sports sign language vocab. to change attitudes towards the involvement of deaf children in competitive sport. Co-developers are being sought. Ad

Job Offer for Agnes, an unemployed deaf tailoress!

Graham Dunn, brother of Helen, also has a heart for Uganda –focussing on challenging their business community to gain the trust of investors by operating their businesses more on biblical principles, and to compete on quality.

Whilst staying with us in Arua, Graham asked us to invite some deaf we thought would benefit from his two day seminar. Janet, bottom right photo, 2ndfrom left and Agnes, far right were invited because they both have vocational skills. Helen provided communication support.

During the seminar, local business woman, Eileen, bottom right, took up his invitation to consider employing deaf who have the skills they need. At Eileen and Agnes’ request we have provided some sign-language sheets to accelerate communication between them.

Signs and wonders: new needs highlighted

This month’s work with Arua’s deaf community has highlighted two needs.

First to encourage their hearing relatives to partner those we support too, even if only the distant relatives are supportive. We are making a renewed effort to do this. It is definitely raising the deaf students’ performance, and the relative’s expectations of them.

Secondly, we are seeing the need to seek ways to raise the literacy levels of unemployed deaf youth. This is proving crucial to them gaining/holding onto training and jobs.

At the refinery - DTS topics

In the first DTS topics we learnt about God’s nature, character and what God says about us from scripture. We were all really encouraged.

Last week the teaching was on relationships and marriage. The key message was that it is our beliefs that shape our understanding of ourselves, others and God. We have beliefs concerning absolutely everything, not just God! Scripture says that it is the difference between my beliefs and my perception of reality that determines first my thoughts, then my feelings and then my behaviour! If I put these as labels on the decks of this ship, only my behaviour, and to a limited extent my feelings and thoughts, are visible, ie above the waterline.

Through experience I’ve found this to be true. So my beliefs are the source of all my actions and reactions to reality. What do I anchor those beliefs in?! I continue to try and anchor my beliefs in truth , as I discover it in scripture in its original setting. Fresh communication tools are also helping me check my perception of reality is accurate.

Together these choices have made my thoughts, feelings and behaviour towards myself, others, my environment (the seas/skies around the ship), and God far healthier. Do try this!. Ad.

"Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life." Proverbs 4v23 NCV
"If you fear, Put all your trust in God: that anchor holds. Heb. 6:19

Maria, Jerome and Laurence: August 2010

News from Maria
This month I really feel that I have settled well back into my lifein England. I have returned to several of the clubs/ groups that I was involved in prior to Uganda, like my Running club, Church and local youth group. I’ve also got a part time job in a local Indian Restaurant 3/4 weeks ago. Am quite enjoying it and now feel like I know what I'm doing! Sixth form is going fine. We are all preparing for next year and looking forward to the holidays! I am especially looking forward to seeing family, attending the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Soul Survivor and doing a Notting Hill Carnival Mission! Its definitely going to be a fun-filled summer!Bring it on! Maria x

Jerome’s Jottings.
This month I really enjoyed learning more about farming thanks to our Scottish friends, Ian and Joyce who have a dairy farm. Cycling and snowboarding with Maria and my friends, Joel and Harry was great too. Next week, Mitch. and I are staying at an Orphanage called Bushfire, near Jinja.

Laurence’s News
Hi, I’ve staying in London with my uncle, auntie, and cousins. Then off to grandparents where I celebrated my birthday. With my Dunn cousins we have been to the Edinburgh Festival. Next I’m off to Soul Survivor, then to the Harries, and the Bruces before flying back out to Arua on Sept. 3rd. I do not like Arsenal’s new kit!

June/July 2010 Mission Update

An Eventful Couple of Months:
• Aliocesign-language workshops celebration.
• Review/draft preview of our programmes.
• Vuvuzelas: RNID calls for FIFA to provide free earplugs and monitor World Cup sound levels
• YWAM’s 50thBirthday celebrations.
• Briefly seeing UK friends and family. Others are visiting us.
• Recovering from a broken arm for Laurence and an amoeba for Adam .
• Partners support enabling us to book our 2010/11 return flights to Uganda
• Pastor Fred from Kampala Deaf Bible school has asked for my support to document biblical vocabulary in Ugandan Sign Language.

This Month’s Focus:
• Settling back in to base and Arualife ourselves
• Staffing YWAM ARUA’s DTS, our base’s Discipleship Training School. Four of the 16 students are local deaf.
• Clarifying our programme up until April 2011 when we return for the children’s next exams .

Celebration at the end of the Alioce workshops

Local partners, AliocePastor –Rev Solomon, Arua Association of the Deaf chairman -Godfrey Aguta, St Phillip’s Deaf church pastor –Allan Aviah, Peace Café IT manager -Bosco, and Head of ErubaDeaf Unit, Feta were involved throughout.

Illustrated USL booklets and a wall-board display were presented to the Alioce deaf and their community.

Thanks were expressed by all present to our UK partners too..

Positive Impact of AlioceUSL Buddy Workshops

The hearing buddies (parents) of the village deaf thanked the team for the improved relationship they are having with their deaf children – in terms of communication and behaviour.

"My son can now tell me he is hungry!” "My son is calmer now and stays around instead of disappearing all day."

A polio mute(L) and a deafblind(R) also loved hearing kids relate to them in a deeper way.

Review/draft preview of our various Deaf Connections programmes

THE NEED: Isolated deaf people in NW Uganda need tools to communicate, learn, earn and participate

OUR VISION: to bring isolated deaf people to see themselves as God's workmanship, beloved children and co-workers

OUR GOALS: Deaf people, formerly isolated who:·

• are safer, healthier, enjoy life more and achieve more.·
• participate more fully in their family and community·
• are able to spread hope themselves to others.

PROGRAMME: Sign-language workshops for 30+ isolated village deaf & a hearing relative/friend 20+hearing teachers/advocates of deaf/hearing students
Partners: St. Phillips Deaf ChurchArua District Deaf Association (ADAD) Eruba Primary School
Next steps: 5-day workshop for 25 deaf in Maracha

PROGRAMME: Development of 200 Illustrated Ugandan signsfor everyday use and specialist use, e.g.building vocabulary Donated Ugandan Sign-language books in daily use
Partners: Deaf adults(4) using new IT skills, Peace Internet Café, Arua Town Library
Next steps: Specialist signs for driving instructors /pupils, nurses, police, deaf bible students

PROGRAMME: Sports coaching and team-building sessions(10+) for 40 deaf and 40 hearing students at Eruba Primary
Partners: Eruba Primary, ADAD
Next steps: Competitive matches

PROGRAMME: Sourcing Vocational training opportunitiesfor deaf adults: Basic IT(4),building course(2) and driving course(1)
Partners: JBI Computers, Arua; West Nile Voc.Trg. Inst.
Next steps: Deaf driver training

PROGRAMME: Character building and Leadership training Using Biblical Drama Workshops
Partners: St. Phillips Deaf Church, ADAD, YWAM
Next steps: Ugandan Sign-song workshops

PROGRAMME: Documenting local deaf adults life stories/ hopes(x8)
Partners: ADAD
Next steps: To be continued

We hope you are encouraged. Prioritising our next steps is happening now...

Vuvuzelas

This article on addressing preventable causes of deafness caught my eye as we are working alongside deaf who have had little or no control over the cause of their deafness.

RNID, the largest charity in the UK working on hearing loss, has been in touch with FIFA President, SeppBlatter, to express disappointment with his refusal to allow sound levels in World Cup stadia to be measured because football fans deserve to know the impact the noise is having on their hearing and get appropriate advice on how to protect themselves.

RNID's Audiology Specialist, Crystal Rolfe, says: "One vuvuzelajust behind you will hit you with more than 125 decibels of sound –much louder than a road drill –which will really hurt your ears and, when added to hours of partying with loud music in pubs and clubs, can cause permanent hearing loss over time. With thousands of fans playing vuvuzelasat the same time, the accumulated noise will be even greater."

For information on earplugs and how to protect your hearing, visit http://www.dontlosethemusic.com

Biblical vocabulary in Ugandan Sign Language

More time with Pastor Fred from Kampala Deaf Bible school who has asked for my support to document biblical vocabulary in Ugandan Sign Language, much of it for the first time ever.

Thanks to your support we have been able to supply a camera to replace the broken obsolete cameras they had.

Maria, Jerome and Laurence: June / July 2010

News from Maria
Maria is staying with our friends the Stradling family over the next year to complete her A-levels and to explore university choices. She has got back into athletics and started a part-time job at her local Indian restaurant.

Jerome’s stuff
Jerome is staying with our friends the Baker family them over the next 4 weeks before flying back out to Aruawith his friend Mitch., who is coming to visit. He’s exploring post 16 residential courses in agriculture and a week’s work experience on the dairy farm of our friends Ian and June.

Laurence’s News
Laurence is staying with our friends the Harries, the Barkers (our pastors) and the Brucesover the next 10 weeks before flying back out to Arua. His wrist break was healing well when I last checked. We have planned a kartingparty for his birthday in August.

May 2010 mission update

Good news...
• Alioce sign-language workshop attendance averages 50+. YWAM Aruasupports workshops providing base truck. Fellow staff also join.
• Passion of the Christ film watched by over 20 local deaf. We discussed their many questions the following day.
• AruaTown Library staff comment on how Ugandan Sign-language books are in daily use.
• ErubaFootball and volleyball squads are looking forward to matches against other local schools
• UK Friends and family letting us stay with them.

This Month’s Focus...
• Evaluation of Alioce Sign-language Workshops
• Helping to make our base’s next discipleship training school accessible and affordable for local deaf.
• Helping Maria, Jerome and Laurence prepare for their exams and settle in with their hosts
• Meeting family , friends and partners in the UK to exchange news and recharge ourselves.
• Organising our 2010/11 flights to Uganda

Upside down: Third Alioce sign-language workshop

I worked with a lovely young boy who had walked 2 miles to the session and he was alone because his mum was nursing. He like so many was a quick learner.

Then I was interrupted by a rather anxious Revd. Solomon who thrust the hand of a profoundly deaf and blind timid boy into mine. His head was bowed and he clearly felt very awkward. His mother trailed behind. She also had a hesitant air about her.

Suddenly I was out of my depth. I could see no way forward on my own with this pair. In a panic I turned to Revd Allen for a solution. He was teaching a deaf adult but I interrupted and he just signed…slowly, slowly, slowly. I relayed the sign back and received a knowing smile and nod.

Half an hour later the boy was accepting hand contact to his palms, hands and face and then I glimpsed him doing the sign for fish. I am still amazed and encouraged by his progress and that mum was getting involved.

Our visits to Alioce(pronounced Alioche), are something that I half dread doing but afterwards feel a great sense of purpose in what I have done. Today was no exception. Maria joined us today. As the 30 local deaf arrived from all directions with a family member over the first hour, the signing deaf youth from St Phillips then paired off with them and started teaching them.

Two deaf youth have even asked for copies of the sign sheets to share with their families.

Tears of appreciation at the end of the third Alioceworkshop session

All Adam did was to ask all the parents of deaf children to come forward and put their fingers over their ears so that their hearing was impaired. He then got one of the parents to give some simple instructions like; turn around or sit down.

After this exercise I found three of them crying but all they could do was to show signs of appreciation. Their worlds had been turned upside down, they had started to identify with their deaf child in a new and loving way.

Drama, fun and games was all part of the afternoon and Revd Allen closed with prayers.

After days like this I have no doubt as to why we are here. ‘The blind shall see and the deaf shall hear’ declares the Lord. Halleluiah. They did today.

AruaTown Library Sign-language books are in daily use.

When I called in today to see how much the sign-language books were being used the two guys staffing chuckled and answered "daily!".

They then pointed me to one deaf youth, Adam, (below) engrossed in one of the books. He was so grateful. His signing was clearer than a week ago! Amazing.

Passing children taught by local deaf, as they crowd around sign display (picture)

Then, as the staff helped me complete a window display, some passing school children rushed over to examine them. They enjoyed trying the signs and initial shyness quickly gave way to trying something new.

On what must have been a divine cue, Adam and another deaf adult, ,(right) appeared from no-where to give a fluent sign demonstration that transfixed the children. I have replayed that special moment in my mind many times.

We have now enabled Adam to learn to build two afternoons a week.

Eruba football squad

...are looking forward to a series of matches against other local schools at the beginnngof next term.

The football squad is made up of two mixed hearing & deaf teams.

Our son Laurence, has enjoyed getting involved too.

Life is vibrant - but fragile

Eruba Volleyball Squad.. are looking forward to a series of matches against other local schools at the beginnngof next term.

The volleyball squad makes up two mixed gender teams -one deaf and one hearing.

However, this term two deaf students died. One drowning in a river during the school holidays, and the other from Malaria.

Maria's news May 2010

Well this has been my final month so I’ve …

..been joining mum and dad doing their deaf ministry in a local village, learning myself n helping local children learn signs.

...visited a friend at a local hospital and seen their local Hydro-electric Power station & dam.

...continued my motorbike lessons n had a fall, on some mud! Not painful thankfully!

...had some African clothes made, led bible study and played volleyball with a load of friends in town.

...made some new friends with some nurses from town and saw some local music artists who were pretty gurd. I'm now looking forward to my party at the end of the week!

Jerome's news: May 2010

This month 50% of my chickens died from a sickness which eventually stopped. It was a big expense but I’m glad the sickness has now gone.

A disappointing end to Arsenal’s season but we did achieve 3rd.

All of my garden has been dug and 95% of the land is now in use. I planted plenty of grains, onions and carrots.

Studying has been dull. I’m doing practice exams but I’m not doing too bad. Hopefully an A in science.

Am looking forward to bussing to kampala and flying to England.