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.

Laurence's news May 2010

Hi, this month has been quite eventful.

My bruised eye was due to falling out of a mango tree!

Myfriend Innocent’s baby pigeons hatched (see pic). It’s amazing how fast they grow, they doubled size in twenty-four hours.

My pigeons have laid four eggs now but none have hatched. The mother always seems to push them out of the nest.

As for the footy, well Barcelona demolished us but we were without so many top players.

Looking forward to coming back to the UK!