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.