October 2011 Mission Update

The young women will dance for joy, and the men
—old and young—will join in the celebration.
I will turn their mourning into joy.
I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.
- Jeremiah 31:13NLT

Ad: Whilst we were in the UK, I had such a mixture of feelings. I felt an old chapter was closing and a new one opening. Watching our children fly further from our nest and for longer periods first filled me with a huge sense of loss. I didn’t expect the era of raising our offspring to transition so fast. Letting go was hard.

Gradually, however, hope and excitement has risen in my soul, because I am starting to see what the Lord wants to do in the semi-independent phases Maria, Jerome and Laurence are now entering. Each has a clearer idea of the passions God has placed on their heart.

We are grateful to all our existing AND new partners for stand-ing with us; helping in innumerable ways to equip us as a family to be a blessing to others. Genesis 12:1-3. Thank you all so much. This is a real team effort. I know God will remember your partnership.

Helen in the Refinery

Helen: It’s been a busy 6 weeks without Adam. Sharing our vision and testimonies has helped me to see the value of developing this partnership ministry in this ministry. We are, I believe at a breakthrough point where we will start to see more deaf disciples keen and equipped to take the love of Jesus to the isolated deaf.


Seeing Maria and Jerome start to settle into University and College life has filled me with a little worry and lots of hope. My prayer is that they will be lovingly parented by the wider body of Christ and that they will mature in that way.

To close i want to thank all family and friends old and new who are continuing to encourage us. I hope I was able to bring some words of encouragement back to England. I am looking forward to seeing my special husband Adam and super son Laurence after six long weeks.

Adam In the Refinery:

“Get closer to the people!..”

….Was one key theme I felt my Maker, My Provider, My Refuge impress upon me on my return. And as if to emphasise the this instruction, my motorbike was put out of action for a fortnight, awaiting a spare part, so I had to cycle my black African bike, like our watchman’s left, everywhere. Travelling more slowly and quietly has been good all round. I can’t pack so much in! In fact I decided just to use the motorbike mainly for longer trips.

To deepen my understanding of local cultural values I am co-reading a book with two of our local staff, William and Kevin. Its entitled “African Friends and Money matters“ by David Maranz. So helpful & fascinating to read AS YOU PREPARE TO VISIT US!!



And,“Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’

there they will be called

‘children of the living God.’” Romans 9:26 Ad.

Signs and Wonders after 4 months away

I have endeavoured to follow up most of our initiatives that were underway when we left for England in April. At my request, a local police inspector Malimuno, chaired a meeting to resolve misunderstandings that had arisen between two young deaf leaders, Mauster and Godfrey, and myself. The inspectors intervention was really helpful and is now paving the way for possible future partnership with them. I have now given further clarity on our Vision /Values on slide 2.


Your support enabled me to train these deaf youth in IT skills to develop sign-language resources alongside me. Mauster (left) is holding the CD of illustrated everyday sign-language signs we co-produced, whilst Godfrey(right) is teaching the inspector signs from the hard-copy version that has blessed so many village families with deaf members. The inspector gratefully took the sign booklet away because his deaf nephew attends Eruba but he cannot communicate with him! Was that a God-incidence or what? Today I heard this material is rebuilding a mixed deaf-hearing couple’s marriage In Sudan!



The deaf primary students we co-sponsor Sam,, and Ivan, circled, at Eruba are doing well. Sam(circled) s family told me yesterday how much happier and extrovert he is, and how they all want to learn his sign-language !




The sign-language weekend we ran in Paranga has improving family relationships with parents now letting their deaf members join their siblings on trips to the market.,Rev. Gaard told me his week .The Deaf villagers were playing in community sport far more too. Hearing villagers have now been seen striking up conversation with their deaf fellow villagers for the first time. Great news!!



The deaf vocational students are doing well & look set to graduate this December. We’re promoting shared use of sign language and social interdependency with the hearing students by providing a volley ball and UNO cards.

More deaf in our neighbourhood!

Ad: Our new neighbour, Gladys, below, has just pleaded for help from us in caring for her semi- paralysed and emotionally disturbed deaf-mute 6 yr-old daughter. Grace also often chews stones, timber and soil. Shoppingis only possible by tying her ankle to a heavy log in the shade whilst her Mum makes the two hour round trip with- out having to worry if Grace has gone missing. Such on-going pleas for help makes our vision burning even stronger in my heart!


At Arua Primary Jonahansi introduced me to the 13 deaf day students he teaches there. His manager Florence, inset has asked us to partner the deaf unit in providing some sign vocabulary workshops for the staff of the 2000 pupil primary school next Feb. Deaf students who are fluent signers are being trained to teach small groups.. A few of the deaf students have additional learning difficulties. They are well catered for in as much as resources allow

Home visits took us to many places, including:

All Saints Infant School Bedworth, Coventry, Redhill, Scarborough, Farnborough and East Grinstead

News from the kidz Oct 2011

Maria:
This Summer has been absolutely fantastic! :) I've been busy travelling, going on holiday with friends and visiting people.


In August I received my A level results and was pleased to have achieved the necessary grades for my Politics and International Relations course at Hull university which I will start on 26th September. All the various things I need have been purchased or kindly donated and so the only thing I am lacking is patience!

I can't wait to start this new season of my life but I want to express my gratitude to the numerous people who have supported me over this past year especially while my parents have been away; you have my heartfelt thanks and appreciation - it would n‘t have been possible without you!

 
Jerome:
Hi! Loads of things have happened recently. I've started college in York, left Mum and Dad and am now attending the Rock church in York which is really good. I have been invited to help with the youth group which I'm happy about.
In the summer our friends, the ‘Strads’, kindly found me some more dairy farm experience. Long days, but I learnt loads and they blessed me with some work clothing at the end.

The 1st week of College has mainly been quite light work & getting to know people. The lads on the course are great. I've already made a good friend. I had my first tractor driving lesson yesterday I think that’s about all.

Laurence: (summarised by Dad, because of internet connection difficulties)
Just before we left Arua, our older YWAM friends, Jared and Remonda helped Loz, Jerome and some other base members, William Omal Mario Keliopa Ramadan and John Bosco Tuli, to make a short fiction film called “ The Woods Brighten”. It’s about two young men who are learning how to over come their fears and the issues they have. In the end they are to find their true identity. It’s on his Facebook page if you’d like to watch it. See icon below.

In the summer Loz and I visited my cousin Steph. in France, to practice our French. Thanks Liz (Blaxhall) for the keyboard you taught Loz and for putting us in touch with the Todds family in Kampala, so we can stay with them when I visit Loz me.

At boarding school Loz is doing ok - after struggling at first. Next week he has a business/geog. trip to Kenya