October 2014 Update

Dear Friends & Partners,

Yes,  Deaf Hearing United is the new name for our  Deaf Connections partnership.Our vision, values and goals remain unchanged. We want the name of our partnership to focus on our vision rather than our starting point. Please welcome Deaf Hearing United! More explanation in our next update.

   Yesterday’s events here at the Toburo family, above left, and at Eruba Primary School deaf Unit (above right) are so typical of our work. Sam, in the foreground is partially deaf/blind, with his father and uncle behind. Wth the uncle’s help and yours we were able to persuade Sam’s father to bring him back to Eruba deaf unit. Sam’s father is also happy for Sam to help lead a sign work-shop for his family back home at the end of term. Hs fellow boarders were really happy to seem him back too. More news below of our transition from GB(!) back to Uganda. 

Helen staffs on adventure Abergavenny Wales with 29 deaf children

It was such a fun week climbing, canoeing, high ropes, bush craft and much more. The children had a fabulous time; from strangers at the start of the week to best friendships by the end of it. Sadly, child protection rules prevents us showing a group photo.

    Welsh signing was a learning experience but a few of the children were keen to have a go at learning Ugandan and American signs which they noticed me mistakenly using. Interestingly, as the week progressed many oral deaf children were adding British Sign Language and shifting towards total communication. The National Deaf Children’s Society(NDCS)continue to do a great job of improving lives for countless numbers of families with deaf children in the UK. Helen

We also reunited with good friends too…

such as John, our best man and his partner Jess. John has video-interviewed us annually. We also met up with some fellow YWAM graduates from 2001. Thanks Moira for hosting.   We hope some will visit us next year. Adam 

Conference, Car breakdown, Bees & Termites

Adam:  First, in Nairobi, our missions overseers updated us on recent developments. There we also met colleagues involved in other E African projects such as a large adoption programme that matches couples with abandoned babies who are HIV +ve.  We visited trainee deaf pastor Lydia from Arua in Kampala. She has been made prefect.

   

Our car broke down en route to Arua, but two days later after much sweat and anguish we returned to a warm welcome and cake(above) from our team. 

Termites had destroyed one door frame (AR) & a bees  nest  had short-circuited our security lights. Our watchman Richard ate the honey in seconds! Now all is sorted.

Family News

Jerome: Quite a  busy summer! -  a family holiday in Spain - . I think when you live away from your parents the majority of the time its often hard to get used to them again! We did a bit of walking, ate lots of peaches.  Me and Laurence went to a theme park which terrified me!!                                                                                                                                           After that I joined a Wildfire team up in Scotland with my girlfriend, for the start of the Commonwealth Games! I was leading the sports side of the outreach and it was really encouraging to see lots of our younger team-members talking to fellow footballers about God!  A packed and encouraging week .

For all of August I was in Bolivia. It was a tough mountaineering trip where we summited 4 mountains! 3 of which were over 6000m! We were a 10 strong team of Officer Cadets from a mix of universities and courses ! Lots of challenges and definite friction at times, but everyone pulled together on the mountain! A great experience I learnt a lot from. Now I’m home to chill with the family, Fiona before Uni starts and my parents return to Uganda!

Maria: I have now graduated with my 2:1 in Politics and International Relations. Am glad to be finished! I spent a few weeks in Scotland on the YWAM Commonwealth Mission, seeing my boyfriend. I was very proud to actually see my cousin Lizzie win Gold in the Women's Cycling Road Race!  I’ve just returned from Kericho, Kenya (nicknamed 'God's bathroom' for its tea growing weather) on a 6 week programme providing business consultancy to local entrepreneurs with the aim of providing business skills and the option to pitch for a loan at the end. I've really enjoyed the programme and  the opportunity of seeing Kenya, meeting local people and seeing the wildlife. Since my return I’ve been continuing with graduate job applications, travel and work plans to help decide what employment area I want to go into. So if you have have a suitable opportunity with your business/organ-isation please do let me know! I am open to a wide range of industries and roles.

Laurence: Hi! I am staying with two friends of our family on a monthly alternate basis. I’m  now taking the bus into college. I’m playing for a local football team called Higham. We enjoyed our first win 3-1 at home last Sunday, with a full team at last. I’m studying hard, taken up English and changed to  Ancient history, from history, B tech Business from Economics. 

I enjoyed a weekend with Jerome recently, inc. paintballing and am going out more with friends from college. I enjoyed my grandparents 59th wedding anniversary marked by a 16mile bike ride. I hope to visit friends / my parents in Uganda in 2015.

Finally…

      You can also follow more frequent brief updates on our Facebook page. See header, page1. We had hoped to promote inclusion in Glasgow and the Isle of Man and visit a sheltered housing and deaf awareness project but overseas team member visa issues, house maintenance and family commitments prevented us. Recently it has seemed very difficult to continue our work in Arua, but we are trusting our maker, healer and provider to enable us to do so. We are encouraged by two additional partners who have joined us. Thanks to those who prayed/who renewed their commitment too. Future plans/prayer requests are below. Shalom. Ad & Helen

Future Plans

Deaf Hearing United(DHU) is a ministry of Arua Youth With A Mission base,  PO Box 442,  Arua, Uganda, coordinated by A & H Fielder. DHU is partnering local people who share our vision. These Interdependency Advocates (IAs) include: Arua Town Library, Eruba Primary Sch.(EPS), Diocesan Special Needs Coordinator, Nat./Arua District  Assocn. of Deaf (UNAD/ADAD),

 St. Phillips Church(SPC), West Nile Ecumenical Vocational Trg. Inst. (WNEVTC). DHU’s activities are listed  below by month and under a DHU key objective. (Italicised activities to be confirmed)

July 2014 Update

Dear Friends & Partners, here is a brief update on recent developments here in the UK

School of Biblical Studies Course Graduation

Helen:  it was great to study the Bible from, as near as we could get, the viewpoint of the original audience. This was thanks to numerous teachers who gave in depth historicalbackground before we re-examined the books. The Book Revelation had always daunted me but after reading the rest of the bible I was greatly encouraged by this great book of hope.   

Deaf Blind Friends..

Adam: Every couple of weeks I chat with Peggy a deaf blind lady at Coventry Deaf Club. Recently, a second deaf-blind man turned up and I was fascinated as they communicated using hands on signing with each other. They each shared with me their appreciation for their visits to the deaf club because of the boredom they sometimes felt back at home. I tried to think of a fun activity we could do to pass the time but neither I, their support workers nor Peggy and Andrew could think of a fun activity they could share together easily. I'm starting to research possible ideas. Do you have any? It might be worth you testing them out with a friend beforehand, under the same conditions. I'll be interested to hear. Thanks.

‘Deaf & Hearing United’ – a more accurate summary of our work..

 is a growing conviction we have. This was reinforced by ”Everybody In!”, a  conference on inclusion I attended in Birmingham. It was run by Churches for All. It aimed to demonstrate ways in which people living without and people living with a disability can include and empow-er one another. The examples challenged many there to think differently about how we do and we could value one another more. This has been the heart beat of our ministry. We’re feeling our name ‘Deaf Connections’ doesn’t reflect this. Ageing will affect our health if nothing else does! We can’t take our own health for granted. Empathy makes us better prepared. Adam 

“Open the book!”

..was a national project I observed locally at a local primary school. The example I observed was run by our friend Frank, the local vicar who has mobilised a team from his parish to help schoolchildren develop biblical moral values through a short drama they are invited to take part in and then reflect on. It was popular with the rest of the school. It was simple but surprisingly effective. The project approach could be a useful addition to the dramas we co-develop with deaf and hearing in Arua. Adam: 

Family News

Jerome: Hello! Just finished my first year of Uni which is a nice feeling. I passed although I know I need to work harder next year! Yesterday, I did my 1st half marathon with my sis and my Dad. It was quite tough but good fun although my legs are now feeling the repercussions of 13 miles.

   We managed to get a really good deal Centre-Park with my flat mates and girlfriend Fiona. It was a really fun and nice way to finish the year off. This summer ahead I’ve a missions outreach in Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games, a week’s family holiday in Spain and a mountaineering trip with the Army to Bolivia. Should be good! :)

Laurence: I had a good time in Italy. Going to Spain and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow afterwards should be good too.

Maria: In the past two months I've had my final deadlines, exams and end of year ball. My graduation on 16th JulyJ In May I went to visit a friend in Oviedo, Spain and had a great time seeing what a student year abroad is like. Sam and Rose Dunn's wedding was also a fantastic. I’ve  spent the 2nd half of June on the Hull Vineyard 'Summer School' in which I've had bible teaching combined with community outreach in numerous areas in Hull with other students from all over the UK. Most recently I completed the Humber Bridge Marathon alongside Dad and Jerome; I was the fastest out of the three on a very wet and windy day! I also managed to win the fastest female team with two members from my running club so that was a pleasant surprise :)

Finally…

We have recently produced a 15 min video entitled Deaf Connections DVD Update and Invitation, June 2014. Our partners who receive this hard copy newsletter should get a DVD, and our partners who receive our e-newsletter can now access the DVD on our facebook page. Do get in touch if  you can help cover our shortfall in regular financial support. Thank you to the partners who have responded. Please pray others will respond likewise.

   Most of Deaf Connection’s partners feed back to us regularly. However, if you’ve not been in touch with us in the past six months, please confirm you wish to continue to receive our newsletter before this September. Future plans are outlined below. Shalom. Ad & Helen

Future Plans

Deaf Connections(DC) is a ministry of Arua Youth With A Mission base,  PO Box 442,  Arua, Uganda, coordinated by A & H Fielder. DC is partnering local people who share our vision. These Interdependency Advocates (IAs) include: Diocesan Special Needs Coordinator, Eruba Primary Sch.(EPS), W. Nile Ecumenical Vocational Trg. Inst. (WNEVTC), St. Phillips Church(SPC), Nat./Arua District  Assocn. of Deaf (UNAD/ADAD), Arua Town Library. DC’s activities below are listed by month and under one of DC’s key objectives. 

(Italicised activities  to be confirmed)

2016 British Sign Language Discipleship Training School Reminder

Sarah-Beth(left) is a deaf staff-member at The Kings Lodge , YWAM’s Nuneaton base ,where  we’re studying.

  She has a great vision to see British Sign Language (BSL) users  able to receive teaching in their own language about topics including God’s nature, character & call on our lives.

Sarah is building a team to pioneering course. If you’re interested, contact Sarah at  www.thekingslodge.com   

May 2014 Update

Dear Friends & Partners, here is a brief update on recent developments here and in Uganda

Training to Deliver Family Sign Language Course

Helen:  Our two deaf tutors were deaf Kate and Helen. Kate shared about raising her two children: one deaf and one hearing. Both are achieving good levels at school. This was evidently because her family were so inclusive.

  

    Recent research shows that deaf and hearing acquire language at the same rate if the family is equipped to enable the deaf child to do so.  We plan and hope to use our newly acquired skills with families that have deaf family members when we return to Arua.

    Our thanks to the National Deaf Children’s Society for running this training, and to the Dept. of Education for providing grants to enable families with very young deaf members to benefit from this funded course.

Healthy, growing churches..

Adam: Gill Behenna (right), adviser for deaf ministry to the Church of England, and Bob Shrine, Vicar for deaf of W. Yorks, led this very helpful discussion. This was part of  Coventry Deaf Church’s ’Away day’ . We heard some recent research findings on the common qualities healthy, growing churches have. 

Empowering leadership teams;

Gift-oriented ministry;

Passionate spirituality;

Inspiring worship;

Whole-oriented small groups;

Need-oriented outreach;

Warm, fun & forgiving relationships;

Functional structures.

“..if..”

.. Is a word in the bible I’ve often overlooked. But Boram (left), our fellow student , kept wearing an ‘if’ t-shirt that tuned me in to seeing ’if’  in scripture. The word  ‘if’ now reminds me of God’s profound gift of free-will. 

For much of my youth I would prefer to be told what to do rather make  to my own decisions.  I feared making the wrong choice. I was torn between my strong desire to please YHWH (the Lord) and doubting if His spirit’s nudges were better than my fickle desires.
   
The book of Job has  shown me afresh that YHWH longs for us to recognise and imitate His unconditional love. In the book of Job YHWH blesses and gives free-will to all, including his accusers. Yet YHWH satisfies His merciful & just nature at his own expense. I can demand justice of others but  if others/my Maker  demand the same justice of me, e.g. time management…
   
Job has shown me that the Lord  entrusts us  IF we actively trust Him ,his  commands, promises as Job did, regardless of his circumstances. This led to Job’s and YHWH’s ultimate vindication before their accusers. Four simultaneous trials in one book. A literary masterpiece. Adam

Family News

Laurence: Hi. One memorable  day recently was holding a gold ingot worth £307,000. It was on display at the Bank of England museum. I visited it with my dad and grandma. She used to work there.

   I’m looking forward to some missions trips: Pescara in Italy at half-term, then Glasgow for Commonwealth Games. In August I hope to go to Senegal to help plant trees to stop the desert spreading further. Exams ongoing..

Jerome: Hi. Now I have a long period of revision until my first exams in late May and early June. My baptism went really well and I believe God worked through me and others in the church to really explain the reason for baptism to non-believers from university! 

I've been in Scotland with the Officer Training Corps recently, walking in the Cairngorms, with extra weight on my back  to train for my ascent of some high peaks in the Andes this summer. This week was harder than imagined due to gale force winds. Then I spent time in Wigtown with the Robinsons; family friends of ours, who have a livestock farm. The aim was to get my hand back in to some manual work but I got sinusitis, then twisted my ankle! So only managed a bit of work, some revision, and just having fun! :)

Maria: It’s been a busy time since I last wrote with university work, paid work and socialising. In April Netty Hayes came to visit me in Hull and I got to show off my cracking University and city. Easter weekend was spent in Otley with family and boyfriend Tom; we had a lovely weekend and a beautiful day out walking in Malham on Easter Monday. The following week I went to Italy to visit a friend on her year abroad in Perugia. I had a fantastic time and visited Florence and Rome on the day of the double canonisation – what timing! 

Now it’s back to work as I come to my final essay deadlines and exams…less than 6 weeks and it ‘s all over!!! Time flies!: 

Finally…

Last week, our partners in Arua told me that the interpreter training, signed video workshops & rabbit breeding are continuing well. Four deaf building and carpentry students responded to the radio commercial we produced. They’re progressing well. Our knitting/ tailoring training is also due to re-start this month. Please pray all involved will continue to value clear communication, quality workmanship, self-control.

   In Kampala we hear that trainee deaf pastor Lydia is settling well. Thanks for your prayers. Please pray for completion of discussions so that more biblical vocabulary signs can be filmed, & posted on-line.

   Do get in touch if  you can help cover our shortfall in regular financial support from September. We hope to post a 15 min video of DC’s recent work shortly. Future plans are outlined below. Shalom. Ad & Helen

2016 British Sign Language Discipleship Training School

Sarah-Beth(above) is a deaf staff-member at The Kings Lodge , YWAM’s Nuneaton base ,where  we’re studying.

  She has a great vision to see British Sign Language (BSL) users  able to receive teaching in their own language about topics like include God’s nature, character & call on our lives.

Sarah is building a team to pioneering course. If you’re interested, contact Sarah at  www.thekingslodge.com   

Mission Update March 2014

 LEFT: In Arua, classroom settings are often very cramped and with little visual stimulus. We hope that a teacher development programme, Red Earth that is making a massive positive impact on children’s learning in S Uganda, could bring improved teaching & learning at to two large primary schools in Arua that have deaf units.

Dear Friends and Partners.

       

       My (Adam’s) trip to Uganda recently was so encouraging and fruitful.

      

       Thank you so much to all who supported this visit through prayer, practical support and finance. Reports overleaf. A few video clips will be on the ‘Fielders in Uganda’ page of our Facebook soon. 

      We have a shortfall in regular financial support from September. Please get in touch asap if  you can help.. 

       Helen loves her study of Old Testament books, yet still managed to coordinate  a big party!. Our w/e away in Telford on my return was special. 

       Shalom. 

      Adam & Helen  

                       

                          In this update…

-More support, growth & lobby focus amongst our Kampala partners

-Warm welcome, support for refugee camps

                                   & community development from YWAM Arua 

-Deaf students  progress again as knitting/tailoring training re-starts

-Deaf Arua youth to attend three year full- time pastor raining

-Vocational Training School to consider mobility impaired applicants,
  as deaf  graduate, with new job, gives radio interview.

-Arua teachers of deaf visit Red Earth teacher development project

-Signs & Wonders: see next issue

-In the Refiner’s Fire: see next issue

-News from the family.

-Future Plans, Community Development Plan: see next issue

More support, growth & lobby focus amongst our Kampala partners

Having landed at Entebbe at 2am, I was grateful my great Entebbe guest house hosts, Dave & Alison, ,top right, who were there to collect me. I couldn’t remember the dirt track route to their place at night! We’re grateful for their support. Ask me for their contact details if you need accommodation in Entebbe!

I was in Kampala at the deaf church of deaf pastor, Rev. Fred by 11am, shown right with two of the members. Numbers are growing and they now have a development plan. later, I met Rev Fred  and Deaf Bible School director Samuel again to exchange recent developments in our discipleship programmes and explore how we can continue to help them with documenting their development of  biblical sign language vocabulary. As a result, our IT training partner, Andrew (Inset) whose work with us has recently helped him gain full-time work, will be partnering Rev Fred  and his collegue David to continue this work. 

Then I met Ray (right), He interprets a national  TV company’s  weekly news summary. We discussed  which children’s programmes might  have the greatest impact if interpreted for the deaf. We explored how all involved might be motivated to do more than the minimum legal requirement.

On Monday I met Joseph (right), lead advocate, at national deaf association’s offices. Lobbying for  the  introduction of  signed  children’s TV programmes is not one of the national deaf association’s priorities for 2014. However, he has agreed to join Ray and I in requesting a meeting with the TV company Ray’ works at to raise the issue . Joseph has also highlighted another project that will be useful  for our sign-language resource work. D0 pray for break-through in this area. Clear communication is vital for healthy relationships with family, school, our creator & for gaining knowledge, practical skills, work too.

  Then it was off to Arua by bus.

Warm welcome, support for refugee camps & community development from YWAM Arua

 After a relatively cool trip to Arua I really appreciated being met by my YWAM colleague Paul from the bus stop and the warm welcome from our  part-time compound staff and many other base staff.  I was blessed with some local delicacies, and my favourite cake. Helen taught Kevin our home help to make it.

At the YWAM base meeting the following morning I was warmly welcomed and began to feel as if I’d only been away for four  weeks, not four months. 

The base has been regularly visiting a refugee camp for people displaced by the recent conflict in S Sudan. YWAM has been providing shelter for the most vulnerable refugees, e.g. is Single mothers with many children, Child headed families (Parents are still in South Sudan), the elderly and the disabled. I joined a team visit to see if there were any deaf refugees needing support .


Several visiting teams and couples were on site. DTS graduate Charles, centre, one of our advocates, is enjoying bringing compassion and hope to his customers as he shaves them. 

William our gardener showed me the rabbit-breeding income generation project that we have asked him and David, a local youth to pilot. Despite some challenges it is progressing well. Numerous litters are beginning to sell well and they continued to do so whist I was there. 



I hope to introduce the idea to a family with a deaf member so that they could run together. Book-keeping, avoidance of inbreeding and tithing are key values for us in this project.

Deaf students progress again and welcome YWAM team as knitting/tailoring training re-starts

TiC Stephen was pleased to report that three deaf students(e.g.Ivan left) we have been channelling support to have all been promoted to a higher ability group. Our efforts to support a deaf to attend a secondary deaf school are still ongoing.

I made time to take one of the teams of visiting  YWAM students (right) to Eruba Prmary School where Stephen, teacher in charge (TiC) of the Deaf Unit kindly mobilised some deaf students to teach them sign-language using the illustrated booklets we helped train local youth to produce. Everyone enjoyed the non-verbal but very expressive sign workshop.

Stephen and I were also able to prepare staff , resources and recruitment material for a further trial of the knitting/tailoring project this term.