Family News

Laurence:  Less  than  two  month  until exams so I need to revise a lot now.
 I spent a week in Glasgow and Pitlochry,

Scotland, in the half term, and I have
been thinking about what to do in the
summer and about university applications.

 Maria: So far 2014 has been great! In January I went skiing in Les Deux Alpes with OTC and visited a friend au-pairing in Paris. In Feb I started back at university and caught up with friends that I hadn’t seen in a while. Two weeks ago we had the ‘Big Birthday Weekend’ in which we celebrated my 21st, dad’s 50th & grandad’s 80th birthday. Family and friends came from all over to

our hostel in Coalbrookdale where we went on walks, had a quiz, talent show, ceilidh dance and lots of fun together. Many thanks to all who came and contributed to the event, I loved it! Last weekend I had a great time visiting Jerome in Nottingham and the privilege of seeing him get baptised. I’m looking forward to celebrating my actual 21st on the 17th with my parents and grandparents in Hull. J

Jerome: Now then! How you diddling? Well its been a pretty active start to the new year! I went race skiing in early January with the army which was very full on and came back to start exams the next day. I passed my exams although not as well as would of liked although it is 1st year so it doesn't effect my final degree mark! Christian Union has been quite demanding as I'm now helping lead the group. We had missions week recently and held events such as; Grill a Christian, Movie night, Walk and giving out cake! We had a good response to it which was wonderful!

I've decided to get baptised. It happened on 9th March at Sutton Bonington Baptist Church (my local church). Some friends and family came to it and I enjoyed making an outward statement of my belief in Jesus!!!! We celebrated Maria, Dad's and Granddad's landmark birthday in Ironbridge recently too. A youth hostel was rented out and we went on walks and danced the night away! It was all good fun. Thanks :) Jerome

Recent good news from our Arua vocational training partnerships

Our deaf friend Aisha, above,  has graduated from a more advanced tailoring school. This is a real tribute to her growing confidence, YWAM staff who ran the school and her fellow students for whom this was their first experience of training/learning with a deaf person.

 

 We’ve also just heard from Moses, above right, a carpentry instuctor at West Nile, that five of the six deaf students (also shown) have just graduated from their building and carpentry courses. One passed with credit - the first deaf student to do so since the project started in 2010.

Mission Update Dec 2013

Dear Friends and Partners.

         Happy Christmas and Happy New Year to you too.

We    We have gradually settled back into UK life and Laurence is at college in Nuneaton. Helen & I , recently enjoyed a weekend in Paris,  right. 

         We are about to finish term 1 of  our YWAM School  of Biblical Studies with our fellow 16 students (above)  coming from nations such as Holland, Finland, USA, Japan, Korea, Canada, India,        the Tour Eiffel 

         New Zealand, Egypt and China. We have really gained a better 

         understanding of 1st century historical/cultural background to the New Testament(NT). This included Greek and Roman thinking, NT timeline, Jewish religious groups and NT cities such as Corinth.

         

         One morning staff  dressed up to give us a flavour of life in 1st century Corinth. In no time I was propositioned, offered circumcision, secret knowledge  & told by my emperor that he was God! I, Adam have also found some time to look at inclusion projects locally. See below.                                                                                

on                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

        

         

        

         See many of you soon.

       

       Adam & Helen

Dear Friends and Partners.

Happy Christmas and Happy New Year to you too.

We have gradually settled back into UK life and Laurence is at college in Nuneaton. Helen & I , recently enjoyed a weekend in Paris, above right. I, Adam have also found some time to look at inclusion projects locally. See overleaf.

    We are about to finish term 1 of  our YWAM School  of Biblical Studies with our fellow 16 students coming from nations such as Holland, Finland, USA, Japan, Korea, Canada, India, New Zealand, Egypt and China. We have really gained a better understanding of 1st century historical/cultural background to the New Testament(NT). This included Greek and Roman thinking, NT timeline, Jewish religious groups and NT cities such as Corinth.

    One morning staff  dressed up to give us a flavour of life in 1st century Corinth. In no time I was propositioned, offered circumcision, secret knowledge  & told by my emperor that he was God!

 See many of you soon.

Adam & Helen

Staff and Students of YWAM School of Biblical Studies

Inclusion for the deaf and blind in Nuneaton and Coventry..

Laurence and I recently joined one Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council debate on whether UK government support for developing nations should be continued and if so how. I was able to share recent experience from Uganda which was appreciated. The council chamber itself was really accessible for the partially deaf and blind because of the seating layout, individual microphones and induction loop.
   Then Martin from our church missions team asked me to speak to the monthly blind fellowship he co-leads on the challenges and opportunities deaf people face in Arua. The blind groups questions showed they face quite a similar situation with self-help and support groups playing a vital role. It was weird speaking to people who couldn’t see me.  Thank you Vicky Fowler, NBBC and Martin for these insights

Family News

Maria: I've now been working full time in parliament for 2 months and have learnt a lot so far! As any job there are ups and downs but it's providing me with a great insight into British politics and lots of opportunities to network. The Labour Party Conference in September was good fun and enabled me to see not only a lot of prominent Labour speakers but also get to know my colleagues much better. I moved into Crouch End mid October and like the new area. I've found a new running club and am gradually getting used to the London hills! The graduate job search has begun and so I'm looking at my possibilities for after I graduate next summer, but am potentially looking at taking a year out. I'm going to Marrakesh in December for a number of days with a friend so looking forward to that! :)

Jerome: Hey! I'm a month and a half into university and really enjoying it. I never imagined I would be as busy as I am! I've got quite involved with the Christian Union, Agrics Society and many sports clubs. The course is going well although a lot more theoretical at the moment but we are told it becomes more applied in years 2 and 3.

I've also joined the OTC (Officer Training Corps) which is part of the Reserve Army and I train every Wednesday and weekends fortnightly. This is a good part time job although it can consume a considerable amount of time. Last weekend I went home and took the car with a few mates to the Peak District which was good fun. We got caught by the rain up high but the wind soon dried us off! I've joined a village Baptist church which is a real blessing and I hope I can develop my faith more there!

Laurence:.I’ve joined a debating society and have been out canvassing with the Labour candidate for our area. I’m encouraged with Arsenal’s performance