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