Family News

Laurence:  Hi. My past few months have been quite hectic with exams. I'm very glad to say they are all done. I am currently looking for work in August to cover missions/holiday travel  expenses that my parents have helped cover.

     In a week’s time I will be heading of to Western Ukraine to a city called Ternopil on an outreach mission which I will be leading for the first time. We will be working with orphans, gypsy children and the youth of local churches as well as joining in with planting of three new churches in villages in the surrounding area. I am looking forward to it, especially now that someone in a life group in my church has covered my outstanding accommodation costs.   

     If you would like to hear any more about it, or partner me in finance and/ or prayer,  please contact my Dad. It would be a huge blessing to my team and I. After Ukraine I will be going to visit my friend in Korea, (after having found, tickets for a fantastic price back in March) where we will also be working in orphanages (South Korea has the lowest adoption rates in the world) as well as enjoying the culture. Traveling/mission work is something I would love to do full-time way in future..

Jerome: Hi There! There isn’t much to say as recently I have been busy revising for exams. However, I have now just finished my second year of University and it’s a great feeling to have a short break from education. After exams I went on a field course visiting producers and growers of field crops around the UK for a week. I got to see; Sugar Beet, Field Beans, Vining Peas and even rhubarb production. I also went to the Lake District for a friend’s birthday for a bit of walking and socialising. 

    I am now in Uganda with my Girlfriend, Fiona, catching up with my parents and mucking in where I can. Shortly my friend Zak will also be coming to visit and we plan to climb Mt Elgon.

Maria: A few weeks ago a friend and I went on a short break to Madrid; we had a fantastic time! We enjoyed a walking city tour, rowing on the Parque del Retiro' lake, watching a Flamenco show, eating tapas,drinking sangria, dancing and meeting other travellers from all over the world! It's become my favourite european city so far! 

   In Hull I have been working for the same social enterprise as before and will be finishing with them at the end of this week. 

   Then I start a 5 week intensive TESOL course (Teaching English as a Second Language) near Oxford. Half of the course will be in Hungary so I'm really looking forward to that! My hope is to teach abroad in Spain whilst becoming fluent in Spanish in preparation for the rest of my international career! Watch this space...

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Maria

   We worked in the project with the school, nursery and social enterprise. I specialised in the business side and led on the sales and marketing strategy. I am pleased to say we smashed every single target - we attained the highest monthly sales record by any team and  got 8 new businesses stocking our products. We recorded a tv interview on the product and secured a free radio advertising space. We also provid-ed enough income to cover all the unexpected extra costs that a new government policy had imposed, so no women were let go.                         As you can imagine I didn't want to leave!  

Jerome: Hey! Well apart from university and all the coursework that comes with it which I'm submerged in at the moment I do have a few interesting things to let you know about! Me and my girlfriend Fiona went on holiday to Ireland for just shy of a week and learnt a lot about the troubles in Belfast + how to make Guiness + that it does'nt always rain in Ireland.

   I also spent two weeks in Scotland helping Ian and June with a bit of milking as they were trying to get to grips with a new milking parlour. I've got exams coming up but quite looking forward to finishing my 2nd year of university and going to Uganda for a dose of sun and to see old friends. I also have a placement year to look forward to and my 21st birthday celebrations :) 

Visits from our son Laurence and friend Walt



Adam: Laurence  enjoyed sharing his passion for football, volley ball. Walt enjoyed sharing his passion for  gardening, helping children laugh and learn. They, Helen, I and several  YWAM youth also really got into chess,  too.  I have adapted the game, re-naming it the Kingdom Game to help our base youth to learn to play it and related to its characters. 

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Jerome: Hey! In the last few months I've settled back into university and I've decided to concentrate on uni work more this year which means I've had to drop out of my commitments with the OTC.

   However, I’ve been more involved with the Christian Union. Its great! I help run a weekly event called Globe Café. It’s for international students on campus to come and relax and make friends with each other. Becky and I from the CU come to help. We also invite them along to church and other christian events. This week I invited Dad to talk about his and Mum’s work in Uganda.    I’ve been paintballing and watched Argentina Vs Portugal at Old Trafford with Laurence. Good fun! Thanks

Maria:Hi! I’m enjoying tutoring a Chinese student in English and also working on a marketing and promotions campaign for a local social enterprise, Treasured Steps (see www.treasurek.com for more info). I’m learning a lot of new things! I officially launched our product 'Treasure K' at St Nicholas Primary School Hull! I presented the product to KS1 parents and then to the whole school at the following Christmas Fair. We were joined by local Cllr Steve Wilson, Diana Johnson MP as well as BBC Radio Humberside and KCFM who supported the launch and the donation of sets to the school.

   I am now on an ICS TearFund volunteer placemen10 weeks in Bolivia till early April. While there I will be working with a local social enterprise to help fund a nearby school and provide grants for street children to attend. My fundraised through a sponsored 20 mile run, ‘Live Below the Line’ challenge (living on £1 a day for food for 5 days), jazz night, open mike event, race night. For more information about what I’m up to, and for more regular updates, see www.themakingsofmaria.wordpress.com. To support of for more info about the projects please visit my just giving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/Maria-Fielder/  Thx  

 Laurence: Hi! I’m now staying with one family full-time after three months with two friends of our family on a monthly alternate basis. I’m playing for a local football team called Higham. We enjoyed our first win 3-1 at home in November, 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. This year I am visiting my friends/parents in Uganda and S Korea.

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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.

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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 :)

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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!: 

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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

Fielder Family News

Jerome:  Well, I’ve been back  in Arua for 3 weeks and I’ve enjoyed catching

 up with friends out here and seeing to the garden. Before leaving England in May I went to Prague with the college to learn about agricultural practices. It was fascinating to see the soviet unions legacy on farming and the whole country in general. It was also interesting to here the difficulties of farmers mainly surrounding unfair trade within the EU.

   I had the summer ball and graduation at college which made a really good end to my time at Askham Bryan. I achieved a Distinction and was also awarded the Principal’s prize! I’ve decided to go to Nottingham University and I will be starting in September when I return from Uganda which I’m very excited about. Bye!

Maria:  I've done a lot since finishing uni for this year. Having moved out of my house in Hull I've been on my OTC Annual camp, the culmination of my years training with the university officer training section of the TA. Afterwards, Matt and I went for a lovely week in Cyprus where we went scuba diving, jet skiing, explored and enjoyed the sun! :)

    Then I was in Bavaria, Germany on an OTC Adventure Training trip and am having a great time doing treks, klettersteig, climbing and white water rafting.

    My results for this academic year have been good. I've just passed my driving theory test and plan to do my practical test later this summer after working at a cadet camp. So lots to look forward  to! I hope you’re all having fantastic summers too :)  :D   

      

Laurence: The last two months have been quite good. Dad took me to a TV Station in Kampala to see how they broadcast a signed weekly summary of national news. Quite impressive. Then we had several visitors from our home area in England, including now my friend, Paul, who will stay until I go back. We have had had fun on our guitars. Next week we’re doing a night safari. Also Jerome has come so we should do some fun adventurous stuff before I leave. 

   I’m getting tired of Mr Wenger with no signings but never mind. Going back to the UK should be interesting, I’m not looking forward to all the college work everyone talks about but it shouldn’t be too bad. I passed all of my IGSEs well except for Eng Lit which was lower than I expected.

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