Jerome's life

Hi everyone ! I hope you enjoyed yourselves this month. For me I enjoyed a good end to harvesting my tomatoes. I think I reached my target of selling 600. But, on the gardening front I haven't done much this month.


I’m very pleased with Arsenal this season we are on the tails of Man U and are in the Carling cup final.

I’ve being applying to colleges around the country. Its exciting for me to look at what is on offer at different places.

On the 10th of January I went on a full time three week evangelistic course called Go camp. It was awesome! I learnt loads more stuff about god and the bible. I also preached to the south sudan army! On outreach i ate rat. I made some great friends as well and was able to talk about my faith.

Laurence's news

Nothing amazing happened this month, but my dad and I had a meeting with the municipal engineer of Arua, about the plans to build a new market. The plans are colossal, it will cost two and a half million dollars. Vendors will have refrigeration and there will be toilets as we know them - conference facilities, banks ,etc. spread over 3 stories. A mighty leap in development!


Apart from that, my biggest pigeon was eaten by ants but eggs are being laid regularly.

Sudan is basically split now, but Egypt's on the brink of civil war. Uganda's elections are drawing close. Hope they go smoothly, and fairly.

Candidates have been in Arua recently campaigning.

Jerome's life

Hi Christmas greeting to y’all.

Life in Arua is quite relaxed. The YWAM base is now brimming with children who have finished school for 2 months.

In the Kampala 10km run last weekend when I beat my sub 45min target. YWAM Arua lost 3-1 to Eruba.

Myself and William (gardener) are slowly making progress with the rabbit hutch. My potatoes should be ready by February. The cabbages I am harvesting are poor but the tomatoes look promising for a long harvest.

I have my eyes set on a UK level 3 advanced Agriculture Diploma, a two year course which can lead to University. The course is available in all Counties across the UK so I’m not quite sure where I will be living.

At the Refinery - Learning about ourselves on outreach in Labone, S. Sudan (Adam):

It never ceases to amaze me how many different ways my Lord God speaks to me, often repeatedly on the same topic, until I act on the message. He used people’s comments, a vision, a voice in my mind, animals, problems and sicknesses. No method was too. Heavy language I know , but I am constantly reminded of His desire to teach me if I am receptive am expectant, responsive and faithful.

Three passages were really impressed upon me whilst in Sudan. The first was about continuing to ask from Luke 11. I realised even more, now, how God answers me through my ‘neighbour’, and how greater neighbour-liness may well have prevented the death of a mother and a two year old whist we were in Laboni.

Then, I was struck afresh how the steps and lessons our DTS teams were going through were very similar to the account about Jesus beginning his work in Galilee in Matthew chapters 4 & 5. I also understood, more starkly and precisely, the needs, vision , mission and goals Jesus’ saw. Like the team accounting (above left),he wants nothing wasted

Then the parables of the sower and the wise and foolish builders were miraculously acted out - twice each, by the local villagers, and then the local weather system on two of our tents! Laboni peoples’ minds, and ours are very much like the different types of soil in the story about the sower. Laboni peoples’ lives and ours are also not built on totally firm foundations, but over the years the Lord has strengthened mine. May He do so for you too.

One of the local delicacies, bush-rat, (left), was a real mind battle for me, because of their distant cousin’s lifestyle in the UK! But, it was so tasty!

Being a multi-cultural team meant accepting different attitudes to stray dogs who needed care, discipline & work, but who carried disease and wanted our food. Using scripture we slowly learnt to see the truth in other’s views, the flaws in our own,change & forgive! Do feedback. Lets israel - wrestle with God!. CU. Ad

Jerome’s News Nov 2010

The rabbit hutch is nearly completed, with Loz’s help and my garden is looking ship shape for the dry season.

Tomatoes are beginning to flower and the cabbages are growing well. I planted sugar cane, water melon, potatoes and cucumber. I have read the dry season is long this year so I’m fortunate the land I have has natural springs.

We have started a football team and are planning to make a league for January.
I have been learning the guitar and am really enjoying it.

Newz from the kidz: Laurence Nov 2010

I have just recovered from what was either a non-deadly form of malaria or a diarrhoea and vomiting virus.

The clinic said I had typhoid and malaria after a blood test. However, shortly after ,a uk doctor we met pointed out that a typhoid vaccination can produce a positive test result for Typhoid.

Fortunately we discovered this before I started taking 5 daily typhoid treatment injections.

Apart from that I've been playing a lot of footy, working on the rabbit house, and playing guitar. Next week were Can’t wait to go to Mombasa for a holiday.

Jerome's news: May 2010

This month 50% of my chickens died from a sickness which eventually stopped. It was a big expense but I’m glad the sickness has now gone.

A disappointing end to Arsenal’s season but we did achieve 3rd.

All of my garden has been dug and 95% of the land is now in use. I planted plenty of grains, onions and carrots.

Studying has been dull. I’m doing practice exams but I’m not doing too bad. Hopefully an A in science.

Am looking forward to bussing to kampala and flying to England.

Laurence's news May 2010

Hi, this month has been quite eventful.

My bruised eye was due to falling out of a mango tree!

Myfriend Innocent’s baby pigeons hatched (see pic). It’s amazing how fast they grow, they doubled size in twenty-four hours.

My pigeons have laid four eggs now but none have hatched. The mother always seems to push them out of the nest.

As for the footy, well Barcelona demolished us but we were without so many top players.

Looking forward to coming back to the UK!

Unexpected visitors

William, our gardener dealt with several unexpected visits this month.

Whilst digging out some rubble in our compound he disturbed a metre-long venomous snake, which he had to quickly terminate as slid off at high speed.

Later that week he had to act as translator for Helen whilst I was out when a lady paralysed from the waist down called with a startling accusation. She believed I, Adam, who was out at the time she called, had knocked her to the ground with my motorbike a few weeks ago. When I eventually met her for the first time she realised she was completely mistaken and apologised!

Gard, the pastor from the village where we’d first seen isolated deaf in 2007, called by to thank us for the resources and training we’d provided and to ask us to run a sign-workshop for the many other deaf nearby. He has agreed to register them.

Jerome’s News March 2010

February has been mostly spent with my Grandma n Granddad. We visited Murchison falls national park with them which was a nice break.

I have started to help my Dad with his Deaf ministry I’m coaching a group of deaf boys a bit younger than I. It’s a weekly thing and soon we will arrange a game against the hearing.

We have had a bit of variety during home schooling in Feb. Granddad taught me about a Unit trust and helped me with some of my business work. Grandma also taught us public speaking.

I have just made a pigeon box for two pairs which I will soon buy. The hens are multiplying my second lot chicks will be hatching within a week and I’m in the process of making a chicken business. At the moment I’m just raising the chicken population.

Extraordinary Trees

Whilst staying in Entebbe we visited a botanical garden . Some of the trees’ roots were amazing and gave the tree their local name.

The centre one is called the crocodile tree.Top right is a tree monkeys use to send distress signals. They drum on its roots because they are hollow so the sound/vibration carries a long way. The tree top left is known as the ostrich foot tree.
The scavenger birds top right are as commons as pigeons!

Tarzan and Idi Amin both featured here too.