Signs and Wonders after 4 months away

I have endeavoured to follow up most of our initiatives that were underway when we left for England in April. At my request, a local police inspector Malimuno, chaired a meeting to resolve misunderstandings that had arisen between two young deaf leaders, Mauster and Godfrey, and myself. The inspectors intervention was really helpful and is now paving the way for possible future partnership with them. I have now given further clarity on our Vision /Values on slide 2.


Your support enabled me to train these deaf youth in IT skills to develop sign-language resources alongside me. Mauster (left) is holding the CD of illustrated everyday sign-language signs we co-produced, whilst Godfrey(right) is teaching the inspector signs from the hard-copy version that has blessed so many village families with deaf members. The inspector gratefully took the sign booklet away because his deaf nephew attends Eruba but he cannot communicate with him! Was that a God-incidence or what? Today I heard this material is rebuilding a mixed deaf-hearing couple’s marriage In Sudan!



The deaf primary students we co-sponsor Sam,, and Ivan, circled, at Eruba are doing well. Sam(circled) s family told me yesterday how much happier and extrovert he is, and how they all want to learn his sign-language !




The sign-language weekend we ran in Paranga has improving family relationships with parents now letting their deaf members join their siblings on trips to the market.,Rev. Gaard told me his week .The Deaf villagers were playing in community sport far more too. Hearing villagers have now been seen striking up conversation with their deaf fellow villagers for the first time. Great news!!



The deaf vocational students are doing well & look set to graduate this December. We’re promoting shared use of sign language and social interdependency with the hearing students by providing a volley ball and UNO cards.

More deaf in our neighbourhood!

Ad: Our new neighbour, Gladys, below, has just pleaded for help from us in caring for her semi- paralysed and emotionally disturbed deaf-mute 6 yr-old daughter. Grace also often chews stones, timber and soil. Shoppingis only possible by tying her ankle to a heavy log in the shade whilst her Mum makes the two hour round trip with- out having to worry if Grace has gone missing. Such on-going pleas for help makes our vision burning even stronger in my heart!


At Arua Primary Jonahansi introduced me to the 13 deaf day students he teaches there. His manager Florence, inset has asked us to partner the deaf unit in providing some sign vocabulary workshops for the staff of the 2000 pupil primary school next Feb. Deaf students who are fluent signers are being trained to teach small groups.. A few of the deaf students have additional learning difficulties. They are well catered for in as much as resources allow

Home visits took us to many places, including:

All Saints Infant School Bedworth, Coventry, Redhill, Scarborough, Farnborough and East Grinstead

News from the kidz Oct 2011

Maria:
This Summer has been absolutely fantastic! :) I've been busy travelling, going on holiday with friends and visiting people.


In August I received my A level results and was pleased to have achieved the necessary grades for my Politics and International Relations course at Hull university which I will start on 26th September. All the various things I need have been purchased or kindly donated and so the only thing I am lacking is patience!

I can't wait to start this new season of my life but I want to express my gratitude to the numerous people who have supported me over this past year especially while my parents have been away; you have my heartfelt thanks and appreciation - it would n‘t have been possible without you!

 
Jerome:
Hi! Loads of things have happened recently. I've started college in York, left Mum and Dad and am now attending the Rock church in York which is really good. I have been invited to help with the youth group which I'm happy about.
In the summer our friends, the ‘Strads’, kindly found me some more dairy farm experience. Long days, but I learnt loads and they blessed me with some work clothing at the end.

The 1st week of College has mainly been quite light work & getting to know people. The lads on the course are great. I've already made a good friend. I had my first tractor driving lesson yesterday I think that’s about all.

Laurence: (summarised by Dad, because of internet connection difficulties)
Just before we left Arua, our older YWAM friends, Jared and Remonda helped Loz, Jerome and some other base members, William Omal Mario Keliopa Ramadan and John Bosco Tuli, to make a short fiction film called “ The Woods Brighten”. It’s about two young men who are learning how to over come their fears and the issues they have. In the end they are to find their true identity. It’s on his Facebook page if you’d like to watch it. See icon below.

In the summer Loz and I visited my cousin Steph. in France, to practice our French. Thanks Liz (Blaxhall) for the keyboard you taught Loz and for putting us in touch with the Todds family in Kampala, so we can stay with them when I visit Loz me.

At boarding school Loz is doing ok - after struggling at first. Next week he has a business/geog. trip to Kenya

Coincidences? More like my Maker at work again I suspect...

Just discovered the guy I'm staying with has been involved in a family sign workshop program I read about two years ago. His observations were really interesting. Thank you to you Daniel and your wife and son, Alice and Jonathan for having me.

Signs and Wonders from Adam, a novice blogger/facebooker

Have discovered some deaf and hearing Chinese writers are following our blog. Thanks to google-  translate I now know most weren't spammers writing hieroglyphics but are giving some encouraging insights. I've discovered a few deaf who don't understand our deaf partnership work are sharing their feelings anonomously in a more constructive way.

Celebrate good times, Come on...! Fielders in new pastures

Maria and Jerome have succeeded in getting on to their chosen courses, thanks to a big individual,team and prayer effort!. Helen is staying in the Uk to help prepare them for their course in Politics and International relations, and in Agriculture .Helen will then join Adam and Laurence who have just arrived in Kampala, where Laurence is being schooled.

May-August 2011 Update A summary of the impact we have had and are now planning for.

Dear Friends and Partners,

Helen and I are grateful to the Lord and to all

who are making our shared vision become a reality.

Your essential support keeps us going, be it: prayer,

time and wisdom; finance; expertise or hospitality.

We are seeing increasing examples of deaf people

who are healthier, attending school or in paid work.

They are becoming positive role models in their deaf

and hearing community. No longer cursed and feeling

worthless they are accepted. Many for the first time

see themselves as God’s workmanship, beloved

children and co-workers.

Laurence and I plan to return August 24th, whilst

Helen plans to return late September once Maria and

Jerome are established.

Please keep on journeying with us.

Yours sincerely

Adam & Helen

 Deaf Connections Impact Summary, 2009-11

Deaf educational & vocational training implemented with your support

Program Progress, Next steps

Sign- language resources and workshops

Local deaf have gained IT skills and co-produced an illustrated sign-language vocabulary booklet with us, covering everyday topics. The Ugandan National Deaf Association has copied this for use across Uganda. Fluent signers now need to be trained to produce specialist sign-language resources for other topics e.g. health/police issues.

Twelve additional deaf youth are now teaching sign vocabulary more systematically and effectively at regular community sign-language workshops which have benefitted 300+ participants to date. Relatives attending these workshops with their deaf children have testified to improved communication, behaviour, mood, appetite and relationships.

Can you help us fund these. The need is widespread.

Education support

Three isolated deaf village children attending our workshops are now having their school fees subsidised, so they can attend a deaf-friendly unit.

Building

One determined deaf woman has become the first ever building course student to graduate from a large vocational training school in Arua. She is now paid as an Assistant Instructor and has enabled four new deaf students to enrol.

Can you help us provide deaf access to other courses .

Driving

One eager deaf Muslim young man has been sponsored to complete a driver course because one local employer will consider a qualified deaf applicant. Test date awaited .

Sport

Further signed coaching of basic volleyball and football skills and sign-language workshops covering sports vocabulary are now needed to overcome social and communication barriers to the inclusion of deaf boys and girls in competitive school sport.

 

Supporting Arua’s Pastor for Special Needs discipleship of deaf Christians

Discovery group

This has operated on a weekly basis for the last six months

All members are getting to know each other better with our support

Bible drama team

A committed group of local deaf Christians and Muslims now regularly dramatise bible stories that are accurate and well-presented, and equally enjoyed by hearing and deaf members of congregations. The drama and signed song groups are invited by pastors to co-lead services designed to demonstrate the positive contribution people with disabilities can make in communities where disability is seen as a curse.

Your support provides transport and coaching for this team. Requests for sign language workshops from these communities frequently follow the team’s visit.

Two deaf can now subtitle drama and signed-song videos to help deaf learn vocabulary.

Teaching videos need to be developed for more bible topics and songs

Discipleship

Four deaf and two hearing deaf advocates successfully completed YWAM Arua’s six month residential Discipleship Training School (DTS) They have really grown in integrity, self-confidence, social skills, time- and money –management skills etc. They have a passion to know God more and to serve those in need.

Three of these have since gained employment/further training because they impressed their employer/principal when offered trial placements. Deaf Connections contributed 50% of the DTS fees and hopes to sponsor further students similarly.

Outreach team

School and youth deaf fellowships recently accepted the challenge to host each other in turn, lead the service, then providing food,entertainment. Each fellowship volunteers at the community sign-language workshops. Joint deaf-hearing services are a future goal.