On out team’s arrival
in Kitgum we shared and agreed
expectations for living in our host’s house. Each morning team members
explained what they had discovered from meditating on their given Proverbs
verse with the team . The verses pin-pointed +ve
and –ve attitudes we have
seen in our own life experience. We started to see benefits of changing our
attitudes to each other or to the wider community were they were unhealthy
Highlights of the whole Kitgum outreach occurred in
the final week. Our team organised two well-organised and well-attended
seminars with delegates from five local denominations, the special needs
primary school and a secondary school too. One seminar was on marriage
enrichment and the other was on bringing the bible alive through drama. We are
grateful to the Refugee Law project who offered their well-equipped venues. I
was also very moved on seeing a deaf youth’s hearing family happily allow their
deaf son and I to teach them sign language together in their home. Afterwards,
several of us produce a wall display, above right, to help the family practice.
Then, several days later, our team
hosted a farewell party that was
attended by 55 local partners we served alongside. Many paid tribute to the
unity and interdenominational nature of our team and its wide range of
skills. Some of the students were
surprised to hear such tribute, having found it difficult to volunteer in a
strange town in activities they’d never done before.
I was really encouraged to receive our
local partners’ appreciation for two reasons. Firstly, because it took the team
two weeks to transition from Labone and the different
leadership team and style they had had there. Secondly, because it had
initially been uphill struggle to encourage many team members to adapt to serve
the needs Kitgum presented them with. It was far more
developed than Labone & YWAM has not been
there before.
For me our individual growth has been
more apparent as I look back, typified by greater appreciation of other
cultures, ages, denominations, communication styles, effective teamwork and
conflict resolution - amongst staff as well as amongst students. Areas for
growth in these areas are also clearer. Future partnership is emerging
Thank you Lord, YWAM Arua Leadership, staff
and students and Kitgum partners. Reign in
us, precious Lord.. Ad
Deaf Youth Camp Lira..
..atendance by three
deaf youth, Godfrey, Sam and Doreen from St. Phillip’s Special Needs
fellowship, was supported by YWAMDCM (YWAM Arua Deaf
Connections Ministry) in August. Shared payment of the camp costs was
expected on an ability to pay basis with each youth contributing accordingly. 
