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No 23 October 2004
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| Ian and Silver have continued
their busy lives since their last newsletter in June. In fact, it has been
so busy they have not had time to prepare a personal letter to you all, so I
am attempting to update you from information culled from their regular and
sometimes frequent emails and text messages. |
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A day in the life!
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| It is sometimes tempting to concentrate on the large
projects or specific missions and overlook the general day to day life
of Ian and Silver in Uganda and Kenya. The work of YEA is just one part
of their ministry and this is set against the backdrop of daily life
African style about which they have written from time to time. This
newsletter will attempt to give a snapshot of some of the things Ian and
Silver are involved with, not necessarily YEA related, but linked with
Kampala Baptist Church, other charities and their friends in Kenya. |
A key part of their work is connecting
with and supporting teams and individuals as they visit East Africa.
This sometimes shows up the challenges of communication between and
within countries and people, especially important when organising hosts,
training, missions and projects from a distance. Ian and Silver are
often the link between the UK base and the Ugandan or Kenyan trip. This
may require a physical visit to the hosts when letters, emails or
telephone messages disappear into the black hole of cyberspace!
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Visits - hellos and goodbyes |
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| The summer has
seen visits from the Uganda Crusoe Team, short term Oasis teams, James
Druce from UK to link with Sammy in Kenya, Marie Marquis from Guernsey
to Hoima, Peter and Cynthia Empson from Crusaders, and currently a team
from Bognor Regis Baptist Church to Kampala and Kamuli.
Goodbyes were also said as Ingrid Verbiese
who had been working in Kampala returned to Belgium and Lizzie, a
Crusader volunteer returned from working in Hoima. |
Ingrid Verbiese now returning to
Belgium |
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Supporting local projects |
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Building up and encouraging young people for their futures is also a
regular part of their work Ikong went to join a basketball training
clinic in Kisumu organised by Edgar from Parklands Baptist Church Kenya.
Ian and Collin began to run preaching workshops for the KBC youth during
September, and Douglas from KBC has now joined the Uganda Youth Forum (UGF)
board as youth representative. Kasibante returned from Rwanda after a
successful period of mission with YWAM. Unfortunately he returned with
TB and required some extra care as he was slow to respond to treatment.
He spent some time convalescing at Ian and Silver’s house.
"one of the biggest challenges of my work
is balancing the wider development work with the individual needs of
youth. There are not enough hours in the days."
Ian Wardle |
Kampala Baptist Church - Youth Led
Service |
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| Follow-up is an
essential part of enabling the training and mission work to become
sustainable in the long term and owned by the communities and churches.
Relationships are created and nurtured between individuals, churches and
communities as common vision develops into shared work.
There have been mission trips to
Lumino (Busia), a retreat for Campus-based youth by the lake at Kaazi, a
Medical mission at Kampala Baptist Church, and a University Mission
during Freshers' week. |
Ian has also been involved
in a conference to see how ‘Abstinence’ can become the key message to
youth nationally in the ongoing fight against HIV Aids (UYF). There is
potential too to work alongside Baptist Union Uganda youth work to train
youth workers countrywide next year. Silver continues his musical
interest with Harmony 6 and the group plays an active part of local
missions especially on Campus. Ian has joined the KBC worship team – he
has to sing in 4 different languages: English, Luganda, Acholi and
Runyankole. |
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Shortages |
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| September saw a
power problem as the water level dropped in the Nile so the dam at Jinja
is not able to produce enough electricity – Ian texted me one evening
while he was cooking by the light of a candle. They were also expecting
El Nino and a locust swarm. |
Food was getting a bit short
although it was worse in Kenya where there is famine in many parts. Oil
prices have gone up causing the cost of living to rise with it. The
vehicle has required yet more work as it negotiates pot holes and rough
tracks pretending to be roads. |
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Bore Holes for the northern Uganda displacement camps |
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| However, on a
brighter note, water is now coming out of the new bore hole at the IDP
camp in Otuboi, Kaberamaido, and hoes and seeds were being put to good
use as the people begin to farm again. |
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October - December Plans |
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| This month,
October, will also see Ian and Silver moving house, plus celebrating
their birthdays, Silver on the 13th and Ian on the 29th.
During this time, preparation continues for the November/December Kenya
visits and the December/January youth camps in Uganda. At the end of
November there is the Word of Life Teens Camp, in Ukunda, Mombasa
where Ian is the main speaker. In December they move on to Lamu to join
the AIC Church Youth & Children’s Camp. Ian is also the main speaker
there plus a joint team of youth from KBC & MPC to help lead all
activities. Immediately after
Christmas, the KBC youth camp takes place from 28th Dec to 4th January,
followed by the UYF National youth conference in Kampala from 9th Jan to
15th January 2005.
Ian also plans a visit to the UK during 2005 and continues to be
alert for ways to develop the network of partners further.
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KBC Camp January 2004
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How can you be involved? |
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| It is always
encouraging to hear from friends – it really helps to know people are
thinking of you. Just a few words can make a difference so if you have a
mobile phone, maybe you could text Ian or Silver, or you could email
them with a longer message, and if you have neither mobile nor computer,
there is always Royal Mail to send on your letter. All the necessary
contact addresses are in the box below. However, they are not always
able to reply immediately. Please
continue to keep Ian and Silver in your prayers. Although they make
light of the challenges in their news, living and working with these
conditions all the time does require special qualities; patience, grace,
wisdom, health and strength to name a few.
Pray too for those who have responded to
God’s love through the Mission Teams and for those who will disciple
them as they continue to follow Christ. |
Give thanks for the youth leaders attending the
training sessions undertaken by Ian. Pray that they will go back and
build up the young people in their home churches.
Here, back in Ian’s home church Bognor Regis Baptist
Church, we are looking to fund-raise for a replacement vehicle for the
faithful but worn-out friend mentioned in the news. Please pray for Ian
and Silver as they look for a suitable substitute and for us as we seek
ways to provide financially for it. If you would like to partner with us
in this, please contact me. We are grateful for your continuing support.
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Thelma Edwards, c/o Bognor Regis Baptist Church, 73 Victoria
Drive, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 2TD, England.
Email:
Thelma.Edwards@grace.ukol.net
P.S. If you wish to follow the journeys of Ian and Silver, I can recommend
two good maps from the Nelles Explore the World Maps series.
UGANDA ISBN 3-88618-659-8
KENYA ISBN 3-88618-543-5
Acrobat
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