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Christmas 2006 Edition
The
Joys of Giving * A Very Busy Weekend
* Building Work * Power
* Campsite * Camps
and Ministry * Upcountry *
Visitors *
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In this issue:
Building Progress
Visit to Mukono
Robert Halcrow
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The ongoing work of YEA depends on the generous giving of supporters.
In a very real way, you are partners with Ian and the team in the work
they undertake in Uganda and Kenya. Without you, it would not happen.
This year, as well as providing for the day to day living expenses of
Ian, your donations have trained and sent out Mission Teams, enabled the
training and ongoing support of youth workers, taken youth camping,
provided a water storage tank for the house, maintained the vehicle, and
enabled the house extension to progress. The house is not only Ian’s
home, but a drop-in for the youth, a place of retreat or base for
visiting teams, mission training centre and YEA HQ in Uganda.
2007 is a year of opportunity and the vision for developing the work in
East Africa will only be limited by the financial support we send out to
them. There is desperate need of a 4 x 4 vehicle large enough to take
the teams out on mission and robust enough to cope with the rough
surfaces of Ugandan country roads. The power supply situation is
worsening and we are keen to equip the house with a battery inverter to
provide basic electricity during the frequent power cuts. The new
campsite will require equipping and maintaining, and an increasing
number of invitations are being received from churches for youth
training and mission.
We bless you for your support and invite you to continue in partnership
with us as we look to financially provide for the fulfilment of what we
believe is God’s vision and plan for YEA. If you would like to give to
any of the specific projects or for the ongoing support of Ian and the
team, please contact me by email to: thelma.edwards@youthworx-ea.org.uk
or by post to: 73 Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 2TD
for details of online banking. Cheques should be made payable to
YOUTHWORX-East Africa and sent to the above address. If you are a UK tax
payer, and would like to increase your giving, we can provide a Gift Aid
declaration form for you to sign. Thank you.
Thelma Edwards (Treasurer) and the YEA Trustees
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On Saturday 25th November VOW choir (the group Ian is patron for)
came over to the house for a full day retreat. They spent time both in
fellowship and also planning for the future.
On Sunday 26th November Ian invited lots of people who have shown an
interest in the work of YEA to a meal (provided by Ingrid) at his house
to let people know more about YEA, especially the UK end, and to float
ideas for the future. Afterwards Collin wrote:
“We had such an encouraging time on Sunday. It was one of those events
where, if you feel like really you’re hitting against a hard wall
through all the work, it really energises you and refocuses you. Hearing
feedback from the friends we invited and seeing them getting to know
each other and partnering more in Christ was such a fulfilling and
blessed time.” |
The situation in Uganda only gets worse, with
regular power cuts and load shedding which means the power is very low
and often off all evening. With darkness lasting 12 hours of every day
in Uganda, this causes a big problem. Ian has been researching a
solution and writes:
“The first estimate I got was for a fullscale inverter system that would
power everything in the house when the mains was off. The inverter
system draws power from the mains to charge heavy-duty batteries then
automatically switches to using the stored power when the load shedding
begins. The first quote was £4500!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I then called another
independent guy to come over. He has suggested a lower power inverter
system that will give us all lighting, some sockets, computer and
printer and a choice of using stereo/tv etc but not all together. It
would not power the fridge or water pump so we would need to be
satisfied with these working just when mains is on. His quotation is
around about £420 - just a slight difference. This system can be
extended in the future to offer us more back up and solar panels could
be added at a later date if affordable to begin to reduce our reliance
on the grid power. This solution, whilst being less wonderful than the
first, is a whole lot more believable and we think is probably the right
one to go for”
It is becoming increasingly more important for Ian and the team to have
access to the internet in a safe and secure environment, preferably at
the house. Not least because of problems with bank accounts. There have
been some set backs with this plan, but its something which will need to
be pursued.
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The last few months have been unusually wet in Uganda, turning the
dirt roads to mud and disguising the pot holes in a rather dangerous
way!! Collin has been over-seeing work to extend the back rooms of the
house and add one more large room that will be office space as well as
extra accommodation.
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Building work has progressed slowly because of the weather, but it is
moving forward. In November Ian wrote:
“As you can imagine the house is not the most peaceful place on the
planet right now. I left just now as the builders were removing half the
original roof so as to attach the extension roof at right angles!!!!
Just a bit noisy in a house that has iron sheets as a roof. It is
raining like crazy at the moment and I got almost no sleep last night
because a thunderstorm to end all storms went on most of the night.” |
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On Friday 17th November Ian went with Amos to make
final decisions regarding plans for the Discipleship campsite down at
Entebbe. They are hoping to make a start in clearing bush, putting in
latrines and marking out tent sites etc over the Christmas/New Year
period. There is already a big team of volunteer youth eager to get down
there and make a start. Ian reports that there is a lot of enthusiasm
all round for this project.
Ian and Collin have been involved in camps through
December, more of them next issue, and of course there will be the KBC
youth camp in January. Ian and the team are still closely involved in
the youth ministry at KBC as well as being involved in preaching,
teaching and leading worship and choir.
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Land to be used for a permanent campsite
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In early November Collin and Ian did some
up-country trips planning for next year.
They went up to Hoima and had a long and very useful time with
Godfrey Buro. He has been appointed Diocese Secretary and therefore has
quite a lot of say in the direction of the work there. He is very
committed to seeing the youth work continue to develop and wants YEA to
be a central part of that. They also spent time with the youthworker
there and will be back in Hoima late January to do some training with
the youth workers from all over the Diocese. This will be a good time to
get to know them as well.
They also visited Mustard Seed Orphanage and now have provisional plans
for Catherine to spend a few weeks there, probably travelling up with
them in January then staying on for a while. Alongside working at
Mustard Seed she hopes to get involved in the Diocese children’s/youth
work. |
Ian and Collin also made a trip over to Mukono. Henry arranged
for them to meet with the Provost of Mukono Cathedral plus a whole group
of Reverends from across the diocese. They were having a staff day and
gave them time to explain the work of YEA; how they had been working
with Henry in Mukono and Mabira and how they felt they could help them
in the future. This was very positive and encouraging.
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Robert with Douglas
Making Friends |
Ingrid Verbiese from The Pilgrim, Oostende,
Belgium, returned to Kampala mid November, hopefully to stay for a
longer time. Ingrid’s hospitality skills are much used by Ian and the
team, and she makes a wonderful photographer – most of the photographs
we have in newsletters and on the website are taken by her. She will
stay at Ian’s house for a short time while she applies for a work permit
and finds out just what God has planned for her. Please pray for
guidance and wisdom for her.
Robert Halcrow from Bognor Regis, has been
in Uganda since last July and his time there is reaching an end. We will
ask him to produce a newsletter all about his activities when he gets
back. If you can’t wait that long there is a lot of information from him
on his page of the church website. Log onto www.opengate.org.uk and
click on YEA, then Robert Halcrow, then latest news. Briefly he has
worked with Scripture Union and the youth ministry at KBC. He has
visited Kenya and Nairobi and especially enjoyed the work at the project
in Mathare valley. He has been involved with a variety of missions and
trips and has used his musical talents in all sorts of situations.
Please pray for Robert as he travels back, re-adjusts to life in England
and seeks God for his future plans.
Catherine Lex, another member of Bognor
Regis Baptist Church is due to travel out in January to work in Kampala
for a few months. She hopes to live with Faith, a long-term friend of
YEA and work with Compassion and other projects while she is there.
Please pray for her plans, health and safe travelling. |
For Prayer:
For Robert as he spends Christmas away from his family and
prepares to return to the UK
For Ingrid as she also spends Christmas away from her family and looks for God’s
direction for her.
For Catherine as she prepares to travel out into an unfamiliar environment
For continuing health for the team
For good relations between all the various parts of YEA
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