‘Fantastic team and trip.  Four workshops and three seminars so far, including one at mud hut school in a very poor area.  Feedback is all positive with really exciting action plans.  God is working in us and through us with many challenged by the message.  James is a star and inspiring everyone.  Food is good too — have had fresh fish from Lake Victoria’.

More to follow!

I’m Ceri from Cardiff, I love spending time with my two little nephews who are always making me laugh with their funny little sayings. I have Cerebral Palsy which affects my co-ordination and speech but God has given me a sense of adventure and ability to persevere. I’ll give most things a go and really enjoyed the recent SHINE adventure holiday run in partnership with Scripture Union and Through the Roof. It was so lovely to go on an ‘inclusive’ holiday where no distinction was made between disabled and able-bodied, everyone was made to feel equal …. it was just a bunch of lively people up for lots of fun!

I’m quite a people person (I love Facebook!). I have always enjoyed getting to know people from other cultures or those who have experienced other cultures. Hearing their stories always gives me a bigger vision of God and a passion for reaching the unreached with the hope of Jesus.

I work for OSCAR, the UK’s online resource and information service for anyone involved or interested in mission or Christian work around the world.
(www.oscar.org.uk). OSCAR is now interactive with its own social networking site, OSCARactive, which much of my work here has been focused on.

OSCARactive is a website where mission-minded people meet, support and encourage each other as well as share professional knowledge and expertise and explore opportunities for partnership.

I have set up a group called ‘Doing Mission with a Disability’ and it would be great to see people involved in Integr8 use or simply join! My vision for the group is for it to grow into a place where folk can share stories of their own experiences on the mission field, highlight possible opportunities and discuss some of the additional practicalities that may be involved such as travel arrangements, accessibility etc. As someone who has a Masters degree in mission studies and has cerebral palsy, I’m very keen to see this issue of disabled people included and encouraged into mission/ministry roles being raised as much as needed.

To join the OSCARactive community please go to www.oscaractive.net and fill in a few details. Once you have received an email confirming your membership you can join the group here http://oscaractive.ning.com/group/doingmissionwithaphysicaldisability.
If you have any problems joining or questions you can contact me at ceri@oscar.org.uk.

* Follow this link to download a PDF flyer for the event containing many more details.

At 16 years old, James is Through the Roof’s youngest fundraiser using the JustGiving donation site, and has successfully raised nearly £1300 for his trip to Uganda as part of an Integr8 team. The team leaves on 5th August and James’ role will be to talk about his personal experience of disability to inspire a spirit of inclusion within local communities over there.

To raise funds James spoke at all three services at his church to publicise the mission, and his Minister interviewed him at the evening ‘cafe-style service’. The youth group leaders were so inspired they donated £250. James also held a car washing session at church and, simultaneously, there was a tea party where many people consumed cakes baked by ladies from church.

Check back regularly to find out how James and the rest of the Integr8 team get on in Uganda.

Guatemala Team Leader Marie writes:

Everything is going very well, we are being well looked after. We did a workshop on Sunday which went down very well and have been to New Life Special school today where we had a very good session with the teachers advising on particular problems. We will go into the school again in the morning to work with the children then we are off to another Christian school to do a workshop for the teachers there.

This is a very different trip in many ways from last year, but exciting and we believe it is all a part of God’s amazing plan. We have made several excellent contacts who are keen for more training and Through the Roof involvement.

The girls are just brilliant, we are all getting on very well together and I love them all.

Keep visiting this website for further updates from the team as we hear from them.

The following links are MP3 files of Philippa’s audiodiary from the trip.  Download them and listen away.  Philippa is returning to Guatemala in 2010 — find out more by following this link.

• Song and dance by pupils at New Life school, Guatemala, with audio description
• Song: ‘All of my life is in Christ’ and audio description of dance by disabled pupils at New Life school
• Experience a Guatemalan song and dance from Philippa’s perspective
• Philippa shares her experience of disability with Guatemalan teachers
• Philippa traversing a boat, steps and uneven ground in Guatemala with assistance from team-members
• Audio description for Philippa of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
• Translated summary of the personal experience of Blanky, a 17 year-old wheelchair user at New Life school, Guatemala, now studying accountancy

Our first meeting will take place on 6th June. Please come and join us.

We want to help those with learning difficulties to make friends and to be better included in their communities

WAVE describes what we’re trying to do:

- it’s a sign of friendship
- it can mean waves in the sea which are very powerful and can break down barriers
- it’s what people do to show they need help

There are two ways of making friends that we’re trying to get going – church meetings and a social club.

The church meetings will be easy to be a part of. There are lots of people with learning disabilities living in London and many in Haringey. Very few go to church. Families with a disabled member often ‘give up’ on church once their young person is too old for children and youth groups.

We want to

• help young adults with Learning Disabilities already in churches to get more out of the teaching
• to welcome back those who might have given up on church
• to help those who know nothing about church to find an easy way in.

We hope to provide a relaxed place, where we can:

• sing together

• learn about God through simple bible teaching

• pray for each other and

• get to know each other better over tea and cake!

WAVE Club is still being developed.

There are lots of young people who won’t want to go to church – the club is for them.
We hope the group will be run by and for young people aged 16+ – those with learning disabilities but also others who believe in the importance of inclusion.

We have some money to help to get this going.

We now need to get together a small ‘planning group’ of young people and someone who can help them to work together.

For more info, contact: bernice@bernicehardie.co.uk.