Looking back over the past 12 months I feel we have been building foundations and seeing steady growth. As we have spent time working on our Strategic plan (still in process) I think we have all sensed God guiding us into a greater and stronger commitment to see Youth Ministry transformed in East Africa. As this plan is realized we also pray that it will transform the youth touched by it. As you read from Collin and Prosper I hope you will see how we are trying to have an impact both in urban and rural areas, where very different needs can be found and very different approaches to youth ministry need to be taught. However, be it in the city or in the deep village, the key point has to be for young people to meet with Jesus and enjoy a real, transformational relationship with Him. In all our planning and strategy this is our bottom line. Seeing this happen is true discipleship.

It is wonderful, at a time when credit is crunching hard, to be able to talk about growth, development and new shoots. This year has been tough at times but I am confident that YEA is moving forward.
As this is the last newsletter for 2011, I would like to thank each of you for the part you have played in making all this possible, but most of all to thank God who is in the middle of everything and guiding us towards the goal, His son, Jesus.

Bringing together our work in the cities of East Africa: For a long time we (Ian, Collin, Prosper, Silver and Alex) have been making regular trips to Bujumbura in Burundi, exploring ways how to work with youth there, support the young church and start something that will connect youth workers across the city and the denominations.
3 years down the road there is now a strong, growing youth workers network called DOMEKA, that brings over 200 youth workers together from different churches in Bujumbura. They meet once a month and have already organized a big youth conference. Back in Kampala our local network is now meeting regularly every last Wednesday of the month bringing together youth pastors/workers from 10 churches across the city.

In October we hosted 3 founder leaders from NAYNET (in Nairobi) here in Kampala and had a good time discussing ways of engaging and partnering more together in youth ministry in Nairobi as well as across the East African cities.

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, there is a network ready to take off. I have been down there twice in the past year. They are about to organize a meeting for youth pastors/workers in key churches in Dar next February.
We, along with NAYNET, have a vision to bring together the key leaders from the 4 cities for an EACWYN meeting (East African City Wide Youth Workers Network) in 2012, as well as support the continued growth of the individual networks.

Over the years YEA has expanded. We now offer service to Youth Ministry in many areas of Uganda and around the region. At the same time we have ensured consolidation of existing work. As this year winds up, it has been no different.
In terms of consolidating existing partnerships, much time and energy this year has been focused on Masindi and Hoima districts. Through our partners Henry and Nathan (Diocese Youth Workers) we have offered a lot of training and participated in Youth Conferences throughout these regions.
In December and January YEA will be doing more training there and helping to facilitate a Youth Convention in Masindi.
All our other work across the country is moving forward and we have potential new partners in Fort Portal, Bushenyi and Iganga.
Friendship with key people in Kampala, David Kabiswa, Amos Wekesa and Leonard Mutesasira, are opening up exciting new possibilities for the future.
May the good Lord see His work grow to even greater heights in the year ahead through YEA.
Job 8:7

Prosper

Like the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with 1 step. My thousandth mile was recently achieved when I wrote the final exams for my three year bachelors in NGO management with Social Work at Cavendish University in Kampala. I am now waiting for the exam results (which I am believing God to be excellent!)

I can’t thank YEA enough for both the financial and moral support that I have been blessed with. Also the Walton family from Stockport (Emma was on the CIST team) who made a great contribution to this milestone in my life.

I do hope to be of use to YEA even more and I must repeat, I am blessed to have been and still am a part of YEA.

May you all have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. Josh 1: 8-9.