Dear Family and Friends,
Yesu ni Bwana!!! (Jesus is Lord!!!)
I'm in an internet cafe in Vwawa, on my way with a student to Tunduma, on the boarder of Zambia. Nestory is a Form I student who has been very helpful to Joanne and me as an interpreter, laborer and friendly counselor about African culture. We are out on holiday break, so wanted to treat him to a trip to the city for school supplies and a fun time. We didn't know the bus system was on strike! After a ride in the back of a dump truck over 15-20 miles, we arrived at the junction to find lots of people waiting, and we joined them. An hour later, we were on a very, very crouded bus, squished like sardines in the aisle. It was wonderful to be on our way and everyone was in happy spirits.
Christmas was quiet; they don't practice gift-giving here...they just eat a lot. We were encouraged to donate our month's supply of rice to the party, and then watched the Lord return upon us in the following days special treats of fruit, vegetables, and goat meat.
New Years brought some real excitement. Back on the first Sunday in December, I'd preached in the village of Ichesa, a branch church of Ihowa, where the evangelist has established a great program for the widows and orphans. In the service that day was the village elder/leader. He was very excited to hear about VST and had lunch with us at the pastor's home. Two days later, he and 5 others were at Idigima to talk to the leaders there, and in the following weeks were in contact with Madisi, where Steve Vinton lives. On last Saturday, five of us from Idigima took part in the land dedication and village meeting for the Ichesa Secondary School. The meeting was open-air in the market place, full of speeches and Q&A.
Back home, the latest excitement was when the SIAFU went on the march. Joanne was visiting the facilities one morning and came in dancing and shaking her skirt, then headed out to the neighbors to report that red ants were swarming the area. I took some video, and watched as the ground gradually cleared into well-defined trails. By the next day, there was no sign of them. They did visit our neighbor for a steak dinner, sending his cattle in a bit of a stampede. We learned from our language helper that they will routinely enter a chicken house and kill the chickens, but that the tiny black SISIMIZI ant chases them away. I was happy to hear that, as we have many SISIMIZI in and around our house. The SIAFU also enter termite and rat holes and kill the occupants.
Joanne is busy with Pre-Form English students, who don't get so long of a break, as they must be up to speed for the classes taught in English. She's spending 3-4 hours a day with them each morning. I am working on Bible Knowledge curriculum, as I will have all Form II and Form III student come January 18th. I may also have some Form I classes, but that has not been finalized. We have many visitors to our home daily...students who can't wait for school to start again...some wanting to know how they did on the final exams...some to continue in the work of building (this helps pay some of their student fees)...and teachers coming to get filtered water or any extra food we have in the house.
Joanne had a local tailor give her a treddle sewing machine for use free for three months. She's been repairing student uniforms and teachers' clothing, made herself an African skirt and blouse, and is giving sewing lessons to three students, a couple of teachers, our cook, and a village pastor's wife. It's a good thing we don't have electricity, or she'd bee up all night. As it is, we eat a lot of meals by candle light because she wants to use all available sun light.
We think and pray for all of you daily, desiring that the Lord is glorified in all you do.
Gary and Joanne Grenell
