Gary & Joanne said they are still having generator issues, but they had a brief opportunity to "power up" with the use of a villager's gas generator - long enough to transmit this (possibly previously drafted) update w/photos. Next update? Hard to tell. Pray for the generator issue to be resolved. John & Kim Williams P.S. Note the use of a flashlight for illumination (on counter to the left). 
Dear Friends, Just a quick note to share as we progress through the new school year. Gary’s workload grew by 100 percent when Joanne’s 400 Pre-Form I students graduated to Form I. The photo above shows me scoring about 800 tests from the four different Form levels. Joanne, bless her heart, wanted to know how her old students did, so assisted in scoring most of the Form I exams. Joanne is now growing a new class that will likely not peak until October. She currently has 45-50 students, who will study English and mathematics during Pre-Form. Most of the students, however, will not register until between September and November. During that period last year, it grew from two large classes to five. Obviously, those who were with Joanne most of the year are doing much better than those with only a month or two of English under their belts. Talk about deer in the headlights stares… I’ve started this year in Bible Knowledge class to put Kiswahili in parenthesis following key works and concepts, and it seems to be helping, as the first test scores looked pretty good. I had 26 students (11 of which were Form I students) score 90% or higher, and the number of really low scores were much fewer than last year. A very important factor, I am convinced, for the increased effort of the students is the deepening relationship we have with them, which is a direct reflection of your relationship with them. They could hardly believe it last year when we returned, and they are already telling us that their hearts will be full of sadness when we leave in June. When we tell them that we are just going for two months to greet our families and friends and get supplies for the school, they brighten some, but say that they still will be sad every day until we return. Thank you so much for being our partners in this work. We could not be here without your material support, we could not serve as we do without your prayer support, and we definitely would not have the victory we see without the Lord’s support. For example, I confirmed what I said in an earlier update: only one student failed the Form II National Exams in November. As it turns out, her fellow students found that she had not only attended the prayer services, but was visiting a witch doctor for charms to help her on her exams. The student body was very vocal about the resulting “testimony” of what happens when a person tries to serve two masters. Also, visiting the village of Itewe this past Sunday on a preaching assignment, we had a young man come forward who had wandered from the faith during his high school years. It was such a joy to see my sermon on the commandment to love demonstrated by that body of believers. The constant threat of rain and the fact that my bike chain broke going up the first of four mountains did not dampen the mood of the day in the least. In fact, if everything goes smoothly, you don’t meet near as many people and experience God’s adventures and divine appointments. God bless you all in the ministries where He has placed you. Gary and Joanne Grenell P.S. Notice that Joanne's bolts of fabric and sewing projects occupy much of our living space. Some things never change, no matter where in the world you live.
Dear Friends, Just a quick note to share as we progress through the new school year. Gary’s workload grew by 100 percent when Joanne’s 400 Pre-Form I students graduated to Form I. The photo above shows me scoring about 800 tests from the four different Form levels. Joanne, bless her heart, wanted to know how her old students did, so assisted in scoring most of the Form I exams. Joanne is now growing a new class that will likely not peak until October. She currently has 45-50 students, who will study English and mathematics during Pre-Form. Most of the students, however, will not register until between September and November. During that period last year, it grew from two large classes to five. Obviously, those who were with Joanne most of the year are doing much better than those with only a month or two of English under their belts. Talk about deer in the headlights stares… I’ve started this year in Bible Knowledge class to put Kiswahili in parenthesis following key works and concepts, and it seems to be helping, as the first test scores looked pretty good. I had 26 students (11 of which were Form I students) score 90% or higher, and the number of really low scores were much fewer than last year. A very important factor, I am convinced, for the increased effort of the students is the deepening relationship we have with them, which is a direct reflection of your relationship with them. They could hardly believe it last year when we returned, and they are already telling us that their hearts will be full of sadness when we leave in June. When we tell them that we are just going for two months to greet our families and friends and get supplies for the school, they brighten some, but say that they still will be sad every day until we return. Thank you so much for being our partners in this work. We could not be here without your material support, we could not serve as we do without your prayer support, and we definitely would not have the victory we see without the Lord’s support. For example, I confirmed what I said in an earlier update: only one student failed the Form II National Exams in November. As it turns out, her fellow students found that she had not only attended the prayer services, but was visiting a witch doctor for charms to help her on her exams. The student body was very vocal about the resulting “testimony” of what happens when a person tries to serve two masters. Also, visiting the village of Itewe this past Sunday on a preaching assignment, we had a young man come forward who had wandered from the faith during his high school years. It was such a joy to see my sermon on the commandment to love demonstrated by that body of believers. The constant threat of rain and the fact that my bike chain broke going up the first of four mountains did not dampen the mood of the day in the least. In fact, if everything goes smoothly, you don’t meet near as many people and experience God’s adventures and divine appointments. God bless you all in the ministries where He has placed you. Gary and Joanne Grenell P.S. Notice that Joanne's bolts of fabric and sewing projects occupy much of our living space. Some things never change, no matter where in the world you live. 
Enjoy your updates as it makes our prayers for you more intimate. Missions Club is praying also! We encourage you to stay strong in our Lord…you are faithful in the greater thing.
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