Our birth names are Gary & Joanne Grenell, but the people of Tanzania we serve call us Babu & Bibi Philipo (Babu is Swahili for grandfather; Bibi is Swahili for grandmother).
In 2009 God called us to missionary work in a remote and underdeveloped region of Tanzania, Africa. We are serving as teachers with Village Schools Tanzania at Idigima Secondary School near the village of Idiwili, in the region of Mbeya in Tanzania, Africa. The mission is simply to share the Gospel through education. While we miss our family and friends in the states, we quickly felt at home and know that this is where God wants us to be.
We are from Coralville, Iowa (USA), and parents to four grown children - three of whom are married, two of whom have children of their own, making us grandparents to seven!
Our home church is Grace Community in North Liberty, Iowa. Grace Community partners with Village Schools International. We are also supported by a number of individuals - family, friends, members at Grace, members of other churches, and by Deaf Missions.
Thanks for taking time to explore our blog!
Your Hands & Feet,
Gary & Joanne Grenell
