John & Kay Symons are Associate Field Workers in Kenya, Africa. John works under Bishop Isaaka Wawire in Mbale, teaching in the East Africa School of Mission (EASM). He developed a Cross Cultural Ministries and Linguistics curriculum for the college, which he is now teaching.
Kay, along with schooling their children, also helps teachers in the local primary school with methods of teaching English literacy & is on the board of Care Compassion Children’s Home which is run by the church they work with. Kay also helps the international students at EASM develop their English, to help them with their studies.

The New Academic Year
The new academic year has started at EASM this month. Seven new students have joined the first year of the course, while eight continue into second year, and about a dozen are going on into their third year. Students come from the western provinces of Kenya, as well as a number of surrounding African countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.

New subjects are being offered this year which means more curriculum writing for John as well as a fairly solid teaching schedule. Waking up and wondering what he’s going to do each day is not one of his problems!

New & old buildings on EASM land at Kegoye

Building
EASM owns a plot of land at Kegoye, near Mbale and this land has enormous potential. The intention is to build and relocate the Bible College from its current rented premises as soon as possible. Following this, there are further plans to develop a community centre, which would include space for a clinic and church, as well as continuing to farm some of the land to provide food for students.

The land is very fertile, so it was quickly utilised to grow produce. Maize and beans were soon being harvested from the property!

The building process has begun, with the erection of a ‘tin shed’ dormitory and classroom building. The finishing touches are being applied to this building, with boarders and classes expected to be using this building by the beginning of June.

Already on the property is an old, partially finished three bedroom house. The previous owner began but never completed the building. What he built however, he built well. An engineer has pronounced the old structure usable, and a quote as been made by a builder for repairing weather damage, complete unfinished walls, installing a floor and a roof. The building will be used as an office for the principal, a library, a guest bedroom for any visiting lecturers, a staff room, and a kitchen that can be used by staff and students alike. We’re anticipating with excitement what the ‘after’ is going to look like!

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