Adventures With Mark!

I am happy to report that the Williams Family of four have found their way safe and sound back to Uganda and have settled in well. Okay, not totally settled in yet as we have one suitcase to unpack and a few boxes to dig through. Seth and Jodie will fill you in a little more later on this adventure…

The school has had a great start to the new academic year as term one begins in early February in Uganda. Our results from last year’s grade seven class’s national exam came in very strong once again in the country. There are a possible of five divisions that each student can achieve with aggregates within each division. The majority of our students received a division one result (the best) with a few in division two. As soon as the results come out the papers carry the top schools in the country on the front page and several pages with write ups. God was good and our school was the 13th best school in the country out of over 30,000 primary schools. The only disappointing fact is that we are still trying to work out our school registration (lots of red tape and some unbelievable politics that have been very stressful) so currently we write our exams at another school in Kampala which drastically boosts their results. This of course does not allow our name to make it to the 13th position in the country. However, our staff knows, along with the students, that everyone worked hard as a team and it paid off in excellent results. This would equal three years in a row that we would be ranked in the top 20 schools in Uganda if we had our own registration and exam center number. Yes, Lord willing it will come… As a result of these good grades our students have been admitted to top schools across the country for secondary education. We are excited once again to see them do well academically like those that have gone before them and to be leaders that make a difference.

I continue to be amazed somewhat at our excellent results as we do not spend nearly as much time in the classroom as some of our peers. Some schools will have their grade six and seven students in classes by 6:00 AM… yes that early for classes. It does not stop there as they are taught all day, late into the afternoon and then evening classes. I remember coming under fire from some because I refused to follow this kind of schedule and chose to offer computers, art and PE to our students. I think that too many schools in Uganda focus on the exam results and forget about educating the child as a whole. Our school staff focuses on the child’s needs first and then with hard work, discipline and God’s provision we are blessed with success. Our goal is not to turn out top notch academic students for secondary schools, but students who are capable to lead and make a difference in this country’s future. For that to happen they need to know who they are and be confident in what they have been taught academically and spiritually.

With this kind of results it is easy to get excited to dive into another school year. However, my greater excitement is to know these kids and to see their lives changing from the inside out as they receive love and encouragement from the staff at the school when they arrive. Yes, I shed some tears each time I say goodbye to a class of grade seven students. And I am rewarded so often by their love in return. And also by knowing that they know I love them. After the end of year ceremony last year one boy said, “Today I realized Mr. Williams loved us beyond what I thought.”

My friends, lets all go forward in what ever corner we may be at in this world and make a difference where we have been placed. Change must happen from the inside out so we must have God’s help and it begins with one person at a time. I am convinced that all of us are in a position to make a positive influence on someone around us. As Seth would say, ‘Ready, set, go!’