December 29, 2013

Well, I head off to Mali in two weeks.  I will spend most of the time in Oulessebougou seeing clinic patients and doing minor surgery at Dr. Omar’s small private hospital.  Twelve of us are making the journey this time and we hope to have a profitable trip. Teaching, learning, healing and being healed.  Making the world a little smaller and then bringing back news and experiences to share.

Ibrahima Kodio is an expert in many languages.  It has been through his gift of translating that many of us have become acquainted with him.  He will be with us on this mission as well.  Using his skill to not only translate words but the meaning and the subtleties of the languages.  He proved himself to also be an amazing mediator last year with the officials at the refugee camp in Djibo, Burkina Faso, helping to soothe anxieties and smooth over misunderstandings.

As the Grace Private School manager he uses many of the same tools.  A gifted teacher, manager, and visionary he has built the school by sheer force of will. He feels it is his calling to provide a quality education in his own impoverished village. An education in not only math and science and language, but steeped in the Gospels that will produce hopeful, confident, joy-filled young adults. 

I go to Mali bringing items from his simple wish list for the school including maps, soccer balls, pens and printer ink.  More importantly I go as a representative of Grace Missions.  To remind Ibrahima that we are here for him and for the school. That despite limitations and long gaps in communication we are here praying and working for his family, the Grace students, their parents, the town of Koro and the country of Mali. 

I will bring back news, stories and pictures to share. Any amount that you can contribute to Grace Missions is appreciated and goes directly to help support Grace Private School. 

Peace,

Brandon

Malian children at refugee camp near Djibo, Burkina Faso

December 2, 2013

The 2013-14 school year is well underway at Grace Private School in Koro, Mali.  There are currently nine students in 1st grade, eleven in 2nd grade, six in 7th grade, twelve in 8th grade, and fourteen in 9th grade. That is a total of 52 students in all.  A very good number, although down a little from last year. 

There is another private school in town now that due to a government subsidy
has been able to keep tuition very low.  Ibrahima feels that this has kept some parents from enrolling their children at Grace.  He has decided to lower tuition somewhat and has cut teacher's salaries to try to at least maintain the numbers currently enrolled.  Grace has very good teachers and the children are receiving an excellent education as shown by their tests scores last year.  He feels optimistic that this is God's plan.  By allowing the school to grow slowly and intentionally, he is able to provide a more personal touch, able to respond to individual needs, and able to learn to adjust to the ups and downs of running a school in a politically unstable, economically depressed region.

Grace Missions has made a commitment to provide at least 50% of the school's budget for the 2013-14 school year. With a total budget of nearly $20,000, that means we need to raise $10,000.  Please consider a financial gift this month.  These children can literally not receive the great private education they are receiving without help from us. The students and their families are so grateful for all that is being done for them.

Peace,
Brandon

September 2013 update from Ibrahima Kodio

Dear Praying Friends,

I am looking forward to the day the school doors will open again, and at the same time I feel like it was just one week ago that the school was closed for summer break. The break was mainly occupied by visits to student families, negotiating a new place for Grace School, work and meetings for the new church building project in Koro, summer camp organization, and presidential election activities (vote organization). Altogether it was enough to make me feel like we had no summer break and wishing I had a longer vacation. Many students have already forgotten when they shouted, “Too much homework!!!” They are ready to come back to school, hungry to know more and to meet with their friends. While we haven’t yet finished analyzing the past school year, the coming one is at the door.

The past academic year was good for Grace in terms of results, as 80% of our students passed their exam. We thank God for all who donate to help kids in their time of need. We thank all of you who have partnered with us and supported us in all manners, including financial, material, spiritual, and technical. Please find our gratitude to you in this expression of thanksgiving. We are in a journey together (Rev. 20:12).

As we face the coming school year, we are considering several things: 1) What actions and activities to undertake for better communication between the parents and the school; 2) What strategy to use for a better and longer impact of the Gospel on the lives of the students; 3) What to do to improve the academic apprenticeship of each student, particularly in their area of gifting.

Because the compound owner that Grace rented from decided to not build more classrooms, Grace School needed to find someone to rent from who would build enough classrooms, or to purchase our own land where sufficient classrooms can be built by and for the school. Praise the Lord for providing a good piece of land for Grace Private School to purchase and for the finances needed to purchase it. This coming school year, first and second grade students will still be attending classes in hangers that we will build. We will convince the parents that study quality will compensate for the lack of comfort - I call this “MARKETING GRACE IN KORO!!!” AND we will do so through Christ (Phil. 4:13). We are aware that the challenge is big, but we know that our God is bigger. A test was organized by the local education authority for us to possibly recruit one permanent teacher for first grade this year while last year’s first grade teacher will move on with his students (picture to left – last year’s 1st grade) to second grade. 

Please thank God for:

ØThe health God has given us.

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ØThe success of 80% of our students at the national exam; regional success rate is about 30%.

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ØThe land in town being purchased by Grace School with the help of generous donors

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ØThe failed negotiations with the owner of the rented Grace compound, resulting in us buying our own land (confirming Rom.8:28).

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ØAll who are partnering with us in this Grace ministry.

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ØThe peaceful presidential election in Mali.

Please join us in prayer for:

ØA successful test so that we can recruit a 1st grade

  teacher – we may get the result late this week.

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ØA good number of new students for Grace School

  this coming academic year.

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ØDivine wisdom for the administration of Grace

  School as we grow.

Ø

ØContinuous peace for our country, Mali.

Thank you and God bless you,

Ibrahima KODIO

Grace Private School manager