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.
Ø
ØThe
success of 80% of our students at the national exam; regional success rate is
about 30%.
Ø
ØThe
land in town being purchased by Grace School with the help of generous donors
Ø
ØThe
failed negotiations with the owner of the rented Grace compound, resulting in
us buying our own land (confirming Rom.8:28).
Ø
ØAll
who are partnering with us in this Grace ministry.
Ø
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.
Ø
ØA
good number of new students for Grace School
this
coming academic year.
Ø
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
