May 11, 2014 Update

Greetings!!  This month we are afflicted by the loss of the very dear Anne GUINDO, mother of one our students, Amadimé GUINDO grade 9. The fullness of our consolation is the hope we have, for her being in Christ Jesus. At 3:30 AM one morning my friend Korka SAGARA knocked on my door asking me to join those who are to go dig the grave. When I was able to see clearly I was so surprised by the large number of new graves. Most of them were graves of babies and children. I made sure that others had the same observation as me. To my question a sad answer was given. So many kids are dying from malaria and typhoid; the graves by the hospital have even more children than this one. There seem to be so many sad things happening in this little town. Yet, we understand how God has protected and is protecting us in a place where fatal danger is ubiquitously permanent. We acknowledge your support in prayer for us.

The results for the second term were given to parents and students. In general they were good results even though there are some students who did not do well. The best students this year are Moustapha HAIDARA 9th grade, Aissata AYA 8^th grade and Talata NIANGALY 7th grade. We praise God for what God has done in their lives and the growth and maturity they display.

Aissata, Moustapha, and Talata

This year 5 trainee students have arrived at Grace School for their internship. They are all Muslim but they like very much the Christian school and deliberately choose to come.  We really enjoy working with them and they are true blessings to us.

The Diougodiè DOLO School team won the inter school soccer cup trophy for the 2013-2014 school year. They visited Grace School and encouraged our students to keep on working.

Champion soccer team

The students of grade 9 had a cooking class and they very much enjoyed the Arab couscous with their teacher Tite POUDIOUGO.  After that the students of grades 8 and 7 had the same course to help them learn basic techniques in cooking to be helpful at home and for themselves.

Cooking experts!

Enjoying the feast

We praise God for our former students for their good result in the different high schools they are at. I am proud of them in my physics class at the public school and when my colleagues tell me good things about them. Please keep praying for them so that they keep in their profound beings the life saving truths they learned while they were at Grace School.

God bless you for your prayers!

Your friend,

Ibrahima

New Christian Church in Koro

Currently the Christian church in Koro worships in a space that is just too small.  There is not enough room for everyone that wants to attend.  Hundreds of people are left trying to listen to the service outside the walls.  The church leaders have recruited Ibrahima to help plan and build a place of worship that will hold 1000 people. What an amazing sign of vitality and growth of the Church!  Here is what Ibrahima says in his latest update:

The church building project is still on the founding stages but is requiring many meetings.  All this is due to the fact that, to avoid the huge costs, the church hasn't given the work to a contractor.  Masons are building according to the execution plan that is given by a civi engineer, while our little volunteer team is keeping an eye on its correct execution.  Only two of us cna read technical plans for construction.  It makes things more difficult and takes much of our time.  I am thankful for my (shortened) mechanical training that taught me about these kinds of drawings, and for my brother who is a civil engineer!  

Grace News April 2014

   

We call March and April the months of Energy in Mali.  The wind and the bright and burning sun are everywhere in the country and in the whole Sahara zone. Here people live in this heat without energy to cook their food and the bright sun without light to read at night. The wind blows from everywhere but there is no energy to power a fan at night in the bedroom. What a contrast for someone who knows what electrical energy is made of. Education is the only thing that can free human beings and fight the poverty in this advantaged but still disadvantaged place in the world.

We were privileged to have the president of the Republic visit Koro on March 21^st. He did the ground breaking for the road-building project from Koro to Burkina Faso and from Koro to Bandiagara.

 President Keita and county mayor visit the solar power center.

The students wanted to meet him and shake his hand, but security changed everything. Safety rules have restricted that the president will not shake hands with the public, he will stay in the car and just wave. Only authorized people are allowed to take pictures. We were asked to turn off our cameras. But we did take a few pictures anyway.

The bible that the students were to hand to the president was in the end given to the county mayor of Koro. We took a picture of him holding the Bible with some students.

Madeline, Mariam, and Vieu with the mayor.

It was so difficult if not impossible to control the students because there were Dogon masks everywhere, arousing their curiosity.

The president promised the citizens of Koro that after electricity, they will have reliable running water and good roads. In Koro we have already learned that presidential decisions take time to become reality because the water crisis is turning from bad to worse every day after the visit. We take the donkey to school to wait at the tap for water, where every drop is preciously collected.

After a wearisome second period exam, a short but rescuing Easter break is allowing Viex to coach a street football club.

     

Thanks again for the many ways you all support us. We have felt your love; your encouragement and we acknowledge your vital partnership in this work, not just providing education but touching lives with love for eternity and enlarging the kingdom of God on earth. Together we will be able to say like Paul: “We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.” Col 1:28

Please Thank God for:

1. Health of teachers, students, and families
2. The second term exam
3. the land for the school
4. the progressive church building project
5. the safe presidential visit in Koro
6. the joyful wedding of Amesserou and Febe

And pray with us for:

1. Growth of the school in terms of students and quality teachers
2. Providence for building classes at the school land
3. Deep impact of the gospel in the lives of students
4. students to work hard and be successful in their education
5. water to be abundant for the population and the building project.

Blessings!!!

Your friend, Ibrahima