January 25, 2014

We had a great, successful trip to Mali this month.  Ten of us traveled from Kansas City and California to help at a primary school in the small village of Dagabo and at Dr. Oumar's Clinique Paix in the town of Oulessebougou.  Ibrahima helped organize the mission from the Mali end and was our lead translator.  His ability to understand meaning and nuance and not just words across multiple languages and cultures is astounding. I haven't seen the final numbers but know that Tammy and I saw in the range of 320 patients and did about 30 surgeries.  We all learned a lot and had experiences that we bring back to share and to help make the world a little bit smaller and more peaceful.

I was able to have a couple of meetings with Ibrahima during the week about Grace Private School in Koro.  Although I wasn't able to visit the school (remember that Koro is at least 16 hours by bus to the east of Bamako), he did leave me with lots of pictures and several short movies. I was able to get a better feel for where the school stands and what the future may hold.  Communication with the outside world is so poor out of Koro.  Texting is about our only means of communication throughout the year so it was nice to be able to have full conversations.  As I have time to meet with the other board members and brainstorm and dream we will give more information about exciting plans for the school.

Some of us had put together supplies from Ibrahima's wish list and I was able to bring these things to him.  It was enough to fill a suitcase.  Four new soccer balls, big maps, lots of pens, clothes, hard candy, and printer ink cartridges.  He told me that there are only two color printers in all of Koro.  One is at the World Vision office and the other is at Grace Private School.  He said that people in town are amazed when they see color copies with new up-to-date information. The six black and white and two color cartridges will be enough to last a year.  Solar panels provide the power for the computer and printer at the school.

Thank you all for your interest, your prayers, and your contributions towards the spiritual and academic education of these precious children.

Peace,

Brandon

The Grace Private School first grade class meets in a temporary structure made of grass.

January update from Ibrahima Kodio

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014 to all of you!!!! We wish you all the best in this year; a year of peace, joy, health, success, prosperity in all aspect and deep satisfaction for you and your families, and all those who are dear to you.

As we write you in the midst of Sahel climate, we give thanks to God for sustaining us through the year and for your interest and valued support throughout the past years and particularly in 2013.

Thank you so much for all you did by partnering with us in the work at Grace School.

This year God has entrusted us 60 students in total, which is below the number we expected. We did some research about why after 3 years the school is not attracting enough students to make a profit even though people talk highly about the good quality of the teaching at Grace. Here are the three main points at the conclusion.

1.     Because of the unrest in the country, many people have totally or partially lost their income as businesses are idling. So people reduce their family budget by sending their kids to the free public schools even though they don’t like the quality there.

2.     The arrival of the 80 % government subsidized catholic school in Koro.

3.     The lack of regular class rooms for elementary school at Grace.

We were very surprised by the fact that none mentioned the Christian aspect of the school, rather they all appreciate the fear of God that is taught at Grace School.

To relieve these facts, we decided to reduce the tuition and reduce the salaries of the teachers and to lower all operating expenses. 

We are grateful for all the teachers as they understand what the school is facing and accept the sacrifice. 

The challenge is so big and we are not able to face it only by ourselves.

Mainly the help for education is directed to the public system while it keeps stumbling down from bad to worse every day.

I want to introduce you a brave student of Grace: Mohamed Traoré tenderly named Vieux, who joined us after the tragic loss of his mother Rebecca POUDIOUGO in September;

Vieux’s dad was fatally injured in an artisanal gold mine accident three years ago in Sikasso obliging this 9  year old little boy to depend only on his mother Rebecca, who was providing for her family from her critical income by doing door to door laundries.

 In September Mother Rebecca passed away after one month at the American Christian humanitarian Hospital in Koutiala. Vieux’s stature changed to a helpless orphan who none clams to be family with.

As Mother Rebecca was from the same family with my mother, one of my uncles and my mother were deeply concerned about Vieux’s future. They brought his story in to our house to confer about how to help him.

I was so touched by his all together long and painful story that my wife and I asked them if we can get him to stay with us in our house to give him family, education and anything we can for his good. Our proposal was quickly accepted and then Vieux joined us making our family grow to 15 members. We are grateful for the change we can see in Vieux’s life from the time he arrived to Grace School to today. He has become a happy boy and the third noisiest in our house just after me and Cathérine my first daughter. Vieux is 12 and will turn 13 soon and attends 7^th grade.

Please thank God with us for:

1.     The safety and health of students and teachers and administration during the year 2013;

2.     All the students we presently have at Grace;

3.     All the good news we hear about our former students from their high school teachers.

4.     All our supporters including you who read this letter.

5.     The easy integration of students in difficult situation like Ousmane, Vieux and Abdoul.

6.     The acquisition of the land for Grace School.

Please pray with us for:

1.     Godly guidance and protection through this Year 2014 for all teachers and students and particularly for the administration.

2.     True transformation of all the students by the grace and love of God to because servant, wall restorers and justice makers.

3.     Providence to build classrooms on the new land of Grace school.

4.     Quick improvement of the economic and financial situation in Mali.

Thank you and God bless you!!!

Ibrahima Kodio

Vieux

New pictures from Ibrahima and Grace school

Grades 1 and 2 students

Grade 7 students

Grade 8 students

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.

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