October 28th, 2016

Morning Flag Ceremony

Hello from Koro,

Time goes so fast when many graces are adding on Grace School and things are lining up for a good school year.

First Grace for Grace School is: On the first day of the school the drilling machine came down to drill the well in schoolyard. We got enough water for the students and even for our neighboring houses.
The news spread and many have heard around Koro that I brought a well drilling Machine from United States. People come to ask the how they can get a drilled well in their village. This was just imagined by those people not because of bad motivation, just because they are starving for water.
This year the water level is already very low. There was not good enough rain.  Many wells have started to go dry ready. It is giving us a clear picture of what a blessing this drilled well will be to our school and our neighborhood. Many are already seeking our friendship to share with them this precious liquid in the very near future as they come in need.

Second Grace for Grace School is; The second story is finished enough for the 4th and 5th graders to start courses in those classrooms. The going up and down of the students looks like the angelic traffic on Jacob’s ladder in the book of Genesis.
The classes are not yet painted and electrical wirings are not yet done, the upper restrooms are not yet ready but everyone here appreciates the work and wants to bring their kids here. We will resume with the construction on the days students are not in class. The new location is very attractive and the students at the old mud brick construction envy their younger fellow students.

Third Grace for Grace School is; A school nurse is a completely a new and unbelievable grace for Grace School in Koro. No parent had imagined that their kids’ first health care could be a possible option at this start up Christian School. So many students are coming to see Abel the school nurse that it recalls me the long queue of patients during the life saving trips of Medical Missions Foundation in Mali.
It has turned into a fashion to see a nurse. What struck me is that most of the time the kids are tested positive for Malaria or even complicated malaria or typhoid. Minor cuts and wounds are not enough worries for the students to come see the nurse unless we urge them.
Many parents therefore did not understand or believe what we are telling them we will do for the kids.
Unlike the other year, this year because of all this information, we scheduled a parents meeting to clearly explain the health education program and the multiple family visits the teachers and nurse will be doing during the school year.
This time so many parents came to the meeting that we were ashamed by the lack of space in the 75.3 sq. yard classroom. The class room had not enough light and air to allow extra-long parents meeting.  The nice fans and bulbs are not powered by electricity yet. They still stand for decoration till we get electricity in the building. We finally started praising God for the good number of parents who could not come at the meeting. In the past, many parents were just indifferent to invitation for parents meeting.
The meeting was great. We could share with each other our preoccupations, satisfaction, visions, dreams, expectation, worries and gratitude. Next time parents meeting will be held outside under the tree and a tent that will be set there just for the circumstance.

Fourth Grace for Grace School is; We got very good new teachers please meet them:
Salimata Togo, a Biology and chemistry teacher,
Nema Douyon, elementary school teacher;
Levi Kodio, an education science bachelor graduated teacher of French History and geography

Fifth Grace for Grace School is: The availability of a teacher to assist me at teaching at the public high school. His name is Allaye Poudiougo a great Physics and Chemistry teacher. His assistance will allow me to spend more time at Grace school and will hopefully allow a good and smooth transition when I leave the public school.
Please thank God for the different graces he has granted us that I have listed above
We still need some more grace for more students at the middle school, we have 30 students for the 3 classes.

• We need a great school year and excellent exam result for 9th grade.
• We need the adjacent land for room for a kindergarten as the demand is increasing.
• Wisdom and vision on every decision we make as leader of the school.
• We need peace, security and safety in Mali in general.

Thank you for your partnership with us and being a real blessing to those among the most disadvantaged kids in the world by improving significantly their education.  
 God bless you
 
 Your friend,
​ Ibrahima