Reflection of my time in Africa

It's been 8 months since I have returned back to the States from living in Africa. I have been putting off this blog because it is quite difficult for me to put into words my experience of living in West Africa for two years. Perhaps no words will ever be able to explain the experience to the fullest. All I know is I am not the same person I was before I went. As a result, after 8 months, I am still adjusting to life here in my home country. It has been harder than I expected to adapt back to life here. It was much harder coming back home and adjusting to life here. I can't really place it...maybe it is the pace of life here or the detachment people have to forming relationships. It feels different. People are distant and time is rushing. Sometimes, I miss the slowness and the rawness of people and life there. I think I will always miss it. My heart will forever be torn between two homes. And Africa...will always remain in my heart and will always be one of my homes. I have considered going back...already. But, I feel I need to stay put here for a little while. There is something comforting about settling a little rather than always being on the move. The back and forth moving can be taxing on me. So, I like the thought of staying here for a little while. It seems comforting and peaceful. Yet, I do believe I will get back to Africa someday. I am forever thankful for my time I spent there for the past two years. Like I said, words can not seem to give the experience what it deserves. So, instead of trying to explain, I decided to put up a few pictures here of my favorite moments throughout my two years there.

My 4th grade class at the International School of Ouagadougou.

Trip to Ghana with the Volleyball team.

Favorite girl at the orphanage, she has the same name as me.

Our Favorite place to go to eat lunch after church on Sundays.

Tap Dancers I taught for my first year in Ouaga.

Hiking around Mali.

The wonderful trip I had taken with Pam to Bobo and Banfora.

Our travel guide and his awesome car.

One of my best friends Pam.

One of my favorite treats in Ouaga. 

Right before Christmas break during our first year in Ouaga.

Visit with the crocs.

Visit with the elephants.

Koubri trip with the ladies.

My cat...Houdini.

Doing skits in the village.

The Bamako Crew.

Fulani Bible Dedication Ceremony.

One of my favorite girls at the Yako orphanage.

Behind us is the doctor who healed me when I got really sick.

Teaching in the Hakkola's house.

Brochettes.

A great trip with Pam to the village for a music festival.

Teaching English.

The quilt I had made with all my African fabrics.

The project I worked on for two orphanages.

Dance Show the second year.

Visiting with a camel.

Field trip to the village to pass out Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.

Selingue.

My only time I went jumping off a waterfall and swam in the water in Africa.

Eating at the Turkish restaurant.

Operation Christmas Child with Christa.

Went Rock Climbing on Christmas with Dave.

My dear friend, Flora who I'd go to pray over sick kids with in the hospital.

More kids at the orphanage.

Ouaga Crew.

Tap Danced with Ellie while he played the guitar and sang. He was the night guard.

Rode the moto.

My good friend Pauline, who made tutus for us for the first year's dance recital.

It's almost time to say goodbye

As I walked down the road in the heat, and as sweat poured down my back and legs I looked around the street where I walked. I saw dirt, trees, rubbish and people saying good afternoon in French. A little girl ran up to me just to shake my hand with a huge smile she wore on her face. It was during this walk that I thought to myself, this has been my home the past two years....and in about one month I will be leaving this place. It seems so unreal to me and I am sad to go. I have met unbelievable people out here and I have seen things that I thought I'd never see. I have seen poverty like I never imagined it to be and I have seen a pure rawness in the people here that makes it seem so much more real. To think I won't be seeing a woman with a baby on her back and a bowl upon her head walking down the street anymore...seems so abnormal. This has been my home for two years. I have lived among these amazing people....and very soon I will be saying goodbye. I don't think I am ready to say goodbyes. I think Africa will remain in my heart and soul forever. There is no way I can erase or forget what impact Africa has had on me. I am leaving a totally different woman than when I came here two years ago. Africa has forever changed me. I am truly thankful for that. Yet, I am sad to say goodbye.

It is weird to think I will be moving on without Africa in my future. I don't know how badly I will truly miss Africa until I leave for an extended period of time. I can only predict that it will not be easy. I am sure I will be comparing Thailand to Africa. My hope is that I can let go of Africa to some degree so I can make room for Thailand to grow in my heart.

Please pray that God will be with me during this transition. I know it won't be easy to say goodbye. Yet, it will also be challenging to move to a new country, a new culture and a new place. Please pray for me to be filled with God's peace during these changing times. Thank you for your prayers and support!

So, what have I been doing in Africa?

It has been awhile since I posted anything about what I have been doing here in Africa and how I have been serving here in Burkina Faso. So, I have decided to catch you up!

Last month, my 4th grade class completed Reader's Theater on African Folktales for the other elementary school classes and parents. They also completed animal masks for each character. They did a great job!

Another Day...Another Orphanage Delivery

Well, after a little break at Christmas time, I decided it is time to visit another orphanage and deliver more gifts to the children. This is all possible because of Crossroads Church Ft Lupton VBS. Last summer, they raised money for the orphanage children. Before Christmas, we visited the orphanage in Ouagadougou and delivered food, water filters, milk, baby formula, toys and more. This time, we drove about 2 1/2 hours north of Ouagadougou to Yako and delivered toys to the children in the orphanage there. We had asked the orphanage what their needs are and they requested some big toys for the toddlers and young children. Therefore, we had 7 rocking horses/bears made for them. In addition, while I was home in Colorado for Christmas, I picked up wooden toy cars from Toys For God's Kids. So, we gave 7 rocking horses and over 200 wooden toy cars to the children at the orphanage and school in Yako.

Check out the video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRKvu8iw-M4&feature=youtu.be

If you would like to learn more about this orphanage in Yako, named Sheltering Wings, please visit their website at: http://www.sheltering-wings.org/#/mission-projects/burkina-faso

If you would like to learn more about Toys For God's Kids, visit their website at:  http://www.toysforgodskids.org/

There is so much more to share about how good God is. God really worked and connected people together to make these donations possible. Not only did we have people from the USA supporting, donating and helping but we have had tons of help from Burkina Faso too. There was a large group of missionaries who joined along side of me for this project. In addition, the rocking bears were made by Muslim street boys. My dear friend Kate, who is also a missionary in Burkina Faso works with Muslim street boys. It is her ministry and it is what God has called her to do here in Ouagadougou. The street boys are the ones who made the rocking bears. So, the donations of money that went to buy gifts for the orphanage children also has helped the street boys in Ouagadougou. There is so much more to share about this amazing story and how God linked all of the people together, but I will save it for a time when I can share in person. This is an amazing story I can't wait to tell when I arrive back to Colorado this summer.

Well, here are some pictures from the day of delivery to the orphanage in Yako: