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: