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:

Delivering Gifts to the Orphanage

Well, after months of planning, shopping and having things made...we finally delivered the gifts to the orphanage. What a blessing you are to these children! Thank you for allowing me to do this ministry with you. It was completely awesome!

A few months ago, we asked the orphanage director what the orphanage needs were. She had mentioned at that time they didn't have a table and the kids ate on the floor all the time. She also mentioned the water filter was broken so they weren't able to have clean, filtered water. The other main issue the orphanage had was they had to walk really far with all the kids to get to the nearby school playground and was looking for big toys they could play with in the orphanage on days they couldn't walk to the playground.

So, we had a wood table and bench custom made. We wanted the table to be made with round corners but it also needed to be sturdy and strong so it wouldn't knock over easily. We also had 2 rocking bears made for the toys so the children can play in the orphanage. Then, we shopped for the water filter, milk, rice and baby formula.

And finally today we delivered it to the precious children. I am thankful for my friend Christa who helped organize ordering and getting the supplies. I am also thankful for my friend, Melissa for joining us on the delivery of the items. Thank you, partners for all of your help supporting these children too!

Please watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fqkU3sPijY

I am Forever Changed

I am forever changed….

realized I am changed forever for the rest of my life

transformed and carved with my Master’s knife

no longer do I see my own culture the same way

don’t quite understand what some of the people say

see pictures on facebook of legs exposed and it seems so bizarre

feel so distant from life back home like everyone is so very far

my views have changed of value and money and everything in between

perhaps it has to do with who I have met and all of what I have seen

my eyes have seen poverty at levels I never imagined were real

my heart is broken and humbled to the point that I must kneel

thanking God for all the experiences and people I have met here

praising my precious Jesus for changing my heart this past year

at times there is a wedge between my culture and me

yet it is okay because God is opening my eyes to see

to see the world through His eyes to see all He wants me to see

and to live my life to my fullest and be all He wants me to be

please join me in prayer for the people of West Africa

that these people will know Jesus in Mali and Burkina

pray that God is with them always and sends more people who care

so people can be provided with food and love by others willing to share

if we all gave a little of our time and love to others who are in need

it could change peoples lives here on earth and for eternity indeed

Missing the Cool, Brisk Air and Snowflakes

To wear a coat and a wool hat for weeks

Or to feel the cool brisk air hit my cheeks

To get all bundled up before going out

I will try not to get all upset and pout

But I miss the crisp, cool air

At times I feel it’s not fair

I’m missing the colors of the fall aspen trees,

I’m missing the fresh snow filled to my knees,

I never thought I would miss the cold

But I miss it more than I have been told

I miss wearing pants, sweaters, coats and boots

I miss snowboarding down through trees and chutes,

I miss seeing the branches lined with snow glistening,

I miss the peacefulness and comfort the snow brings,

When I think of winter I forget that it is all very nice,

Even though I don’t miss scraping my windshield of ice,

The grass is always greener on the other side people say,

I guess I realize that more and more every single day,

But I must remember to be thankful for the place I’m at today,

Because I don’t know how long it will be till I go or I stay,

So, yes I get tired of the hot, hot, dry Africa air,

But I have to remember that I am here cause I care,

I care about the people, the Bible and more

And I believe God has great things in store,

So I continue living in the hot, hot, dryness,

Dreaming of beautiful snowflakes and coolness,

And someday when I return for some winter fun,

It will surely be a blessing and I’ll appreciate it a ton!

A special link to a well known and celebrated holiday...

If you haven't already...check out this link and more importantly, check out a holiday that just passed by recently. Much different from Holidays back home in the States.

http://www.picturetank.com/v2/?module=site&action=displayContactSheet&randomId=25f984527aaa94397599c544e2a66219&lang=en&orderSet=o&publicLanguagesOnly=1

Great Video on Why Bible Translation....

Check this out and share it with others!
http://vimeo.com/74464611

Go Burkina....Go!

After living in Burkina Faso for longer than one year, it seems appropriate to create a post on this blog and recognize what happens in this country when Burkina is playing in a soccer (football) game. First of all, for the day or two leading up to the game, people will be standing on the side of the road with Burkina Faso flags, horns, shirts and more for sale. Hours before the game, the honking will begin, people will be covered with paint on their chest, face, hair and back. They will wear the Burkina Flag as capes and wear wigs on top of their heads. The excitement will build until the game begins. While the game is on, people will be crowded around, hunched over, watching the TV like a hawk watching it's prey. And then once Burkina scores a goal, you will hear an explosion of cheering, clapping, horns blaring, and more. People will be jumping, dancing and hugging in the streets. Today as I walked into the supermarket, Burkina scored a goal and this one lady started cheering, ran up to me, hugged me and then we started jumping together while we were hugging. I never met the lady a day before in the past. It sure was an experience! To add, once I arrived inside the food store, people were stopped dead in their tracks in the middle of aisles, staring at the TV screen and watching the game. It was like an obstacle course just to get through the aisles.

There is something to be said about the unity that happens among the people in Burkina Faso during these games. The people come together in team spirit and encourage one another. They dress up and hang the Burkina Faso flag everywhere throughout the town. They cheer, smile and celebrate with everyone who is around. I took some pictures; Although the cutest of all, I did not capture. It was on my drive home today, I saw a mother riding a bicycle and on her back was a baby wearing a knit hat that had the colors of Burkina Faso. It was a precious picture but I couldn't get my camera out in time and by the time I did get the camera ready, the mother and baby were long gone.