Marbles, Swimming Pools, Waterfalls and Hippos....

This past week, I had the opportunity to visit Bobo and spend some time with a friend of mine. After five hours on a bus while it was over 100 degrees, we made it to Bobo. The bus ride was hot and the bus stop is quite the experience as well. People surrounded us as soon as we got off the bus trying to sell us everything and anything from bananas, to chicken, to eggs, bread, tissues and more! Therefore, we were happy once we arrived to our destination!

While in Bobo, we learned a new game that is played with marbles. The children of the town of Bobo taught us how to play. It was fun to learn a little more about what life is like for a child living in West Africa.

After that, we headed off to Banfora on another bus ride (luckily this ride was only about an hour). Banfora is my favorite place in Burkina Faso. It is absolutely beautiful there. There are tons of trees and the ground is green and filled with plant life. We took a boat ride to see hippos. It was amazing to see the hippos living in the wild. We had to stay a far distance away from them but we were still able to watch them come up to the surface and then go under the water and then return to the surface again. Two hippos were fighting and they were leaping out of the water towards each other. It was quite remarkable to watch! They also would slap their tails on the water to warn the other hippo to stay away.

We had the opportunity to visit some waterfalls. After taking a few minutes to build enough courage, I finally jumped off the cliff into the water. It was fun! Our last stop in Banfora were the domes. It reminded me a little of red rocks and Colorado Monument Park because of all the rock formations. I remember when I drove across country, I visited a place that looked similiar as well. I can't remember the exact name or location but I think it was near South Dakota. The domes in Banfora were real fun to climb and hike on. I enjoyed it greatly!

Poetry Tea Time

After teaching a unit on Poetry, my 2nd and 3rd grade students shared their favorite poems with others during our "Poetry Tea Time". We invited the other class and all of the families to join us. It was really a great time for them to celebrate and share their learning with their families and friends. Even the family members brought poems to share as well. It was a great opportunity for the girls!

Yako Orphanage

This past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Yako and serve in a different orphanage there. I rode on my first bus ride in Africa. And....I rode it home alone - all by myself...then proceeded to get and take a taxi on my own the rest of the way. This is a HUGE accomplishment for me!!! I got around on my own without being dependent on other people. It is a good feeling!!!

Swarming Flies, Charging Elephants and Yummy Coba!

I had the opportunity to go to an animal park and go on a safari. We rode in the back of a truck through dirt roads looking for animals. We were accompanied by many buzzing, swarming horse flies which required some extra needed attention of swatting them away so we wouldn't get bit repeatedly. Yet, we still managed to do some sight seeing of animals and nature.

We saw baboons, deer-like animals, elephants, crocodiles, warthogs and more! I enjoyed seeing the animals in their natural habitat. It was very different from seeing them in a zoo locked up in a tight perimeter of fence. After seeing Coba (which is like an elk, moose, horse and antelope all in one), I decided to have Coba for dinner later that evening. I have to say...it was quite good!

I really enjoyed being out in nature. Observing the birds flying in the air, looking at the shapes of the trees, watching the sun set and then rise again the next morning. It felt good to just get out there and experience nature.

The second day, we rode around again and saw a whole family of baboons. We also saw lots of animals that look very similiar to deer. Yet, the fun really began once we arrived back at our camp. The elephants were right there...within twenty feet of us, eating the leaves off the trees. When there is no wire or fence or barricade between you and the elephants, it really put things into perspective...of how massive these creatures are! The elephants then crossed the road and headed down to the barage for some water to go with their lunch full of leaves. So, of course, we followed them. After some time of snapping pictures, we inched closer and closer to them when all of a sudden we realized that one of the elephants was coming towards us rather quickly. I snapped one last picture and then realized he appeared to be irritated by our close approach so he fanned out his ears and started charging us... so we ran....and didn't look back...we just ran and ran!!! Luckily, we all were not touched by the elephant. I guess once it saw that we were running away, it realized it accomplished what it wanted to do ...to scare us away!!!  I have a new level of respect for these very large, massive, strong animals.

All in all, it was a great experience and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to live with the elephants and nature for two days in Africa!

Inside the World of Dioramas

In Science class, we have been learning about different animals. We have been studying lots of different animals and the students were then able to pick one animal they would like to research more about. Eileigh picked Red Foxes and Hannah picked Elephants. It was exciting to see them so energized and wanting to research about their animal. They did research on the internet and in Encyclopedias. They did a great job gathering up information. After that, they created their plan for how they would design their dioramas. Then they used their research and plan to create a habitat. They were very thorough and added the correct environment, climate and food available so their animal can survive. Then, they created their animal while paying close attention to the little details of their animal. Of course, once it was all created and done, they presented their dioramas to the other class and then to their families. It was really great to see how enthusiastic the girls were with their research projects. They did a great job! This project included Science skills, Geography skills,  Reading skills, Writing skills, Research skills, Art skills, and Oral Language/Presentation skills. Wow! It was a well rounded academic experience.

I couldn't help but think of how awesome our God is. How He created all the animals so perfectly on earth. It amazes me to think of how beautiful animals are and yet each species of animals is so unique and special.

Genesis 1:24-25
And God said, " Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind". And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Children are Blessings from God!

I have been spending much of my time in Ouagadougou surrounding myself with children. I have jumped back into teaching dance classes again. Also, I have been back into a normal routine teaching regular school (2nd/3rd grade class). It has been amazing to see how much progress the girls have made so far this year! I am so thankful that God has given me a caring heart for children. I really enjoy working with children everyday. Thank you Lord for blessing me by giving me the opportunity to work with children in West Africa.

 

I have also been to the orphanage again to spend time with the children and babies there as well.

When I was leaving this last time, one of the children held my hand and did not want me to go....

she kept pulling me back towards the orphanage doors.

 It breaks my heart...if I could, I would adopt all of them.

 

 

 

Lastly, today I went to a Bible Dedication service for the Fulani people.

This was in celebration of the New Testament getting finished with translation in the Fulfulde language.This is a great reminder to me of why I am out here! I am teaching missionary children while their parents are translating the Bible for people who do not have the Bible in their heart language. Wow! I kept thinking while I was at the dedication service that so many more people will come to Christ now that there is a Bible in their own language. I also thought of how much more Christians will grow deeper in faith now that they can read the Bible in their own language on a regular basis. I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to attend the dedication service.

Thank you Lord, for giving me the opportunity to serve in West Africa and thank you to all of the people who have joined in partnership with me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life as a Missionary Kid

So, after working closely with Missionary families and kids I have seen many things that are quite different for the life of a Missionary Kid living in Africa when compared to life of a kid living in the USA.

Today, one of my students was very eager to show me her new "play house" to me. Naturally, I flashed back to when I was growing up in the USA, I had a "play house kitchen" and I remember it well. It had a refrigerator that opened where I stored my pretend food (that looked very real but was made out of plastic). The kid kitchen I played in had a pretend stove and sink and cabinets. I spent many hours playing in that "play kitchen" with my sisters. So, I was excited to see my student's "play house" as well.

She told me to follow her to the back of the house and pointed to a creation she made out of a storage bin, cardboard, a metal door and a few other items. She said, "this is my play house". She was very proud of her work. She pointed to the large rectangle and said, "this is my refrigerator" and opened it  and started taking her "pretend made food" out of it. She made cookies and cake out of bottle caps, dirt and flower petals. I found it to be very creative!

After some thought, I realized that even though it may look different, she still plays "house" like I did when I was a little girl. And she has fun doing it! It was then that I realized kids will be kids no matter where they live, no matter what culture or race.... kids will always have the creative, play side to them. And even if their environment equips them with less or different supplies, they will find ways to adapt and to have fun with what they have. It really opened my eyes to see the "happiness" in her childhood life as a missionary kid. It also reminded me of how special Missionary Kids are and my reason for why God has sent me here to serve. I am thankful that I have the ability to touch her life this year. Thank you, God, for giving me this opportunity to meet her, step into her world (her world as a Missionary Kid), and teach her school this year!

Check out the pictures: