A dream called Life

October has been a month full of surprises, laughs, trials, heat, and joy. As I was riding the bus from Bobo to Ouaga I was thinking to myself, is this life that I am living even real? It so often feels like a dream, and in reality so much of what I am doing really is. Thinking back to 2 years ago I never would have imagined that I would be doing the things I am and when that reality hits I and humbly overwhelmed with the great and divine providential hand of God. Everyday I am realizing that apart from Him this would only be another day, but because of Him it's another adventure.

This month has not quite concluded but up to this point has held so many moments that will forever be engraved upon my heart and so many encounters that will forever leave me changed. I recently had the honor of watching the girl who works at our house, my very dear friend Virginie offically be married

After 10 years of living with this Muslim man whose mother said he would never ever legally marry her I saw satan be defeated, and watched overwhelming joy pour of Virginie as something she never dreamed would happen came true. (Continue to pray for his salvation)

This is her and her beautiful family!

Sarah and I at the Groom's reception, here in Africa matching fabric is a traditional custom for weddings, this is the fabric Virginie had chosen.

On top of my very first African Wedding this month has been filled to the max with other activities.

Every other friday we host something we call "English Cafe" at our house. It's a time for the students to come and practice their english while playing games, drinking coffee, tea, and eating cake.

And of course I have still been up to distributing toothbrushes, I have become known as the 'toothbrush girl,' I even told one girl, "well my name is Jess" and her response was, "Well I will only know you as toothbrush girl." This was taken at my dear friend Debora's church in Sector 30.

And this is my very dear friend Debora, she has been so incredilbe to take me places, show me things, and to lean African wisdom from. This is her and a little girl she helps support to go to school. We visited her house and what a shock it was to her when she walked in and saw a Nasara, white person, sitting in her court yard.

Visiting with some of the neighboorhood children in the area.

Now don't think that I haven't had some very much needed down times. This is what I like to call the Best Vacation in Ouaga weekend. Steve and Amy Nehlsen, missionaries here went to Bobo and I stayed with their WONDERFUL daughter Kari, who has become one of my ver closest friends. This is us all packed up and ready to moto on over.

It was a wonderful weekend where we literally had no plans, we made american cookies, watched movie after movie, and got massages! Yes Burkina does have some very nice perks! An hours worth of a massage for about $12, you literally can't go wrong! Let's just say this weekend was desperately needed and greatly appreciated.

There have also been many nights spent with close friends, playing games, eating dinner, and fellowshipping. (Wonder why sarah is wearing a bib? It's a little, new favorite game, called Quelf, if only the camera could have caught Matt snorting like a pig everytime he laughed).

More Quelf action at Matt's house with tyler and Michael.

I also have had the amazing adventure of going to Bobo. Bobo is the second largest city in Burkina and is located east of the capital. The bus hour is roughly 4-5 hours, depending on the driver but thankfully it was on an air conditioned bus! (What a luxury, it is most definatly worth the 6,000 cfa, $12). The plan for my visit was to see my compassion child, Suzane, who lives there. So though my trip was short it was life changing.

The first thing we did when I arrived there was visit an orphanage that is run by a french lady. This orphange is a refuge for the children until they reach the age of 2, where their parents have the chance to come back and get them and if not they are put up for adoption. In february Sue, a missionary working in Bobo was at the hospital when she was informed a woman had gone into labor and had twins but could not take care of them because she had seizures. This is one of the little girls, her name is Fati. She is 8 months old and this tiny. She also has alot of heart problems and they are weary as to how long she has to live. But our God has perfect timing and divinely appointed that we visit on this morning when whe had just come down with something that was making her horribly sick. She had tubes attatched to her head and looked oh so very pale. It ripped my heart out to see her little heart racing and her beautiful little eyes hardly strong enough to stay open. We were there to pray over her and God honored those prayers by healing her little body that evening.

Then we went to the Compassion site, they were very excited to have a sponosor visit. The director there wanted me to have my picture taken with all of the children at the site, so what better time to distribue toothbrushes!

Suzane and I then had some time to play on the swings before heading to her house.

This is her little home, which she shares with some other families.

Her family and I. Her father is blind.

In Africa gifts are a high priority. The highest gift you can give someone is to give them something living, as you can see I recieved a very plump chicken. It is a humbling moment when you realize someone who has nothing is giving you the best of what they can afford to give.

My precious little girl!

Overall Octoer has been a very full month, with moments that will forever leave me changed, and yet how exciting it is to think it's not over yet. As the end draws near I feel both anxious to be with the ones I love and heartbroken to leave those who have come to mean the world to me.