My Last day

First of of let me start of by apologizing for how long it has taken me to post this. Waking up that last morning in Burkina I anticipated a long day of anxiety, waiting and waiting until the plane would leave, little did I know that is not what was in store at all.

December 6,2009: I thought by this point I had reached every climax that would come during my time in Burkina but that ended up being far from the truth.

Before I came out to Burkina I had a vision of raising money to build or add onto a Compassion International site here, originally the plans were to build one on the Tanghin property but due to the slowness in which things are built out here that wans't looking like much of a reality, seeing as how a church had to first be established and at this point had yet to be built. So one day Pete came to me with a proposition to build onto a already established Compassion site because many of them were in desperate need of more classrooms in order to take in new children. I thought this idea was splendid and agreed to start investing in that instead, little did I know at that time that the Compassion site he had in mind was the same site I had visited so often, Claudine, my little girls' site. I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to go out and meet with the Pastor and the director and explain what the vision was for what we wanted to build. We ended up with building a new classroom and a new office, (since the one they had was used as a classroom); this would enable them to take in 80 more children immediately!

So just before I left I had the opportunity to go out and see the progress of what was being built.
This is to be the new classroom.
After my 'tour' of the new facilities (literally a 5 foot walk and a turn) they asked me into the office. As we sat down drinking our very cold and refreshing sprites they began to thank me for everything I had done for them, for the toothbrushes, for the visits, for the encouragement, for the pictures, and for the new buildings. They then began to bring me a brown paper bag saying that they had talked to the Compassion children who had all wanted to give me a gift and took up an offering during their church services to buy me something special to show their gratitude for all I had done.
When I opened the bag tears came to my eyes as I pulled out a beautiful white comple' (or outfit) that they had chosen just for me. I was so overwhelmed, not so much as to the outfit but more so as to how much it must have cost them and how much they cared.

After I put on the stunning outfit they wanted me to go and show all of the children, as I walked in the room a roar of applause broke out and tears began to fall. This was the end of my time, I wasn't going to see these children whom I had dearly fallen in love with for quite some time. No longer was I going to be able to drive out and see my beautiful Claudine, and yet I knew it wouldn't be forever until I saw her again just awhile. It wasn't goodbye, it was see you later, she understood.

After that I went to the Dorcas House, the other place most dear to my heart in all of Burkina, they girls had originally thought I wasn't going to be able to say goodbye so you can imagine their surprise when I showed up just before getting on the plane.

This was a bittersweet day, not only for me but also for these girls, they were leaving to go home in a week. Their year had ended and just as I was facing the realities of leaving friends who had become family and a strange land that had become home, so were they. I was able to share with them some encouraging words and let them know that no matter the distance or the circumstances I would be praying for them. Miriam stood up and asked Amy if they could pray for me because they knew the trials in store. I remember, standing in the middle of these 15 girls who had become sisters to me, feeling their hands upon my back and my arms, listening to them pray in 5 or 6 different languages the unexplainable overwhelming realization came, I began to weep. Was this what God had planned all along? Had I really missed it until just now? 2 years ago I stood in that very spot, on that very property, hand in hand casting a vision over that land and praying for God's blessing upon it. I remember praying very specifically for the girls that would one day live here and here I was surrounded by an answer to prayer. I was standing in the vision come true. It was the most humbling and joyous moment of all the moments I had experienced. Why me? Why was I so honored to see a vision come to life, to see the lost become saints, to see the love of Christ, the intercession of prayer become a reality? I realized that if there was nothing but this moment, this is why I came, to be awakened to the reality that God is always always faithful. This moment was the Climax of my time in burkina, I didn't think the last day had anything left to offer, but I was so very wrong.

My dearest friend Martine, when we hugged goodbye she began to weep (something you will never see in Burkina), but there she was weeping over my departure, it tore my heart in two...how could six months have brought 2 stranger so close? It was only by the Love of Christ!

This was my life, this is what I hope my life to be, these girls are my family and I hope that this moment will not have been our last but only just a beginning!

Home Sweet Home

I have been home now for a little over 2 months and life has been far from easy. I anticipated culture shock coming back, I mean I was told that walking into WalMart or the grocery store would be too overwhelming and I would have to leave, but to my surprise it was quite the opposite experience for me. I walked in and found myself enamored with all of the choices and options and things a place so large could offer. And I cannot even express how happy I was to drive a car again, and yet how desperately I missed (and still do) my moto. Did I mention when I came back it was like 20 degrees? Well it was, and it snowed, almost immediately...There were days I questioned why I lived in such a cold state or country for that matter and why I ever left Burkina, despite the sweltering heat.

Christmas break was such a blessing, I so dearly missed my family and friends and it was so nice to have everyone back together in one place. It was a release to be able to speak English everywhere once again, though I often found myself still thinking and responding in French. And it was nice to have a time where nothing else mattered but being with those that are closest to you. As amazing as break was it was also a huge reality check, seeing as how I was only home for a month before life had to start again and during that month I can't remember a single day that passed by where someone didn't ask "How was Africa?" This simple question drove me to insanity. I came home realizing I needed to process everything I had experienced and yet with an unwillingness to do so. I was so use to coming home from short term trips on a spiritual 'high' and expected the same after coming home from my internship, only to find myself in a deep and dark 'low.' It was a scary place of growth to be in, on the one hand I knew I had to allow myself to process and on the other I wanted very little to do with God because I knew that once I began communing with Him again I would have to process everything and face the reality that it was over. So for about 2 or 3 weeks I put my entire trip on the back burner of my mind, finding myself so angry and bitter at things I should have done and didn't do or things going on here in America, one of my dear friends even asked me after a long conversation about my time; "Did you hate everything and everyone?" WAKE UP CALL! I had been talking negatively about things because I was so lost as to what my life was about anymore, I felt like the climax was over and God had to do some huge work on my heart to get me back to the place where I could deal with the trials I faced and cherish the moments of triumph. All of this to say often I find myself wondering if the transition back was one of the harder parts about going...It has been nothing but adventure and discovery trying to figure out what is next for me. As of right now I am back a school, more sure than ever that I need adequate training before I go back over. What does the next year look like for me? Well I am hoping to start and finish Dental Hygiene school very soon, and then there is potential that a year from this summer I will be going back to Burkina to do a 2 year Health related Internship. (Something I would definitely appreciate prayer on).

Looking back I can't believe it's already done, something I spent 2 years dreaming up and making a reality passed in the blink of an eye, and yet though there is a sense of accomplishment I also know there is yet so much to do. So many more adventures lie ahead, this is only the beginning.