Awaken...the dawning of a new heart where stone begins to bleed.

What's next?

2011-03-01T08:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the World Race........
Over the next 11 months I will be traveling to the following 11 countries to take Christ to the Nations, do live out what Isaiah 58 says is true fasting;

⁶ “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
⁷ Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

A few other brief facts about the next year of my life;
-Every month ahead is completely unknown to me right now, where I will be staying, what I will be doing, where I will be living, all of these things I so dearly like to know are trusting God's direction and his desire.

-In each country our group of 6 or so will be living and working together with a contact in that place, serving them to the best of our abilities in whatever manner we can.

-AIM's goal is that we would learn to live dependent upon God and that our lifestyle would reflect simplicity and focus on the task ahead of us not the comfort we live in, therefore we will be spending the next 11 months sleeping on the floor (with some possible beds here and there depending upon where we are) in our tents, wrapped in sleeping bags, and living out of our backpacks.

-There will be times (potentially a month at a time) where we will not be able to contact home or update our blogs, etc. but what better time to truly focus on the Lord than a time with forced separation.

-I am very much looking forward to all that God has to teach me over this next year as well as the things I will be able to share with each of you who choose to be a part of my journey. ( I will post in my next blog about how and why and I made this decision and what you can do to help me make it a reality!)

My schedule for the next 11 months:

July- Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy community. Though strangers in their homeland and forgotten by society, the gypsies are a strong and vibrant people who embrace the light of Christ in an inspirational way. Here, you will teach English, lead sports camps, live life with the gypsies, and more. It will be an exciting time of learning about a people group you may not have known even existed.

August- Ukraine
Caught between its past oppression under the USSR communist regime and the desire to be accepted by Western society, Ukraine is a land of many ups and downs. Thankfully, there's hope, light, and life spreading like wildfire throughout this nation. Is it the kingdom of God coming in power? We think so.

September- India
India bursts with people and culture. Home to a sixth of the world's population and a diverse array of beliefs from Hinduism to Islam (and blends of folk religions and other faiths), it is a country of pluralism - twenty-nine languages spoken by over a million native speakers, multiple cuisines, socio-economic classes, and political parties. While the country is on the edge of full economic development, India still suffers from the likes of poverty, human trafficking, forced prostitution, and religious persecution. You may have the opportunity to partner with ministries that have had a long and storied presence, and/or with local churches to encourage believers whose testimonies will challenge you. Your presence will bring hope and truth to the marginalized, those that society deems "untouchable". You'll change India from the inside out.

October- Nepal
Home to Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, Nepal literally sits on top of the world. Nestled in between India and China, this Hindu kingdom boasts a variety of climates (due to the variation of altitudes). Most of Nepal adheres to Hinduism (about 81%), with a plurality following Buddhism (about 11%); Christians comprise half a percent of the population. Just over half of Nepal is literate and half of the population that is old enough to work is either unemployed or underemployed. In addition to the adventurous experiences you will have here, you will also visit widows and orphans in their times of distress and protect the innocent who are prey to human traffickers. This month of your World Race experience will immerse you in a culture that is desperate for an encounter with the living God. And guess what? You'll be that encounter.

November- Rwanda
Many who hear "Rwanda" immediately think, "genocide" - it was 16 years ago when 800,000 people were killed over the course of about three months. According to the U.S. State Department, Rwanda (once colonized by France) has the highest population density in sub-Saharan Africa; and like much of sub-Saharan Africa, this nation also is fighting hard against HIV/AIDS. This nation played a part of the genesis of this human rights organization and inspired this song; as you help bring healing to a country still recovering from this deep wound, God may birth a dream or vision in you...

December-Kenya
Who hasn't heard of Kenya in their lifetime? The Kenyan people are colorful, musical, artistic and hungry for the love of Christ. The Maasai bush, the Nairobi metropolis, and the Kibera slums comprise a country diverse yet unified in history. As a new era dawns in Kenya, so does the Gospel of truth and faith. By meeting felt needs in the bush and the city, the World Race produces lasting fruit and lasting ministries to carry on even after we leave.

January- Uganda
This East African nation was also once a kingdom and British protectorate. During most of the later half of the 20th century, Uganda was under military rule, first under Idi Amin, the subject of the film The Last King of Scotland. Much of northern Uganda was also troubled by the Lord's Resistance Army, which heavily recruited child soldiers. Referred to as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is diverse in topography and wildlife. You may find yourself in the north partnering with ministries that are bringing still-needed healing and reconciliation or in the south working with churches to evangelize and disciple the next generation of Kingdom workers.

February- Thailand
According to the CIA, the kingdom of Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, is the only country in the region not colonized by Europe. Their 2000 census showed that 94.6% of the population is Buddhist, 4.6% are Muslim and 0.7% is Christian. Approximately 600,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. With nearly two million people estimated to be forced into prostitution, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city where you, like Jesus, might befriend prostitutes or in the countryside, where you may serve youth, care for orphans and encourage believers.

March- Cambodia
Cambodia houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple and monastery built during the Khmer empire in the 12th century. It later became a Buddhist complex a century later, and today, just over 96% of Cambodia is Buddhist. Almost 30 years ago, 1.5 million Cambodians died at the hands of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Today, Cambodia is a source, transit point and destination of human trafficking and the government is struggling to stop it. The people of Cambodia are thirsty for the hope you can bring.

April- Vietnam
After nearly a century of French rule, in the mid-20th century, Vietnam was split into communist (north) and non-communist (south) halves. By 1975, Vietnam was made whole again, but as a communist country. Even with the economic reforms and restoration of diplomatic ties human rights are limited in Vietnam, especially freedom of religion; most of Vietnam is Buddhist, less than 10% is Catholic. Here you'll be fed with pho, delicious beef noodle soup, and in turn feed believers and pray God's light and presence everywhere you go

May- Philippines
This Asian island nation, once a Spanish colony and an American protectorate, is a country in tension, trying to cross the threshold between the third and first world. It offers a variety of landscapes - beaches, mountains, volcanic lakes - and languages, with Tagalog as the national tongue. The Catholic Church is a substantial piece of the religious pie, however, Islam is growing in the island of Mindinao. The Filipino people and culture love music and dance and community. While there, you may find yourself living with and giving hope to the destitute, caring for orphans, and challenging the growing number of Christ-followers to rise up.

Jour 6 & 7

2010-11-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

Ben says the Dardnest things in Africa

We recently took a trip to the bush, this post has to be brief since we are fixing to get on the plane to head back to the states but we began early that morning with packing up the trucks.

as soon as we began we found a flat tire, this was nothing new to us, we know that when God is doing something big satan is attacking.

team photo in the bush, well on the way there.

welcome to the road to the bush

We finally made it to the village after 3 hours.

This is what the rest of our day looked like in the bush, and night as well. We spent some time digging holes for the new church, or a hangar that the church will meet under. As well as spent the evening showing the Jesus film to a completely unreached people group. (aka people who have never heard the name of Jesus before).

(these little boys are shepards, they do not attend school and most likely never will, they will spend the majority of lives doing this very thing.)

Bush food, keep in mind it was pitch black out when we were eating...you never know what ends up on your plate. This night we had chicken (gabi and dusty ate the head and feet) and to(e) which is a mashed up millet sponge thing with no flavor, beans, and well soupy okra sauce. We had a few sick people after this meal....

when we got the the larger village to show the Jesus film we had a little while of dancing, here are the guys breaking it down.

this picture was taken early on in the film and by the end we had about 400 people there hearing about Jesus for the first time.

The next morning we got up and filled the holes for the new church.

Then we went to this pond/lake and did this; (ps. these are wild crocs, not trained or in cages or anything of the sort)

See you all in a few hours!!

Jour 5

2010-11-04T11:25:00.001-07:00

Ben says the darndest things in Africa

"Whatever kid picks the fox, he's mine."

"Your lifes a movie and it's rated PG-13."

Today was Compassion day, a day that is always legendary for every single person on the team. And everytime I have the honor of experiencing one of these days with people who have never seen the work of Compassion I am beyond blessed.

Let me tell you a little about Compassion before continuing with our day. Compassion is a child advocate program that is based in Colorado. It's goal is to seek and serve the least of these through a sponsorship program that costs a measley $38 a month. I have been sponsoring children through Compassion for 6 years now and have never once been disappointed with the program. From the American side Compassion works in that once a child is chosen to be sponsored a packet is received with all of the information about that child, the country they are from, what they like to do, information on their parents, and letter heads to write to the child. It doesn't seem like much is required of the sponsors but much is given, I have seen this time and time again in my travels to foreign lands, and in visiting multiple Compassion sites. On field Compassion is a highly respected program that aids in developing these children physically, emotionally, mentally, educationally, and most importantly spiritually. Compassion works with those who are the worst off, through a local church. I have seen countless lives changed by the work Compassion is doing, not just the children have profited but families, friends, and entire communities. In Burkina children go to Compassion on thursday (that's their day off school) and they are fed breakfast and lunch. Between the meals they are in classes, learning about Jesus, about health, and most importantly they are being taught how to just be kids. Here in Burkina once a child is about 3 they begin working, whether that means taking care of their younger siblings or helping make meals, they are put to use so almost none of the children actually have time to experience what it's like to play and Compassion allows them ample amounts of time to get out play games and have fun. One of the children's greatest joys about being involved in Compassion is corresponding through letters with the sponsor and this is where the 2 worlds meet. Letters are what inspires the children to pass exams, to play sports, to have fun, to go to church, to dream bigger than just today. I have sat and watched the indescribable joy that that child has as they receive a letter from their sponsor or as they write one in return. I have gone to the homes of the children and they have every single thing that has ever been sent to them (even stickers, still in packets), they cherish those things. The Compassion center also has extremely detailed packets on each child with letters, health reports, school reports, spiritual evaluations, copies of pictures, copies of everything. And the most amazing part about Compassion is that the children are not just a folder, or a packet, here on site the directors and teachers know every single child by name (up to 2 or 3 hundred per site) and know every single SPONSOR by name (of the children at their site). It blows my mind how amazing this ministry is. I could go on and on and on on my little soap box about compassion but I would much rather you check it out yourself, and see what Compassion is doing through the pictures below. Be inspired, sponsor a child, change a life!!!
www.compassion.com

(some random shots of normal sites along the road)

(a well in the city)

these children are fed, something they rarely get out here. In Burkina the man eats first, then the woman and if there is any left it goes to the child that they have chosen according to their potential for the future. (many children will never attend school because their parents can only afford to send one, and many will die of starvation or disease because their parents could not afford to feed them all-this is where Compassion is coming in to change and more so give hope of life.)

Quick funny story, this little girl was attached to Ben's hip, she said that he was her husband and she was his wife. Ben is now married to a much much younger woman who very much adores him.... ;-)

(that's fish in case you are curious)

The cook staff making lunch for all the children.

this is how they tie the children on the backs...Probably wouldn't fly too well in America.

Ben's wife giving him a kiss..

This is Claudine! I have been sponsoring her for about 6 years now and I have seen and visited with her, her family, and her center 6 times now. She has been the most amazing blessing in my life.

The most heart wrenching thing was to eat lunch with these children who literally have nothing apart from this program and to watch them offer you, someone who has everything in comparison, their only meal (maybe for that week). (There were few dry eyes during this time)

Our team with the majority of the kids at this center.

Dane sponsors a little girl in Burkina, her name is Florence and he had the amazing honor or meeting her, and her identical twin sister.

Susan also got to see Kadi again.

This is what children play with out here, trash.

This is 'ma petit soeur' aka my little sister Salee, she is quite a hoot and was soo excited to see me, as I was to see her.

Dane with the twins.

Dusty also got to meet the little boy he sponsors but he had the incredible opportunity to go to his house as well and meet the family. It was a very surreal moment in their lives, both Dusty and Serge his boy. This is the hat Serges family gave to Dusty for all he had done for them and their son. Receiving a gift is a very huge honor in Burkina, people will give all they have to bless you.

Dusty and the boys family.

saying goodbye

Today was one of those days that changes your life. No matter how many of these 'days' I have experienced I am never found numb to the power of Christ working in the lives of these children. Their joy overwhelms and captivates you and your heart beckons the love of Christ to be so much more than you are for their sakes and for Christ's commission.

Jour 4

2010-11-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

Thoughts from Africa by Benjamin Lackey, who thinks he is french.

"In fact I am naming my first kid Nickeloden Laserface Lackey."

"I could live in this magasin."

"When I got in the shower, the floor turned black, even before I turned the water on."

"I teleport every 5 seconds, I just don't know cause I forget about it."

Today was kind of a 'laid back' day for the team, we were able to sleep in a bit and enjoy breakfast time before we went to work on the hangar again. Today we laid the support beams in the posts and cleaned out the magasin (or the storage room).

After lunch the team was completely spent but we were told we had to dig 4 more holes, which ended up being finished in 10 minutes and then we had a little bit of afternoon time to rest and nap. Which we very much needed.

Around 4:30 the 'Container' showed up. About once a year all of the missionaires on the field get the container, in which they have packed countless numbers of useful and sometimes very random items that will last them for the rest of there stint before they go home. The 'container' is a semi truck packed to the absolute max, as you can see.

This box required some creativity, it weighed 60lbs. short of 1,000 lbs. and was practically impossible or anyone to carry. Fortunately for us we had some very crafty burkinabe to help us out, it just shows you that you can use what you have to do what you need to do.

After the end of the day we had some time to eat and shower, this is Ben before his first shower in 4 days, if only you could smell him at this moment.....

As for day 4 it went by pretty quick with not a ton to write about, but none the less we did get alot accomplished and were able to serve the Wolters by helping them out on little projects around the house.

A new perspective

2010-11-02T15:34:00.001-07:00

I wanted to spent an entry allowing everyone to see things through the perspectives of everyone else on the team and not just through my camera's lens. Here are some photos from everyone who is taking pictures or has put their pictures on the computer. Enjoy!

Courtney's Recent photos

dane and Barnabe, the house girls grandson

Scott's photos:

The girls at Dorcas house, worshipping.

the Bed's the girls sleep in, those are mosquito nets above.

A guy who helped us put in posts, he had an Illinois shirt on and that's where Scott went to school.

Ben sleeping in paris.

Some from Susan's Camera

Suzo working at the LAC

Gabi's photos

Brochettes and fries one night at SIAO.

First and probably only team photo.

Literally everyone but Gabi sleeping at the Airport...

arrival in Atlanta

Courtney's photos from the beginning:

a woman leading worship at church

kevin passed out on the plane

a little boy in sunday school

Dane entertaining us in Paris.

Courtney and I before we left Liberty!

I know this post was short and brief but hopefully you enjoyed seeing things through the other team members perspectives, and some funny shots of our time here so far.

Jour 3

2010-11-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Daily thoughts from Africa with Benjamin Lackey, who thinks he's french.

" That's my dream job, to be a gate guard here."

to dane, talking about when it's time to leave burkina: "Let's runaway, if you really did it I almost really would."

Today was an early departure for the team and a semi-long drive out to the worksite. Today we began a project out at the LAC. The LAC stands for Lycee de Alliance Chritienne, or the Christian Alliance School. This is one of the more developed projects we have here. On the land is housed a compassion center with 250 children in the program, a middle school with between 200 and 400 students, some of which live on the property in the dorms. There is also a church, a pastors house, the site of the Evision housing (for short term teams) a missionaries house, a huge soccer field, a basketball court, and the storage facility for Friends in Action, a Christian well drilling team out here. So none the less, this is a very busy and occupied piece of property. Our job today was to clear a straight line out of the brush and trees so that they could begin to build the new wall around the property. Below are some pictures of our work and the site.

These are some of the classrooms

Try aiming into that little hole everytime you need to use the bathroom, oh yeah and not to mention bearing with the smell....( you know what i am talking about)

One of my favorite things on this site is the Compassion center, in this picture you can see the new classroom/office that I raised money to build when I was living out here. When I left they had just begun drawing the lines and digging the holes for the foundation and now it's finished and houses 40 children every compassion thursday.

This is the other classroom/hangar I raised money to build, all in all I wanted them to have enough space to add 80 more kids to their program. This site is very special to me because it's where the little girl that I have been sponsoring for 5 years attends.

www.compassion.com (for more info-compassion day for the team to come)

Then began the work...

Machetes were our primary tool of labor for the day...the on looking Burkinabe thought it quite funny to watch a bunch of white people (more or less girls) trying to hack away at tall grass....

We also had to break through the old walls to draw a direct line...Ben is a monster!

Here is a little shout out to Camelbaks, what saves your life in the dry hot heat of Africa!

There was also a few trees to cut down, let's just say I should open my own tree service when I get back to America!

Susan rocked that wall today as well!

oh the destruction of our legs, ankles, shoes, arm pits, and well entire bodies was due to these little spurs that stuck literally everywhere on you. The 'brush' we were clearing was mostly spurs, you can imagine the annoyance.

Inside the Church! I loved walking in there with Courtney today as she said; "We have it all wrong in America, our churches are concerned with carpets, color, lighting, temperature, and smell and all they are concerned with here is worshipping God and growing in discipleship."

The private school (which is one if not the only private Christian middle school (potential high school) in all of Burkina and their recent addition is going to allow for them to expand into a highschool very soon. Schooling for children here rarely stretches into highschool so this is an honor for the students. (if you are interested in helping boys or girls (more importantly) go to school there is some scholarship opportunities, let me know-school is about $700 a year for boys to live on campus, and about $200 for girls who will have to live at home or elsewhere).

After working at the LAC we toured a few close by ministry sites, the one below is the site of the new team center, which will house probably triple or more teams and people than the guest house does now as well as serve as the apartments for interns and couples. (Probably where most of the team will be living at some point, as that most people, not just from this team but from many other teams with Franklin, desire to come back and serve here for atleast 2 years.)

And just after lunch our dear dear dear friend Virginie came over, she was the girl who helped us out at our house when we lived here. (It's normal for people to have house help, guards, chefs, and nannies here, mostly because there is very little means of work for these women and it helps to feed their families.) We were able to spend a little time talking and eating and reminiscing with Virginie, and she gave us the big news that she is expecting in April, check out another posting on Cultural norms for talking about pregnancy.

After all of that we headed to a huge artisan festival that is only in Burkina every 2 years (and we just so happened to be here the same week) to do a little shopping, eating, and enjoy some live african entertainment. (sorry no pictures from that, too many pick pockets and thieves there to bring cameras, just try to imagine thousands of burkinabe roaming around, selling anything they can outside of the building, even fried catepillars, which we all tried...not soo much a fan myself...and then walking into the buildings to find booth after booth after hundreds of booths full of art, jewelry, clothing, etc. anything people can make and sell. It was a fun experience for everyone.

and:

Just a fun and somewhat terriftying fact, as I sit here and type this right now the huge (probably 2 feet or more in size) rats are scurrying in the ceiling over my head, and I am being attacked by bugs, in my bedroom none the less. OH the beauties of Africa.

Avec mon coeur

2010-11-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

I wanted to spend a little time talking about the trip and being back in Burkina. For everyone who has been reading my blog since the day I moved out here over a year ago you know this has been a long journey. A journey full of surprises, heartache, trials and triumph. Being back has been those same emotions (which were then drawn out over a long span of time) but on speed. The moment I stepped off the plane and could smell the rancid stench of rotting garbage and well body odor everything came flashing back through my mind. It's crazy to me how even some of the worst smells can trigger memories. It's hard to put into words what is going through my mind and what I am experiencing right now but my dear African adopted mother, Amy Nehlsen put it in the clearest way I can sum it up when she said; "it's like you're trying to balance 2 realities right now, one you have here and one you live in back home." I have seen this 'balancing', or more like 'clashing' of my 2 realities more evidently now that I am back than I had before while being home. I hate the fact that it's so easy to teeter across that line of remembering the poor and destitute, this life here, and living the life consumed (whether I want it to be or not) with myself back in the states. I remember that the hardest thing I dealt with upon arriving home was the fact that I didn't need God's strength the way I did here, where it was all I could do to get out of bed. This teetering on the line has been such a struggle this past year and I guess I didn't see it so much as I do now that I am back. Being back isn't like walking back into a fairy tale life though, as much as I wish it would be a dream come true it's more of a reality check in my life. Burkina is a very hot, very dry, and mostly miserable place and none of that was written into that fairy tale life I had dreamed of, BUT there is absolutely no where that I could dream of being more, and being back here is consistently confirming that in my life.

It has also been a blessing deeper than words can convey, to be here with people who are experiencing this for the first time. Now when I say blessing I don't mean it's been inspiring the entire time, though it has, but I often find myself catching myself in little annoyances as people gasp, awe, and gauke at this culture. It's in those moments though that I find little glimpses of that initial passion I had upon arriving here, and despite my annoyance I am seeing things just slightly differently, sometimes pretending to see them for the first time so that my awe of God's diversity doesn't fade with my conformity.

On another hand I have absolutely loved and cherished every single moment spent visiting with the people I became so close with of my time here. I can't convey the warmth my heart feels when I see someone I came to love or appreciate here, even people like boutique owners who I spent countless hours walking around their booths looking at things during my repos time (the 'nap' time here in Burkina is from 12-3 and I am the absolute worst napper on the face of this earth so I spent that time walking around stores at the only 'tourist place'). People like the compassion staff at my little girls' site who came running up to greet me and welcome me back, or the dorcas house girls who skipped half way across the property to come and embrace me and welcome me 'home,' and one of my favorite moments of visiting was with Virginie, the girl who helped us out at our house while I lived here, who became my dear dear dear friend and someone I love deeply. She came over to enjoy a little lunch with us and to tell us the big news that she was pregnant (thereby breaking the unspoken 'laws' of burkina, women NEVER say or admit that they are pregnant here in case they lose the baby, nor do they buy anything for the baby until after it's been alive for a week or 2, the infant mortality rate here is astronomical.) It's moments likes these that you can't plan for, these moments are the overwhelming kind that make it seem as if you had never left. These are the people that make you feel at home in a place so foreign, strange, and dirty that despite it all you never want to leave.

It feels like home to me, it feels like I'm back where I belong....

Jour 2

2010-11-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

Philosophical sayings from the french Benjamin Lackey

"I don't even flush anymore cause no one can even tell I peed."

"if you cry in Africa you'll turn into a pillar of salt."

Day 2 began early this morning with a wonderful hot plate of Larry Wolters famous sticky buns, which after an hour of working may have not been the best choice of a nutritious meal to start a very long and hot day, none the less they were delicious.

We began the day working here at the guest house, it's not every team's ideal first day of ministry but it was an awesome way for our team to serve those who are constantly pouring out of themselves to these people. It was really cool to see everyone work with such enthusiasm, even though we had very little contact with the Burkinabe. We spent all morning digging 18 inch holes in the side lot where all of the team and construction stuff is stored, it was a lot of hard work and even harder when we figured out half of our holes needed to be shifted. After digging all morning we put the posts in the ground and the Burkinabe helped fill the holes with concrete.

(just a little fun burkina fact; most of the walls separating houses and lots are covered on the top rim with broken glass bottles, to keep people from climbing the wall and breaking in.)

After working all morning we had an hour off for lunch and resting before we headed out to see the Dorcas House. (for those of you who know nothing about the Dorcas House it's a center for women who have been abandoned by parents passing away, or by getting pregnant, or by being left on the streets to become prostitutes. Whatever their situation they are chosen to come and spend a year at the Dorcas House learning, most importantly, the truths of Scripture, as well as learning a wide variety of trades that they can take with them when they graduate from the program.

The drive out there is rather long and always filled with interesting traffic...

One of the skills the girls at the Dorcas house learn is how to make soap.

This is the line of classrooms they have, one is for bible teachings, and another is for sewing and soap making.

They recently got a volleyball net, which was such an awesome thing to come out and see, when I lived here a year ago this was one of my main ministries and we spent alot of time together learning to 'play' volleyball (which looked more like learning how to catch and throw the ball, most of these girls have never been involved in sports or been allowed to play games at all).

Just a few pictures from around the property, it's expansion over the past year, and some glimpses into what life looks like for a Burkinabe.

Baby Bunnies, these were buried in the ground with cotton and covered with 2 stones...not quite sure why

This Millet grinder thing is Dorcas House's most recent addition, they are hoping that in learning to grind millet they will be able to make enough profit to pay for health needs at the center.

They also recently started a little pig farm, they have found that pigs are the biggest income out of all of their projects.

The guard's wife just had a baby 2 weeks, ago his name is Samuel, he was a huge hit with everyone on the team.

After touring the center we had a little match of volleyball, americans vs. burkinabe.

This sweet little boy is Herman, he was adopted by the man and woman at the Dorcas house who are basically considered the managers out there (they are Burkinabe) and the wonderful boys, Jake and Ace Burns, that I babysit for in Lynchburg wanted to send some of their clothes out to Africa, this is one of their shirts. When we presented this to Herman, everyone was circled around him, he put it one with unmatched speed and then began jumping around, cheering and shouting his name, as he danced, over the joy of having a new shirt.

This is the team with all of the girls from the Center, it's a beautiful and powerful ministry. So many lives are being changed, and so many already have been changed. Please keep this ministry in your prayers, as the Nehlsen's (the primary missionaries who help out there) are transitioning back home to american in 8 months. This means there is going to be a transition for the Dorcas House as well, they are run by the National group of Women from the National church here but it costs about $1,000 a month to provide the food for all of the girls here and they cannot profit enough from all of the things they make to be capable of earning that much money. The goal of the center is that it would become self-sufficient, so alot is having to happen over the next few months to get them to that place.

These were the 6 girls who stayed after their first year to do a second year and hopefully become interns at the Center. It was so incredible to be back with them and to see how God had been working in their lives over the past year, it felt like I was home again.

Jour 1

2010-10-31T09:11:00.001-07:00

Day one has officially come to an end here in Burkina. It has been a very full, exciting, emotional, and rewarding day. I hope that over these next few days these posts will keep you very much updated and involved in what is going on over here. So sit back, read and enjoy. (Also everyday will be featuring a few quotes from the mouth of Benjamin Lackey, as well as some sort of story from that day.)

Our pit stop in paris brought much necessary sleep as well as a few long tours around the Charles de Gaulle airport. 27 hours after departure we finally made it to Burkina, around 3:30 a.m. american time it was about 7:30 p.m. here. We were happily greeted by Larry Wolters and Steve Nehlsen. We have very few problems getting through security but alot of difficulty getting all of our luggage. 4 of our bags got lost in paris, one bag didn't make to franklin, and Courtney Green's bag didn't even get taken to the Atlanta airport. All in all we arrived with nothing to complain about except our lack of sleep.

Philosophical Sayings from the French Benjamin Lackey

" Everything in Africa has a beat, even the fans..."

"After being in africa for a week people are going to smell us and ask, what have you been huffing?"

"I'm not showering for the next 4 days..."

The view from the plane as the sun set over the sub-sahara desert. It was breathtaking.

Sunday morning started early for us, we had to leave the guest house by 7:30 to get to church by 8:00. When we arrived we were greeted by a crowd of Burkinabe. After an hour or so of Worship this little girl asked to present a song. After she sang, we heard her story...

Recently her father took a second wife, and left her mother hurting and lonely. (I have always wondered what the women thought when their husbands took another wife). During this rough time the mother told her daughter that the only thing that brought her joy anymore was to hear her sing, and so now every sunday this little girl asks to sing before the church, in which her mother sits.

Here are just a few pictures of our time at Balkouy Church (this is a recently begun church that has a very new Compassion program....www.compassion.com (for more info on their ministry and how you can help).

Courtney and I attended the children's sunday school class and were asked to present a few songs, which actually ended up meaning, 'sing for the entire rest of the class.'

After quickly fading lungs Micah Wolters decided to give singing a break with a little red light, green light.

Dane spent a few minutes hanging out with the Burkinabe and playing the djembe.

After church we all went to the Rec center, which use to be the American Embassy, for lunch

After lunch we had a few hours of napping, praise the Lord, and then a mini-market and for dinner we went to the Nehlsen's to enjoy a great time of fellowship, worship, and prayer.

Overall everyone on the team is in high-spirits and healthy, which is a huge blessing thus far. We have a very busy week ahead of us the schedule looks as so;

Monday: Working at the guest house to put up a hangar, and clean out the magasin for the Wolters.

Tuesday: Building a wall at a ministry center called the LAC, and then touring some ministry sites before going to the huge artisian festival, SIAO

Wednesday: Working again at the guest house, and touring ministry

Thursday: Compassion day

Friday: heading out to the bush where we will be helping a recently reached people group called the Daphine, minister to an unreached people group the Noomani through an evangelism presentation, as well as building a hangar for them to meet under.

Saturday/Sunday: still unknown, the possibilities are endless.

So please be praying for continued health, for guidance in going to the bush and for God to meet the needs of people hearts both on our team and in this city.

(more to come from my heart over these past few days, hopefully tomorrow)

Expiration Date

2010-10-21T09:26:00.001-07:00

I am quickly discovering that everything has an expiration date, but not everything goes bad on that day. For example, over a month ago I purchased a carton of eggs (probably closer to 2 months ago if I am really honest with myself) and just last night I did the 'bad egg test' to see if they were bad, hoping by some miracle they wouldn't be...low and behold regardless of their expiration date they were placed into a mix of brownies and very much enjoyed. You are probably wondering what in the world am I thinking using old (very old) eggs and not just buying a new carton? Well it's a 2 fold answer. After having shingles for nearly 3 1/2 weeks I was completely unable to babysit, because of the fear of giving any of the kids chickenpox, therefore eliminating my income completely, then add in a trip home, a trip to georgia, plus living in the boonies of north carolina, driving into town, driving back to lynchburg, an oil change, the list could go on and on with these basic needs and you have the first part of the answer....I literally am living off what is already in my pantry and in the back of the fridge....Normally buying a carton of eggs would be no problem but with my leave of absence from babysitting and my parents financial well crisis (aka we are living off all they saved, which is apparently only going to let us keep the house until january, unless by some miracle dad starts to get some plumbing work) I am finding that I have to be all the more resourceful in my daily life, which means using out of date eggs whether or not I want to. The second part to this phase of my life is that I am trying to take these somewhat stressful stages and turn them into a learning process. I have been extremely challenged to live on much less than I do, to live without excess, and to truly balance out my life in regards to luxury and necessity. So what better time to do so then when I really have to? I can confidently say that I am learning a lot about my life and about what my life needs to look more like but I would be lying to say it hasn't been hard. It's begun a beautiful transition in my life, I am daily being reminded that though I feel lost in this I am still considered the one of the world's wealthiest, I have never had to be without food or shelter and therefore am still blessed beyond belief. I am also beginning to own the reality of the life Christ has called us to, a life of radical abandonment. A life not guaranteed comfort, pleasures, and luxury here on this earth but promised an even greater reward of His overwhelming every surpassing peace and presence. Nothing compares to this type of life, even if it means eating some frozen vegetables for breakfast every now and then. ;-)

Fading with Time

2010-10-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

I never imagined those these words to be true, but feelings, thoughts, and even passion....they can all fade with time. Time has crept up and stolen away so many memories. I am a 10 days and 14 hours away from once again stepping foot on my beloved Burkina. I never dreamed that I would be going back so soon, and yet here I am, bag packed (yes only one bag this time in comparison to the 8 I took before) and more anxious than ever to get on that plane.

On June 30th this past summer I found out I would be going back to Burkina for a short 11 day stint to work with a team from Franklin, building the new STMO center (where I will hopefully one day soon be living). When I committed to going I naively assumed that the preparation for this trip, spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally would be simple and insignificant. I mean c'mon I had been to Burkina twice already and lived there for 6 months, what could I possibly be in for before going again? Little did I know at that time that my confidence would bring about extreme vulnerability and many trials in the months to come. It wasn't until just 2 weeks ago did I start to really see and literally feel the effects of attack I was under. I woke up one morning with 2 what I deemed 'spider bites' on my neck and an extremely sore and swelling throat. Within a matter of hours the 'spider bites' had gotten worse and would continue to get worse for the next few days. Being in a Microbiology class I found it rather ironic that the Professor was talking about MRSA (a staph infection) that was easily mistaken for 'spider bites' and knowing that at least once that week I was in the Lab with a dirty lab coat working very closely with the MRSA bacteria I began to get a little worried. I asked my professor what he thought it could be and his response was, well, rather far fetched...He thought ring worm...None the less I headed to the doctor, for the first time in years only to discover I was presently the wonderful recipient of SHINGLES! What in the world? Shingles? Who even gets shingles? I hadn't had chicken pox and that is what the virus is derived from, I was utterly confused and beginning to be in a lot of pain with constant itching and an extremely swollen throat. I was immediately prescribed a genital herpes medicine and vicatin, 2 lovely combinations. After about a week of the shingles slowly getting worse and then fading I started to notice other patches of similar red itchy bite like patches all over different areas of my body. Out of the normal for me I returned to the doctor to now discover that I was a wonderful candidate of HIVES...at this point I just began to laugh, and joked to the Doctor that the next week I would be in with Bed bugs. It was during these 2 miserable weeks that I realized I was in fact under attack. The naive confidence I had had become humility and would begin a week of awakening in my life. I sat down just sunday with my boyfriend Dane who confronted me about my joy and passion for God. He said something that opened an area in my heart I had shut out since I came home from Burkina in december. I began to pour out my heart about all of the stuff I had been carrying since coming home. Things I just stacked one on top of the other putting God at the bottom of it all, I knew that deepening my intimacy with him meant I had to deal with all of these things, obstacles, emotions and experiences that I hadn't dealt with but rather just hid behind for this entire year. Everyone told me the transition back would take awhile and I would feel the effects of my time there for the rest of my life but I had no idea it would take me almost an entire year to confront with God the things I witnessed and the things I was carrying since coming back. A lot has changed in my life since that year but the passion and love I felt during my time there has not left, it's just been suppressed and unfortunately so. So yesterday was a day of awakening, a day of new beginnings, a 6 hour drive that turned out to be 8 grueling hours in the car alone, just me and God. A time where I could begin to un-shovel the stack of things I had piled on in my life that allowed me to hide from the reality of dealing with the difficult emotions. And so here I sit, renewed, and genuinely excited about what is to come in 10 days, and what is to coming during these 10 days of preparation. Before this past week I had hoped that this trip would bring to fruition and conclusion all of what I was hiding from but now I am praying that it brings about more upheaval in my life and more burning passion in my service. Stay posted to see how these next 10 days lay out and what going back to a place I have been craving to be for the entire year I have been home.

One year

2010-06-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

A year ago today this would become my backyard.

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since I boarded a plane to spend the 6 craziest months of my life in Burkina Faso. I never expected the time to come and go so quickly.

I never expected to fall in love so quickly, to give my heart away so readily ...

To find a comfort and peace that surpassed all of my understanding, in a place that was so foreign and uncomfortable...

I never expected to discover such passion, and vision, or to experience such heartbreak...

And I never expected it to still hurt so much after being back for so long.

My Last day

2010-02-15T17:58:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-15T17:42:00.000-08:00

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.

5 Years Ago

2009-11-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

"And when I passed by I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Lord, and you became MINE."
~Ezekiel 16:8

"Love is a great thing, a great good indeed, which alone makes light all that is burdensome, and bears with even mind all that is uneven. For it carries a burden without being burdened; and it makes all that which is bittersweet and savoury. The love of Jesus is noble, and spurs us to do great things, and excites us to desire always things more perfect.

5 Years ago I walked into a closet alone, afraid, unsure, and ready to give up, only to answer a call that would change the course of my life forever. I walked out of that closet a new person, clothed in righteousness , crowned by glory, never to walk alone again, every fear wiped away, certain that He would always be in control and ready to embrace what would be the adventure of my lifetime.

Nothing is sweeter than love; nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing broader, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller, or better in Heaven and in earth; for love is born of God, and can rest only in God above all things created.

Never before have I been more in love than I am right now, at this very moment, I sit in awe of all that He, Jesus Christ, has done in me and through me. The places He has brought me, the people he has used to speak His love into my life, the things He has taught me, I have never been more in love than I am now.

The lover flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and not held. He gives all for all and has all in all, because he rests in one supreme above all, from whom all good flows and proceeds.

Never before have I felt so free, so safe, so certain.

Love knows no measure, but warmly glows above measure.

Never would I have guessed that I would be here right now, all of my wildest dreams coming true. On my own, but never alone, weak but made strong, empty but made full, filthy but cleansed.

Love feels no burden, regards not labours, would willingly do more than it is able, pleads not impossibility, because it feels sure that it can and may do all things. It is able, therefore, to do all things; and it makes good many deficiencies.

No matter the distance, the pressures, the burdens, the strife, the uncertanties, the unncessaries, the things unknown, the things undone, the dark valleys, the dry streams that may come I will stand. Because I know, "it will become a place of refreshing springs." "Each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me." "Though I may stumble, I will never fall, for the Lord holds me up by the hand." and that "The Lord's plans stand firm forever, his intentions can never be shaken."

Love watches, and sleeping slumbers not; weary, is not tired; straitened, is not constrained; frightened, is not disturbed; but, living like a flame and a burning torch, it burts forth upwards and safely over-passes all.

5 Years ago I took His hand and have not left His arms since.

Love is the answer to all things: love ends all questions.

When all is said and done, whether I am to spend 6 years or 60 years with the Love of my Life, I know each day will be spent falling more in love with Him.

italics: Amy Carmichael

Yako

2009-11-02T02:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Yako!
(yes that is what they are spelling with their bodies)

During our trip the youth did 3 VBS programs, a youth night, and a food distribution. This was taken during the first day, I think we were singing Il n'y a vraiment Personne comme Jesus (there is truly no person like Jesus), one of my favorite songs I might add.

Friday we ventured out to Gobila, a village just outside of Yako to do the same VBS program.

This picture describes perfectly what Olivia and I did all week, took pictures. I witnessed the entire trip trough a differnt lens than everyone else, never have I been on a mission trip that I was semi-leading, stepping back to observe, and trying to catch those precious moments on camera. It was strangely bizare to realize that I was on a mission trip in a foreign country to which I came as a missionary. I learned so much from this experience and had such a blast being involved.

Even though I was a leader (as was matt as well) we still found time to join in the games, but not without my most recent growth, aka the camera).

The only (horrid) picture that we have of the 3 of us, this is Oliva and Sarah, 2 interns in Yako, they are INCREDILBE! We got to stay the whole week at their house, sleeping on their terrace under the stars and bathing with buckets!

One night we had "Team Night" where we built a bonfire and had such an incredible time of worship and prayer, no smores mind you...and we had to sit literally 25 feet away from th fire because it was sooooo hot. (ps. props goes to my girl scouting past for this one, I built this entire fire by myself, minus the guys lighting it was bug spray, oh the ways of africa).

One of our attempts at a team photo.

At the end of saturday this is exactly how I felt. We did a food distribution to some sponsored children in Lynn Peters, a missionary in Yako, program called Burkina Faso Outreach. We were literally there past dark, my station, you guessed it, pictures! We took over 150 pictures of the children so that they could be sent to their sponsors back home, and after it all I don't know a single person who wasn't exhausted.

The message that the youth chose to present on the trip was that of David and Goliath, they did a fantastic job and picking songs, dances, games, skits, and crafts that related. This was the skit of david and goliath, always performed once with goliath, aka Kevin, on a unicycle and then another time with kids involved.

This is the unicycle time,he make the fall seem more than real.

A thursday group picture at the site with all of the sponsored children.

This was taken at Gobila, this games is similar to duck, duck goose, but in french goes; le rena passe passe, chacun a son tour, chez le coiffure, mamadou, aisa. Translated means: the fox passes, everytime is your turn at the hair dressers, mamadou (a mans name) aisa (a womens name). No one quite understands it but ALL the kids know it, no matter where you go, they also play it with a flip-flop, setting it down behind the person who will chase them.

Henry blew me away with his ability to get on the kids level, always doing something to make them laugh, entertain them, and make them feel loved.

Kari did such a great job of leading, she lead songs, games, and always kept the children entertained.

Matt loving on the children!

They also played a game similar to skip-it, where they spin a bottle tied to string around and the kids jump over, there were some massive wipe outs during this game but it was a favorite.

These next pictures are just some of my favorites from the trip:

Overall the trip was incredible, I have never been so impressed by a group of youth then I was during these days. They gave their all and then some more, to pour out their lives for these children, even in the moments of complete chaos and stress they were pushing through, encouraging each other, and making the kids feel cherished. I loved being on this side of the spectrum for the first time, seeing things through the eyes of a leader, helping where help was needed but mostly watching as they took control, met the needs of the children, and showed the love of Christ through their words and actions.

How Quickly it Comes!

2009-10-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Wow! I literally sit here almost appalled at the realization that today is October 27, 2009, I cannot believe how quickly the time has passed.

We have a calender haning on our wall and everyday that passes I mark out, counting down to the day I leave (hint the big circle) and everyday I realize once again how close the end is. As of today the countdown is 41 days. I cannot even begin to explain how fast this time has gone.

So what do these next 41 days have in store:
-a mission trip to Yako with the Youth
-Faso Parc (a 'theme' park) with Claudine, my compassion child
-a home visit with Claudine
-A couple visits to some other Compassion sites
-A anniversary party for the Clousers
-A couple thanksgiving celebrations
-A special youth group dinner
-A few Christmas Parties
-A little progress on the hangar that I am helping put up at the LAC
-and many surprises everyday between!

Prayer Requests:
~The mission trip to Yako
~Time managment ( I am having a difficult time finding time to do school work, surprised?)
~Re-Entry, and departure, already stressing about this.
~Family back home, and the family I will be leaving here.
~Wisdom in planning and arranging everything for school from here.

I also just wanted to share this little picture with you, a month ago(ish) we started a women's Bible study on the book of Esther, by Beth Moore, this is some of the women here in Ouaga who are taking part, hosted by the wonderful Amy Nehlsen!

WIRED

2009-10-27T11:03:00.001-07:00

Not all time in Burkina is spent, on the streets, with the poor, under the blazing sun, shaking dirty hands and hugging African children, in fact that is not a very typical day for any of us, although you do find it happening often.

This past weekend was the farthest thing from the 'typical African life', and was all about being 'Girls.'

We have a 30-50 person English speaking youth group, which meets at our house, the HUB, every Thursday night. And this past weekend I hosted a SLUMBER PARTY for all of the girls in the youth. It was a blast!

We had enough food, 'snacks' to feed an army!

Plenty of games; this one here is what I call 'wet t-shirt contest' aka try to unfreeze your team's t-shirt and then put it on before the other teams.

Some teams got really creative and used the microwave (and still lost)

Then we played Quelf, a very intriguing and funny board game.

And of course every sleepover needs facials, homemade facials at that...let's just say they weren't the best smelling things ever, especially when your supplies are limited to what you can find in Africa.

Group photo, before the movies!

The next morning.....

Boy, I sure had forgotten how much fun it was just to be with girls, to pamper yourselves, to eat a bunch of junk food, and to watch movies that melt your heart. It was such an incredible time to spend getting to know these dear, precious, and hysterical girls just a little more and to realize once again how thankful I am to be who I am, where I am!

Tent Camps

2009-10-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

After the flood, and the loss of countless homes the government put in place a few tent camps to house those who had lost all. I had the privileged of traveling to quite a few of them to witness the giving of food, medicine, and encouragement.

Here are just a few quick pictures of a typical
Tent camp:

Anywhere between 3-5 families lives in a single tent.

"Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" to a place where bondage resides and captives are longing to be set free.

I ka donkili ka di an ye

2009-10-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

I Ka donkili ka di an ye:
"Lord I long to sing your praises."

Two days ago I was sitting once again in Patte d'Oie church, unable to understand a word of the sermon, more or less hear a single thing anyone was saying. I came prepared to tune out and dive into a little reading I needed to catch up on.

But when it started, it was all I could do to hold back tears, the sound of the guy banging on the make-shift djembe, the smiles of the women as they danced around in circles, hands lifted to the Lord, indistinguishable yet perfectly in rhythm they clapped, and sang, and danced. I was surrounded in diverse languages, engulfed in praise, and drowning in joy. It was a worship service I had so easily forgotten, so quickly become accustomed to and was completely blown away by. If ever there was a glimpse of heaven, this was it.

I was once again, powerfully, reminded of the diversity of our God, the beauty of praise, and the freedom that is found in Him. There was no restraint when it came to praise, no hesitation in belting out the depths of their souls, and no fear of a on-lookers pressure. It was pure, holy, alive, and unrestrained.

I needed this moment, one the Lord knew all too well, to once again cherish the place I am in, to wake up to the reality of this dream and to re-capture my heart in a moment that it had felt so far gone. We serve an almighty, all knowing, all powerful, and all loving God, who is worshipped by the nations, in every language, and tonuge, by every means; dance, song, and the clapping of hands. Oh and what an honor it is to be caught in the middle of it all.

A dream called Life

2009-10-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

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.

Misconceptions

2009-10-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

I often find that many people think my life here is quite extreneous, adventerous, or completely out there so I thought I would take short post to clear the air on some common misconceptions.

1.) I do not live in a mud hut.
-in fact I live in a very nice house, with a bed, a fridge, a washing machine, and a fan. (granted some people in this house of a.c. I do not, it as if I sleep everynight on heating blanket, as well as in a sauna.

2.) I do not eat african food everyday.
-in fact I rarely eat african food, rice or to with sauce is served everywhere and I would rather treat it as a treat than an everyday occurrence ;-) I do however love, passionately, going to the market to pick up my fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs. I have become quit the 'Rachel Ray', the things Africa forces you to do.

3.) Not all africans like white people.
-in fact they tell alot of the children that white people will eat them so I often find myself going over to a child only to watch them run away screaming as the mothers all stand around and laugh.

4.) Being a white person does not always give you advantages.
-in fact, I often find myself being taken advantage of when shopping. The other day I went to the largest market in Ouaga with my Burkinabe friend Debora and she asked the price for a necklace she thought was nice, he said 'for you 500cfa but for her 3,000 cfa. Obviously being a white person gives very little help in situations like this.

5.) Not everyday life in Africa is an Adventure.
-in fact I often find myself wondering what to do with the rest of my afternoon.

6.) I do not always feel clean or comfortable.
-in fact the only feeling good (physically) I do is covered in sweat, I cannot walk from the shower to my room (5 ft.) without being covered in sweat once again.

7.) I am NOT fluent in french.
-in fact I face days where I wonder if I ever even took a french class.

So there are just a few of the realities of life here, everyday indeed has a gift of it's own and everyday I find myself falling more and more in love with this place, everyday it becomes more and more of 'home' to me but the realities of life don't just leave because you move to another country, and that is a lesson I have been figuring out since the moment I stepped on this soil.

When 2 Worlds Collide!

2009-10-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

Today I woke up, put on a pretty dress and went to Ouaga 2000 for church.

This morning this little girl woke up, put on the only dress she had and went to work.

Today I looked around at the vast riches stocked in homes that surrounded me, and marveled at their splendor.

Today I also looked into the eyes of children who were estatic that a white person had come to visit their small brick hut they call 'home'

Today I watched as a baby slept soundly in the comforting arms of protection and a future.

And today I held the hands of children whose future was tomorrow, hoping they would make it that long.

Today was a collision, a place where 2 worlds met, and I was the common thread. I lived today on each end of the spectrum, a place where there is no fear of losing, and a place where there is no guarantee of living.

Today I watched as my dear friend Debora, a burkinabe herself, was heart broken over the poor conditions in which these children live. To hear the words come from her mouth that how they survive is unimaginable and to watch her eyes fill with compassion over the little girl she supports from church broke my heart in two. She told me that for them, it is not possible to bathe every week (not to mention eat, we just happened to see a filthy little boy come running in), it isn't even possible for them to buy enough water to last them that long (25 cfa, the equivalent of .50).

It broke my heart and opened my eyes once again to the realities of where I am. Yes, this is Africa, the place so many dream of coming, but to those who live here this is home, the only place they will ever know. I have, with a very heavy heart realized that I cannot help every single person I see (though I have tried, just ask my roommates about the people who come to the door selling stuff), but to help just one here and one there makes all the difference in the world. To sit and share time with these belovedly beautiful people forever changes them and me as well. Katdafame (Deboras 'little sister') will always remember the day a 'Nasara' (white person, also my name in any outskirt area of town) came to visit her home, sat on her makeshift chair and took pictures of her and her friends. Even if I am here to only make a difference in little ways like that I know that I am being used by God.

The Spice of Life

2009-09-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

So much has been going on lately and I have not been able to find the time (or the internet capacity for that matter) to catch everyone up, so here's a little time filler until I can write about some of the more serious things happening in Ouaga.

We recently had a "Game Night" for all of our friends who are in their 20's, we made lots of delicious food, and played Apples to Apples, Liar's dice, and Gender Bender.

Some of our friends: Above is Fred and Matt both here long term. Matt is drilling wells in the villages around Ouaga and Fred, along with his wife, work at the Pan-Bila ministry.

Also: Micheal and Tyler, Micheal and His wife are expecting a baby in February, they are living and working in Pissy. Tyler has been here for almost 4 years working with a children s outreach organization, focusing on the tomato can boys.

Two of my favorite people; Olivia (L) and Sarah, they both recently just arrived in Ouaga and are spending 6-9 months working out in Yako with Lynn Peters and her school and orphanage (where the Wired youth group will be going at the end of October).

Tiffany (L) who is pregnant, she is Micheal's wife and she is also a nurse, working at a clinic out in Pissy, and Susan (my dearly beloved roomie).

Sarah, my other favorite roomie and Natajina (with the horrid expression on her face, trying to avoid the camera) She grew up here in Burkina along with Fred and they are now married, working at Pan Bila.

Tyler and Fred discussing a gender bender issue.

Game Night also happened to be Tiffany's 25th Birthday, so we had a little party on the side! (It's unfortunate that you cannot see her 'candles' aka mathes stuck in the cake to look like candles)

On to some other interesting facts of life here in Ouage, everyday I find something new about the culture, wheter it be fascinating or horrifying there is always a surprise with each new day and below I wil tell you about a few.

It may not look very evident as to what this is in the strainer, but let me give you a little hint, when you want to use flour here it must first be sifted, because of those. Those are little worms, that turn into really disgusting bugs. One of those things I find horrifyingly fascinating.

One thing I have loved is watching the storms roll in, the other day when I was out at Dorcas house a storm began to come and what a phennoniman it was to watch it come in over the vast desert where nothing is standing in it's way.

It was beautiful to watch the lightning across the sky and the clouds billow in.

A horrifying event? Yes! As soon as we got to Dorcas house one day we noticed a huge commotion, apparently after calming everyone down enough to explain we discovered that there was a snake eating a lizard in the girls bedroom. After lots of prayer, and a few men the snake was finally caught, killed, and burned. Indeed it is true, there are snakes in Burkina Faso!

Dorcas House

2009-09-30T09:07:00.001-07:00

Welcome to a place where God is moving, changing, molding, teaching, acting, empowering, and triumphing over girls whose hearts have been given to Him. The Dorcas house holds a very special and intimate place in my heart and that special place expands with every moment I spend there. 2 years ago this place was a piece of land with great vision and now it is a safe haven for 15 girls who have been abandoned by their families, a place where they have ALL come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, a place where they are learning ways to make a living in the real world, learning how to care for themselves physically and most importantly learning to live a life devoted to Him.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Dorcas House, it's nothing special that meets the eye, it's the meaning behind it all. This is the spot where we stood 2 years ago and prayed over a desolate piece of dirt, truly the harvest is plentiful! This tree was the only indication of where the property was and now is only a small piece of the grand dream that has come true.

This is the well of 'living water' or so I like to call it. This well is the only water that has been found in this area for a very long time, and was divinely placed on this land by God's providential hands.

These are the bathrooms at Dorcas house, on the right is the actual potties (or holes in the ground) and on the left are the showers (more so a walled in area for you to pour a bucket of water over yourself.)

These are the dorms, I believe that each one sleeps 7 or 8 girls.

This is the brand new kitchen that was just built in the past few months.

This is the inside of a classroom where the girls lean their projects, memory verses, etc.

This is one of their many fields or gardens, this one has peanut leaves in it, a leaf they use in sauce.

Amy standing in the shower!

The very NICE toilets, you wouldn't believe the ventilation in these things, which is always a high point of using a squatty potty. (ventalation is key)

The inside of the dorms, each girl has her own bed and mosquito net.

This is the inside of the very nice, new kitchen that was just built in the last few months.

This is the new border mark around Dorcas house, 2 weeks ago the mission almost lost the property (for reasons that are too complicated for me to understand or explain), all that matters is that by prayer and God's provision the property was more than doubled!

This is the view from the new marker, the Dorcas house is dead ahead, and if you look in both directions at some what of a diagonal each way you will see the magnitude of the new property. (Basically to the left, way past that tree and on back.)

And this is the view to the right, to the far trees and beyond.

With all this new property there are many propositions for what can be done. Previously the money was covered for the wall to surround the entire property, giving the girls protection, security and rights to the land. But now that all this new property has fallen into our laps we need double the amount of walls. There is also talk of a livestock farm, including sheep, cows, pigs, chickens and fish. This will enable the girls to learn to care for and prepare animals for sale. There is also hopes of more dorms to enable a larger group of girls to attend, and to allow the first year girls a second year of trades. A Moringua field is going to be planted here, Moringa is the 'good for all' leaf that is harvested off the trees, dried and then made into a spice. It helps with malnutrition along with a list of many other things.

A team from Appleton, WI. was out here recently, they brought along with them crocheting yarn and spent 4 days out at Dorcas house teaching the girls to Crochet.

Sarah came out to help teach as well, ( I was not much of the crocheting teacher due to the fact that I was learning right along with them).

Then we played the human knot game, they thorougly enjoyed this game, though had a very difficult time solving the problem of getting untangled.

Below is a picture of every girl with their name tag for anyone and everyone who wants to see the faces of the girls whose lives are being changed. (I hope in the very near future to add each girls story to their picture, so be looking for that to come).

Delfine is the Guard's wife, they live in a little house by the well.

Suzane is the musically talented one of the group, she loves to play the 'tam tams' or any sort of object that can be used as a drum, and to sing her heart out for Christ.

This is one of the girls who has a baby.

Martine is the other girl with a baby.

Amy knew a little about crocheting and was able to lend a helping hand to anyone having trouble, oh and the project they were working on was making a hat.

The guys from Appleton started to put the fench around the garden.

Kari and I made some village friends, the little boy with his eyes closed was terrified of us at first.

We ventured over to the well, which has the cleanest water I have yet to see in Africa, a blessing from God. The story goes that for the longest time no one was able to find water in this area of the village and then when Dorcas House came to look for water the only place was on their land, a spring of living water, holy and blessed by God. (It's even drinkable for foreigners)

Anyone in the community can use the well, but they must first pay 10cfa, the equivalent of .20 cents. We spent some time helping pump water for these girls, unfortunately we were unable to communicate with them since they only spoke More.

Every Saturday Amy and I do a health lesson in Jula (aka Amy does the lesson and I stand there and pretend to help) for the girls. The first week was on taking care of our skin and teeth, so it was awfully fitting to give out toothbrushes and toothpaste, and soap.

A few products made by the Dorcas House girls:

I was astonished to find that after a week the girls has made these items and many more. (keep in mind they were only taught to make a hat), these items will all be for sale.

The second week our health lesson was on physical fitness, we learned some basic stretches (of which I wish I had pictures, it was priceless) and then learned a few volleyball moves and played 'ne touche pas la terre' (aka don't touch the ground). I have never seen such delight over a game as I saw playing with these girls.

Their next project, one they just started is dying bazzin. Bazzin is a very elegent material here in Burkina and makes some of the most beautiful outfits, though it looks like a pice of thck paper, after washed a few times softens to normal fabric.

Recovery

2009-09-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Rebuilding has began! I have tried and tried to get this post online sooner but everytime have failed to do so because of our lack of internet. So I want to quickly to an update on what has been happening post flood here in Ouaga. Alot of relief aid has been given and people are beginning their to build again. Right now the government is setting up 'tent camps' or more like refugee camps for all those with out homes. Pray as these are places that people will live for years, in unsanitary conditons, waiting for the government to build them new homes.

Though rebuilding has began many if not most who lost their homes are still without, seeking help wherever they can find it.

The CMA gave 1 million cfa to help out the flood victims and to supply immediate aid.

We have also been doing many distributions at our Chruches and schools, giving away rice, clothes, mats, and blankets.

Then we drove out to Sector 30, where many families were staying to distribute the rice, mats, coverts, and clothes as well.

Being out here so often the kids are not only familiar faces but they become your friends.

The next week the national CMA church here gave 1 trailor, 2 trucks, 1 van, and 1 very large truck full of stuff to the Prime Minister to the flood victims. Total we gave 1,600 pots (or potty's), 1,000 toothbrushes, which have made Burkina National television 3 times, 250 mats, 10 bags of clothes, 1 bag of shoes, 1,500 blankets, 36,000 cans of deworming medicine and 10 tons of food.

We gave 10 tons of rice and corn. And at 220lbs. a bag it was quite the job trying to get it all off the truck and into this supply magasin. They are storing all the food in this magasin for now because the U.S. government gave enough food for the first 2 weeks after the flood and then they will use this supply, which was more than this picture will show.

After watching the guys carry a 220lb. sack on their head with no hands and joking that I could do it too, i surprised them all with my 50 lb. sack, at this moment a round of applause broke out. 50 lbs. may not seem like alot, but let me tell you our necks are not made to support it on our heads, I can still feel pain in my should from doing this.

Even pete helped out!

This guy cut our unpacking time in half.

Le seul manquer de chose était Noé Arc

2009-09-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

2 Weeks ago we woke up to what sounded like a wonderful rain outside of our house. My first thought was, "yay, no french today!" But the rain never stopped....

Within hours the roads were flooded...

This is the canal after the rains

This is what all of the roads and looked like during the flood.

And this is the canal during the flood.

The only words Burkina could find to describe this natural disaster was "Le seul manquer de chose était Noé Arc." (The only thing missing is Noah's Ark) It was a time that Burkina never expected to see, never dreamed possible, leaving 150,000 without homes, packed in shelters with all they over worked to own completely gone.....

Lackadaisical

2009-08-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

I wanted to spend one blog recapping my past 2 months here, not so much in what I have done or experienced but rather in the sense of my likes and dislikes. I have been so humbled in my time here realizing this fantasy of what life 'must be like' on the mission field is in comparison nothing what I dreamed. Short term trips are merely a tease of what reality truly is for those who live here and I have had the privilege of discovering what that is really like. Though life here is not a fairy tale does not mean I don't adore everyday I spend here. I came over with preconceived notions of living this unheard of adventure and have realized that life is not quite the same, but everyday I discover something else I love about this country, or these people and I feel that if I don't somehow document those things by the end of my time here they won't quite the same significance to me anymore. So I thought what better way to do so than to share them here on my blog.

Dislikes: There have not been quite the number of things that bother me but there sure are a few, as is expected in any foreign culture.

-I hate the fact that we don't have a dryer. Every time we wash our clothes and hang them to dry they feel like a stiff sheet of paper that itche as you put them on.

-The B.O. (for those of you not quite up on the lingo, Body Odor) is quite the smell here, and it's everywhere, all the time. It's especially lovely when crammed in a small space with no flowing air or escape.

-The Mosquitoes. I literally cannot step a foot outside without getting eaten alive, and when they bite me they turn to welts on my body, never in my life have I ever been bitten to the amount I have been here. (since the beginning of this post I have gotten bit 5 times)

-Power cuts. They always seem to happen at the worst times and are completely unplanned, lasting anywhere from 5 minutes to 6 hours. Oh and for the most part only happen on hot days, making it obviously much better.

-The guy I pass on my way to french class everyday who calls me 'baby' (yes in english, not so much a dislike as a humorous annoyance)

-Melting ice. The fact that you can put ice in your cup and within 5 minutes it is turned to complete liquid is quite defeating.

-Condisation on cups. I literally have a lake of water when I set my cup down on a table, the coasters (which are wood) get stuck to the cup that's how much water they sit in.

-The lack of carpet. It is actually a better thing that carpet is not excessive here but I have never really enjoyed being barefoot especially on floor where you walk in constant dirt.

-Being taken advantage of. As a white person here no matter where you go to buy something the price is ALWAYS marked up and only because you are white. A white person will rarely ever pay the price of the item that a Burkinabe would pay and it's really frustrating sometimes to be taken advantage of so easily.

-Nonchalante staring. People here have no problem staring at you for however long they desire. It's a tad uncomforting but cultural.

-Nothing starts on time. The fact is that coming late is being on time here. When you make a rendez -vous with someone it rarely happens on time and people tend not to call if they are not going to show up (our tailor for example).

-The absence of Chocolate. It is very rare to find any form of chocolate here and when you do it is usually out of date imported from another country. (i.e. Sarah bought Reese's from a boutique here and they literally tasted like cardboard, I will never again take for granted the isles of candy or bon-bons in America again.)

-The 'higher-ups' power. For example, I went to the post office to pick up a package, inside the package was a used camera. The post office chef (which means boss) has the power to charge me money for the camera and if I don't pay to keep it for himself.

-The 'Compliments.' Here fat is beautiful (don't we wish it was the same in the states) but having an American mentality and hearing "Oh, Jessica you have been eating well" doesn't go over so smoothly.

-The planes. The airplanes that land here in Ouaga fly directly over our house, and every time one comes in, it mutes life because it is so close, and on multiple occasions things begin to shake and you wonder if you should duck and cover.

-Internet Connection. Boy oh boy has this been a testing of patience I must say. Not a day goes by where things work perfectly, whether it be email, or skype something is alway going wrong, and in this house it is impossible for 2 people to use skype at the same time.

-How quickly food stales. Because of the humidity a bag of cereal, or cookies, etc. must be double or triple zip locked, otherwise it will stale within a week.

-Babies don't wear diapers. Since diapers are not a necessity of life here babies have freedom to pee or poop anywhere. For instance, in Chruch babies are passed around for people to hold and it is either hit or miss if a baby pees on you, and trust me it is not a little squirt here and there is is a gushing waterfall of pee that seeps into the clothes and trickles onto the floor, and the funny thing is no one cares or even notices....

-Corruption. Bribery is the primary way to get out of situations, whether it be border crossing, picking up a package containing a electronic. In Education if one cannot afford schooling they will bribe the professors or Headmasters with sex. Humanitarian aid is used to make profit for government here.

-Tomato can boys. They stand on every corner, tomato cans strapped around their shoulder with the universal sign language for food constantly being their action. These boys are sent from villages to the Capital for Muslim schooling and the Imans force these boys to stand on the street corners begging for money, if they don't produce a certain amount they are beaten and left without food.

-Disobedience to traffic laws. Traffic lights are merely a decoration on the side of the road that are not to be obeyed causing countless numbers of accidents and chaos.

-Marriage proposals for the sake of a visa. Anyone and everywhere can abuse friendship with an American for purposes of a visa for the U.S.

Likes: there are so many things that I have fallen in love with while living here although I can't quite say that Burkina itself was love at first sight, in regards to surroundings, it has been a fast growing, heart wrenching love I now feel for this place.

-Repos. Literally translates 'meal' it is a time from 12-3 everyday where life basically stops and everyone rests. It is so refreshing to have this time to relax and revive.

-French. If I had made a category saying, things I think are lackadaisical (or feel nonchalant about, which lackadaisical translate nonchalant-who knew right?) it would be french. It has been my biggest challenge, greatest defeat, constant failure and yet something God continuously nurtures a desire for in my life. I have enjoyed every stressful moment of trying to conquer something completely foreign to me. And every attempt at conversation has brought me more humility and more joy.

-Cardboard on the windows. Every time you park at a large(er) boutique or store here the parking guy puts cardboard boxes on your front windshield to keep out the sun and every time I see it I find myself humored.

-The fabric. I love love love the fabric and the outfits here. Everything is so bold, beautiful and extravagant, and expressive of personality. I have enjoyed having the opportunity to dress like Burkinabe and be complimented on the fabrics.

-African Rain Storms. Nothing quite compares to an african rain storm, they are completely unexpected and bring with them an unexplainable breath of cool (almost cold) air. I love when I am woken up in the middle of the night due to rain splashing off of my A.C. (that doesn't work) right into my bed through the window, it is so calming.

-Nasara. Nasara is More' for white person and it makes me giggle everytime I walk down the street and hear little children yelling, or almost singing Nasara, nasara.

-Talking yourself in and out of situations. If you are a 'sweet talker' or atleast know how to make friends quickly (oh and know french) you can talk your way out of almost anything, this is a very relational culture and people will repay your with that respect if you first show that you respect and cherish them.

-Certain Criticisms. Due to the American mentality a commento of concern or criticism can be taken as a compliment (in my case atleast). For example a guy wrote me an email saying; "Oh jessica I saw you were looking rather thin, you must be diseased." and I thought , 'wow that is so sweet of him.' I would prefer to hear something like that anyday in contrast to 'you have been eating well', let's just say I cling to those moments haha.

-Uninvited Visitors. This is a very African way of life, the doorbell can ring at any moment (and if your gate is not locked, they will welcome themselves in without rining it). In the states this kind of unexpected visitor (who can stay at your house anywher from 5 minutes to an hour or more) can seem quite the burden, but I love the fact that being such a relational culture it is completely ordinary to sit and talk with someone for any amount of time at any point in your day.

-The lack of Distractions. Although we do have internet and a few movies, for the most part there is so much time to spend doing other things here. I love that for the most part I rarely know where my cell phone is here and that the TV is not constantly on.

-Riding a Moto. There is nothing quite like the breeze from riding a moto (which is truly something I have learned to treasure in this heat) when the sun is blazing. And the thrill of being a part of the chaos which I call traffic here is an adventure every time you head out. (ps. Update-I am getting my very own moto this week, and am beyond thankful to not have to depend on susan and sarah as much).

-The Lemonade. The lemonade here is to die for, it is so fresh and sweet and my mouth literally waters at the thought of drinking some.

-The breeze. Since it is so hot here I have learned to savor the breeze for everything it has to offer, when it blows through you just have to stop and bask in it while it lasts.

-The children who play outside my gate. Even as I write this I am watching them through the openings, today they are doing Karate moves. More than anything I enjoy watching them be kids, here that is not a reality for the children they begin to work at the ages of 4 or 5.

-The little naked babies. It brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face everyday that I walk past the small babies completely unclothed and playing in the sewer covered dirt, they seem to find joy playing in the wet dirt (which is most of the time sewer washed into the street). They are precious to watch and I pass with this huge desire to sweep them up in my arms and love on them.

-The little children who walk the streets alone. Everyday I see children who walk alone, babies really. Today I passed a boy who couldn't have been more than 3 walking the road alone singing to himself as if he had no care in the world.

-The icecream man. Indeed there is an icecream man I pass occasionally, who pushes a little cart and honks a bicycle bell.

-Geickos. There are Geickos literally everywhere, in the sink, shower, bedroom. It's almost rare to go into a room and not see one.

-The Market. I love going to the market, it smells of rotting food, swarming with flies and women selling produce, bombarding you and begging you to buy their stuff but what an experience! There is nothing quite like paying less than a dollar for most anything (food wise) you might buy there.

-The tall guy with no front teeth who calls me 'baby'. Although it is rather annoying to be called that he has become some what of a friend on my walk to class and I enjoy gretting him, always knowing that I will see him.

-The handmade toys and other items. I love watching the children run down the street pushing an old tire (or any round object) with a stick, chasing it without a care in the world. I also love seeing them make trucks and trians out of sardine cans, dresses out of trash, and brooms made of branches.

-Roadside food. This is kind of a love-hate relationship, some of the things you can buy anywhere on the side of the road are; sugar covered and regular peanuts, charcoled corn, bread, brochettes, smoked fish (more like minos). At the same time when you eat at roadside restaurants they are not quite restraunts but rather a big pot of sauce (all parts of the animal inside included, neck, feet, intestines) and rice (your only option.)

-Fresh fruit everywhere. Right now it is watermelon and apple season, you can buy fresh fruit anywhere for realatively cheap.

-Watching the woman carry things on their head. I have seen some talented women here, carrying almost anything on their head, even including tables.

-Chicken moto. Almost everyday you can see a chicken moto, a man who rides around with chickens tied by their feet and piled on ( there are literally so many that you can rarely see the man driving) and he sells them just like that, fresh and alive off the moto.

-Donkey Carts. I thorougly enjoy walking down the street everyday and seeing donkey carts everywhere, it is a constant reminder of where I am at. I also find it histaracle that on our new bypass thing (like a spaghetti junction of sorts) there is a sign that has a picture of a donkey cart with an X through it indicating they are not allowed and must go around.

-Animals wandering. I find it quite amusing to see the magnitude at which animals roam here, it is not one bit unordinary to see a random donkey, goat, chicken, dog, etc. that has left it's home and is wandering the streets.

-Praise and Worship/Singing and dancing. No matter where you go you hear music, whether from phones, radios, or voices them self music and dance are a huge part of this culture.

-Bartering. Though we are easily taken advantage of it's a nice accomplishing thought to be able to talk someone down in price, even if the price you end with is more than a Burkinabe might pay.

Just for fun I thought I would add a list of the American things that I have learned great appreiation for while being here.
American Things I Cherish here:
-Deodrant
-Bug spray
-Crisco
-A washing machine
-Peanut Butter
-Dark Chocolate MnM's and Mint 3 Muskateers (compliments of Ben Savaiko) :)
-Elastic (which wears out rather quickly here)
-Ken's Honey Mustard and Ranch (shout out to Kurt from Gazebo, you are a life saver, those who know him pass this on)
-Parmasean Cheese (yet another shout out to Ben)
-Decaffinated tea bags (encore)
-My french book from the states!
-

I am sure there are a number of likes and dislikes that I have failed to mention but I am assuming this blog post is already long enough and intend to post more of the things I find myself liking and disliking as they come about.

Cote D'Ivoire

2009-08-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

I want to start out telling the a brief glimpse of my dinner with a 'legend'. On our drive down to Bobo we passed village after village after village and my heart broke over the people, people who might never hear. How can the Good News be good news unless it's told? My heart longed to share with these people. We got to a certain point where I started to see churches emerge from the bush, church after church, all looking the same. And apon arriving in Bobo we were invited to dinner at Madame Kim's house. Madam Kim, a little korean lady who has commited her and her family's life to serving in Burkina has spent the last 5-10 years planting churches, building schools, encouraging, discipling, and training the next generation of Christian leaders. I quickly found out that these chruches I had seen over and over were all built by her, financed by her church in Korea and were reaching the unreached. In less than 10 years she has planted, built, encouraged, and discipled over 200 churches in the unreached areas of Bobo, along with 2 schools and countless other things. How could one woman have such great impact? I was baffled and amazed at the things she had done, and then I realized in listening to her speak a language completely unfamiliar to what she had ever known before, she had counted the cost and considered all else loss when it came to Jesus Christ and her surrender has given Him the means of changing a nation. I left inspired, sweetly broken, and praying my life would be such sweet surrender as hers.

This beautiful waterfall is found among many in the Burkina region called Banfora. Banfora is one of the regions on the list of unreached areas to reach through the new STMO program. (Let's just say I would not mind one bit serving in this area).

Banfora gets a great multitutde more of rain each year and is lush with sugar cane fields, corn, and rice. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are very few. " Matthew 9:37

This picture pretty much explains the entire trip to Cote D'Ivoire, car sickness is an understatement, especially when riding with Pete. Reading, sleeping, and sitting were nearly impossible on this trip, but what an adventure. At one point when we were actually in the city of Yamoussoukro we got lost trying to find a 'short cut' and ended up on roads full of holes, and piles of dirt placed right in the center (very common in africa), with bushes growing up in the center of all driving areas, and I couldn't help to contain myself, laughter was all you heard for nearly an hour trying to find our way back to 'civilization.'

This is a very common road side food in Africa, corn cooked over an open fire. It's delcious and makes the perfect road trip snack, especially when restaurants, stores, and fastfood are non-existant.

The drive to Bobo was 4 hours and then from Bobo to Yamoussoukro was nearly 12 hours, once over the border of Burkina and Cote D'Ivoire we encountered 26 police stops. Police stops are not quite the same in Africa. Usually people are stuck at these stops for an hour or so due to the fact that the police who work there have no pay so they only way to pass through is to bribe them or wait it out, and waiting can take a good deal to time. Thankfully Pete, with his connections, got us a lassier passe, basically a permission slip (meaning literally to let pass) from the which said that no one had a right to stop us. When we arrived in Bobo the first night we immediately pulled up to a Marina market and out of no where this man comes over to the van and starts talking in hushed tones with pete and hands him a piece of paper, it was almost like a drug deal in our eyes.

The Ivorian Civil War was a civil war in Côte d'Ivoire that began on September 19, 2002. Although most of the fighting ended by late 2004, the country remains split in two, with a rebel-held north and a government-held south. French troops were brought into Côte d'Ivoire to help resolve the situation. Hostility increased and raids on foreign troops and civilians rose. As of 2006, the region was tense, and many said that the United Nations and the French military had failed to calm the civil war.

Driving down the road in Cote D'Ivoire, we had to be super careful about taking pictures because every city, or village was swarming with soldiers.

We finally made it to UJAC the conference for all west African CMA youth, it is held every 2 years. Youth in Africa is considered to be between the ages of 15 and 35. There were students from Burkina, Mali, Mali, Cote D'Ivoire, Liberia, Gabon, Guinea and even Senegal.

There were over 1,000 youth at this conference, and what an Incredible sight it was. Words do not come close to explaining what it is like to Worship with brothers and sister unknown until this moment as you stand in awe of the Lord together.

This is the complex that held all 1,000 students. The conference was held at a very nice University in Cote D'Ivoire.

A group from each country had a play, song, or dance to perform This was a group who did a really funny and powerful skit that related to the theme, "What will you as a Christian do for an African in crisis."

I think the most powerful and indescribable part of this entire time was the worship, and the freedom I saw in the eyes of these people as they danced their hearts out to the Lord. Everytime the songs began people jumped out of their seats and without shame, no matter where they were, in the stands, in the chairs, in the center of the floor, in the hallways, they began to dance. Alone or surrounded by a group of people all you saw when you looked around was pure and honest worship to our Great and majestic God. My heart envied the joy and freedom they felt as I felt parts of my heart held captive to the 'cultural norm' of the American church which says clapping is the extent of what is acceptable, anything beyond is ludicrous.

One afternoon was planned as sight seeing, we were supposed to go to the Basilica, which is a Roman Catholic church constructed between 1985 and 1989 costing over $300 million, making it the largest Basilica in the world to this day. We headed out to the buses at 2:30, but due to the African way of life we were standing outside waiting until nearly 4 until anyone got on a bus. It was complete chaos getting on, there is absolutely no organization here and people were pushing and shoving and waiting for their name to be called. Finally our bus was full and ready to leave, then out of no where the engine turns off and people start to unload. Apparently the bus drivers were upset with the conduct of the students so they wanted everyone off, this happened 2 times and by 5:00 we left and gave up on the idea of getting there, only to see a bus pull out at 5:30. The cultural way in Africa is very different and sometimes stressful.

After our failed attempt at the sightseeing of the city we settled for sightseeing of the campus. This was a grand idea minus the fact that everywhere we went, every person at the conference wanted their picture with us and our contact info (Because we were the only white people). I am not over exaggerating when I say that we took nearly 800 + pictures with people. After 2 days my face literally hurt, something I never thought possible in my life. I have determined to never be famous after those 2 days and now have a great compassion for all who are.

The school had this incredible wall mural covered in tiles that was a hot spot for pictures, amidst the chaos of pictures with everyone else we were able to sneak a few of our own, as proof on our own cameras that we were there.

Jumping pictures were a hit, we even managed to get one guy to jump too, they loved watching us try to get the perfect picture.

Every night's worship formed into a 'congo' line for our King. Somehow no matter the song, regardless of the country every person was out of their seat, step in step with each other, united by the bonds of love and the desire to give praise to our King. This was one of my favorite dances, in which I participated (none of those pictures turned out at all). Letting those walls drop in my heart that said 'you're an american you can't go out there, you dont' know the steps, you will look like a fool,' was like throwing a 10 ton rock off my shoulders. I am free in Christ, because of what He has already done for me, who am I not to give Him the praise due to His name. This was a night of liberation, a night of Praise, in a language I didn't understand I found such unity and joy amongst my brothers and sisters who's hearts were focused solely on the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, God eternal.

Through this entire week I learned multitudes about who I am in a culture unknown, I have thanked God for the ability to adapt and the patience needed to do so. I have been given a longing to learn the language so much more, something I have been praying about for quite some time. I have learned what it means to stand out and to be observed at every second, what a witness truly is and what it means to break down the walls of cultural traps to let freedom reign in my life wheter in the familiar or the absurd. I am beyond thankful for this experience and know that this is a time that has left an impact on my life.

In all Honesty

2009-08-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

Today has been one of those days, one of the ones you plan for and yet at the end somehow find yourself blown away. One of those days you are amazed, humbled, challenged, and drained. Today I found myself doing what I love, teaching children how to brush their teeth and enjoying every sweaty second of games. After french we went out to Sector 30 once again, but this time to distribute toothbrushes to the Compassion International children, my goal for today was that I would be able to do a presentation in french for these children on how to brush their teeth and I succeeded. I feel like all the language study I have been doing is paying off. Tonight was also bible study for the 'interns' and it never fails that every week I am blown away once again by the power of prayer. We are studying a book titled "Intercessory Prayer" by Dutch Sheets and every night I leave with a heavier burden to be on my knees. I have learned so much in these past two weeks about releasing the power of God through our prayers. I have also been asking God to make me a woman of prayer and to continuously lay people on my heart and in my path to pray for. There are a few that I want to share here and ask you to join me in praying for them, praying specifically that Satan would be bound in their lives and that God would give them dreams and visions of who he is.
-Virginie's Husband:
Virginie is our wonderful house girl who came to know and love Christ at some point in her recent past and is married (by culture) to a man who is a very obedient Muslim. In October they are getting legally married and it has been really difficult for her to live with someone who is not a believer. His family also despises Virginie and she desperately wants for them to come to know Christ.

-My Parents

-Momani
He is my french professor, an incredibly delightful and enthusiastic man to be around. He is a devoted Muslim as well but I desperately think that the Lord is working on his heart and trying to capture his devotion. Almost every student Momani has had has been an American Christian Missionary and I would just ask that you pray the same for him. I am hoping to have him help me with my testimony and the Gospel in french, pray for those things to speak loudly to his heart.

Also be in prayer as this next week is the Field Forum and I am leading the Children's program. The end of field forum means that I need to have made alot of decisions based on ministry and where I want my time to be spent serving. I have alot of options right now and I really need guidance in where to serve. (I will keep you updated on that as soon as things get set in place)

There's no place I would rather be....

2009-08-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had those moments, the ones where life stands still and you can't help but wonder how you got where you are? I live life in those moments. Everyday I am mesmerized by how I got to where I am, captivated by moments that take my breath away. Moments where there is no room for words, these are the times that leave me changed....

When a baby falls asleep in your arms as life speeds on around you...

When your arrival at church brings countless arms clinging to yours in hopes of one hug...

Or when so many hands are cupped in yours that there is no room to move...

when the face of a child brings tears to your eyes because you can finally see past your own little world and into theirs...

When laughter rings throughout the entire group because of one little boys 'trash'

When giving out toothbrushes causes children to bow in unspeakable gratefulness of a gift...

When you stand in the middle of a group of children and realize that you are surrounded by great darkness and you might just be the only light....

When you realize the little things you take for granted are treasured moments remembered these children...

When you look into a little boys eyes, and see past the mouth that brings him utter shame and feel the pain of overwhelming worthlessness he feels....

And when you look into the eyes of the baby that won't let you go and know that this beautiful child may not make it past the age of 5 you are changed.....

When?

2009-07-31T04:36:00.000-07:00

As I write these words my heart is being ripped to pieces. The call to prayer is expounding from the Mosque around the corner, calling people into a lifetime spent seeking something that cannot save them. And at this same moment I am hearing the words “You’re the God of this city, you’re the King of these people, you’re the Lord of this nation. You’re the light in this darkness, you’re the hope to the hopeless, you’re the peace to the restless. There is no one like our God, greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city.”

When will the lost hear? When will the perishing be saved? When will the veils be removed from the faces of those not knowing they are being blinded by hopelessness? When will God’s people humble themselves, fall to their knees and plead His blood over His lost children? When will the Kingdom of God reign on earth, in Burkina Faso, the lives of hundreds sitting in the mosque right now? When will their destitution strike our hearts leaving us at a place where there is no other place to go but to our knees? When will we go to the ends of the earth? While we wait thousands die. Will you plead His power over these people? Will you take 5 minutes and pray that these loved ones would see the light, would chase the truth?

“the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.” Matthew 4:16

“But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-17

“there is no other God, there never has been, and there never will be.” Isaiah 43:10

Pate d'arachide

2009-07-31T03:52:00.000-07:00

Three times a week I have french conversation with Virginie. This week we have been working on kitchen and cooking terms, so we decided to actually make the recipe we were coming up with. Pate d'arachide is a traditional african sauce eaten on rice. Pate d'arachide means peanut butter, so basically we made a peanut butter sauce. Since we were already in the African cooking spirit we decided to make a traditional african drink as well, Beesap. Beesap is a type of flower found here that when dried is placed in water and left to soak and after a few hours you add mint to it.

Here is Virginie and I making the Beesap.

Here is the Pate d'arachide in the cooking process

Voila! Everything is finished and was delicious!

Pour un Mois!

2009-07-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

After living here for a month now my perspective has changed immensely. French has been both a challenge and a joy, a stress and an adventure a complete frustration and a huge time of growth. Everyday I walk past the same guy sitting on the bench who knows 6 words in english; "how are you, I am fine." The same baby playing in a bucket of water behind the peanut stand, the same man laying beside the bench because he does not have the means to support himself, and everyday my heart breaks more and more for these people. Through the frustration I am humbled by the beauty of what an honor I have to serve here.

Here are just a few photos of what is happening here :

This is how dark it gets when a rain storm is coming in, first we experience a dust storm and then this, keep in mind this is at about 1pm.

A little decor being added to my very bland and stark white walled room :)

My new curtains and sheet (aka, a tablecloth) it may not match but it lights up the room!

The other day I had the opportunity to visit a ministry site here called Pan-Bila. Pan bila is a center for street boys and women to come and receive food, education, and the Gospel. Their primary ministry is taking these pregnant women and young boys off the street and attempting to negotiate with their families to allow them to come home. These women are abondaned because of pregnancy and these boys run away due to the fact that they are being sent to Muslim school and will be beaten and tortured immensely. Pan Bila has had about 150 boys this year and 60 women.

A little baby whose mother lives here at Pan Bila!

The Women's housing. The missionaries here belive that if you provide luxury for these people they will never leave, never return home so they live simply as they would if they were nto on the streets.

How can you help Pan-Bila?

-Pray for Pan Bila, that these women and boy's hearts would be opened to the Gospel.
-Pray for interns, interns are their primary source of finances and they no longer have any.
-Pray for financial support, that they would recieve exactly what they need to make it from one month to the next.
-Give, support them in providing finances for their food distribution ministry.

Requests

2009-07-18T04:39:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been realizing how crucial prayer is in my life and how desperately I need others to be praying for me as well. So I want to share a few struggles I have been having, obstacles I am facing and requests I hope people will meet on their knees before our Father with.

-First, God has been stretching me so much, teaching me to depend on him all the more. You lose a certain sense of independency here and he is growing me into complete reliance on Him. Please continue to pray that I would seek Him first for all that I need or all that I am facing.

-I have learned so much, been challenged beyond all I can imagine and I have no one to share all of this with. It's been really hard being half way around the world from those I am closest with, it costs money every minute to talk to rob, and skype never works to speak with anyone in the states. I have so much on my heart, so many questions, concerns, insights that I want to share face to face with those I love and I don't have that possibility right now.

-My primary ministry right now is prayer ministry, and knowing that feels like a huge responsibility. Obviously I cannot clearly communicate with people here and so most of my time is spent in unceasing prayer for people I pass, encounter, and work with. Yet, I still feel a huge responsibility and burden for those back home, for my family, my friends and at times the lists can be defeating.

-I am struggling with feeling like I have alot of down time right now. Granted it's summer and most of the ministries don't start back up until august, I just some days wish I could be out working with the children, helping the women, etc. I also know that in order for those things to happen I must first grasp the language so that those ministries can be all the more effective.

Please just pray in general for what God is doing here on the field, alot of visions are being cast and opportunies are arising every single day, pray that those working here would be lead in the right directions and attentive to the voice of the Lord.

My life thus far

2009-07-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

My days all start out pretty much the same, wake up at 7 a.m. shower, get dressed, head to french class on this wonderful bike (minus the helmet). Getting to french class is quite a task, first it requires a very keen eye and quick feet (for peddling). I will describe the driving here as every man for himself. There is no such thing as yielding, or stopping for that manner and no lanes for 'your side' of traffic. Thankfully the school is not too far away, maybe a mile but it does require crossing a busy street. After that the long hall comes the treacherous mountain biking expenditure, and by that I mean a dirt road of pot holes. And voila the school finally appears in the distance. It's quite fun, daring, and challenging every single day. Once at school I spend 2 hours with Sacre, who is a university student and also my first professor who speaks ONLY french! Let's just say those 2 hours never seem like they are going to end most days. After those 2 hours pass my next 2 hours are spent with Mumoni who speaks English very well, it's quite a riot because he will point to a word and ask me what it is, so I tell him in english, and he compliments me as if I have done something spectacular. For example, "What is the first month of the year Jessica?" "January" "Oh tres bien, jessica, tres bien." I have never felt more appreciation and encouragnment. I love those 2 hours!

There is no telling what the rest of my day will hold after french, some days it's to the REC (which is the American Embassy) to eat lunch with Alice and the kids, some days it's to the market with Virginie, some days I have conversation practice with Virginie, and some I just spend laying in my bed wishing it wasn't so hot to go to sleep. But I will in fact say that I am learning so much, learning how to cook, learning how to speak, how to live in a completely different culture. Most importantly though, the Lord is teaching me how to depend on Him, how to trust Him and how to be His light in a dark world where I can't speak the language. Lately it seems like alotof my ministry has been through prayer, prayer as I walk past the mosque, as I sit in french (when I am not paying attention of course), praying without ceasing is what I have been trying to make a priority in my every day life.

Je Veux

2009-07-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Virginie took me to the market for our hour of french conversation. When I say market I mean vendor after vendor or woman after woman seeling the exact same produce as the one before her. Everything is covered in flies and the price is always marked up if you are white. If I had sent virginie on her own she probably would have bought the same amount for half of what I paid, not that these items are very expensive. It was quite the experience going and speaking almost only french. (Virginie is very good at english but also a very good teacher of french). At the market I bought a pineapple, ananas which was about 300 cfa, less than a dollar. Bananas, banan which were about 200 cfa about .40 cents. Potatoes, pomme de terre (which literally translates apples of the ground),which were about 600 cfa a kilo so about 1.20 a lb. Mango, mang,which is about 100 cfa, about .20 cents and peanuts for which i do not remember the french name nor the price.

En francais

2009-07-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

Today began the first of many french lessons. I will be attending french tutor 4 hours a day, 5 days a week for the next month. After the first month is over I will be only attending 2 times a week rather than 5. It was quite humbling to go in and sit down for the first 2 hours with a professor who only spoke french. I had a very difficult time understanding him at first but was super grateful that I had taken french this past year in school, otherwise I would have had absolutely no idea a single thing he was saying. My first 2 hours are spent with him, we refreshed numbers, and talked about what I want to do with my future. I didn't know how to explain to him that I wanted to eventually do dental hygiene so I just told him I wanted to be a dentist, and from that flowed an entire comparison of doctors, dentists, and nurses according to what they do (keep in mind, all in french). I only even brought that part up because I had no idea how to say I was studying InterCultural studies. He then proceeded to ask me what doctors, nurses, and dentists do, ha good one. I thought surely, I can figure this out. After many stick figure drawings and what seemed like endless games of charades we came up with maybe 3 or 4 things each profession did. Those first 2 hours passed quickly. My next 2 hours were spent with a professor named Moumouni who thankfully speaks a lot more english. He was quite a hoot to learn from and very postivively reenforcing on absolutely everything I did. We had a very good time, he even told me that I was a native french speaker due to my pronouncation.

This is Virginie, our house girl and her new kitten.

Today Virginie took us to the market to buy these beautiful cloths you see above. It was extreme culture shock when on our walk that way some man grabbed my wrist and hand and began yanking me with all his strength into his shop. I was terrified and he wouldn't let go, finally I got loose and took off. It's easy to forget the fact that we are white girls regardless of the number together, walking on through an impoverished market unprotected.

Home is where the the Heart is...

2009-07-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new home!

This is called the Dependence, aka guest house

We actually do have a washer, but Virginie (the house girl) usually washes the clothes

This is what we think to be a chicken coop

The porch and garage

More porch

Snickers, our wonderful dog who will eat your hand off if you try to touch her the first time meeting her. She likes to chew underwear, chapstick, and paper.

The dining area

Our fridge which looks much larger than it actually is, this picture is deceiving.

Our kitchen

The hallway to our rooms

My room, minus the wall with a disgusting fridge on the side that smells and is infested with bugs :)

And my storage room :)

Welcome to my new home!

What are you going to do about it?

2009-07-09T14:58:00.001-07:00

These past 2 weeks have been an adventure, filled with joy, laughter, heartbreak, and challenges. As a team we sat down to debrief over all we had experienced and our hearts ached. Everything we have seen, every child we have touched, or hugged, every place we have been and everything we have done leaves us with the question of; "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?" In Burkina a child's survival rate is 3 out of 5, and 3,000 children are dying every single day because of Malaria alone. When I look into these children's faces I see fear, fear of not knowing where or when they will have their next meal. Where is their hope? What am I going to do about it? What are you going to do about it?

A little deeper

2009-07-08T00:21:00.000-07:00

I know that my past few posts have been nothing but simple and brief, and I want to apologize because I have not had the time to share my heart, my thoughts, and the vision behind everything we are doing here. I promise that in the next few posts I will go deeper into the reality of which I now am living to the heart of the mission and the passion for these people that I have. God is doing a glorious work over here in Burkina Faso and I want you to hear about it, not just hear about it but know it and see it and feel it. I want your heart to beat for His work, to break for His people, to race for his praise, and to surrender to His beckoning call. I will shortly be somewhat backtracing so that I can describe in more detail the things that we have already done and the ministries we have already been a part of so please stay tuned. :)

Compassion Day

2009-07-04T01:43:00.000-07:00

Thursdays in Burkina are Compassion day.

This little girl is writing a letter to her sponsor.

There are 5 people on the team who sponsor compassion children in Burkina, so they brought them all to us at the central church. 2 years ago I met my little girl for the first time, her name is Claudine. She is now 11 years old and when I saw her again she ran to me with arms wide open and gave the me the most heartfelt hug I could ever imagine. It was a glorious moment to know that God divinely orchestrated and placed her in my life.

For the next few hours we sat in on classes and the class Claudine and I were in asked every child to draw their favorite animal, these are claudine and I's drawings. Mine was orginally an elephant and then a giraffe and then a flamingo which just turned into a bird. I am pretty sure hers is a crocidile.

They had a recess so we all went out to play games with the children, their favorite games are to copy the white people.

Claudine had never tried an apple before and we had bought some to send home with our girls, so this was her ver first bite of an apple.

Compassion also gave us all a bottle of soda which was a very special treat for all of our children.

When I told her we were leaving she immeditely lost the smile on her face. I could see the sadness in her eyes, it broke my heart. I asked abby to come over and translate that I would be back to see her soon, she got so excited and joy filled her again.

Compassion is an incredible ministry that is saving the lives of children and giving them hope for a future. To find out more about compassion go to www.compassion.com

Day 1

2009-07-04T01:04:00.000-07:00

Today we went to visit our first work site. The LAC is a school and compassion center where the vision is to build a high school. Right now the school system only goes up to 9th grade, in order for the school system to reach 13th grade they must have a science lab. The high school is in the process of being completed and will hopefully be completed in time for the next school year. Also on this property (which is rather large) is a house for a family that will potentially be moving in in August to run the new team center. The team center in the picture above is a duplex that will house double what the guest house holds right now and has the convenience of little travel to work. The teams that come out will stay here and be working on this property. Our team came out to put the roof on this center and the first day we scoped it out and attempted a few tolls (the roofing material) to get the hang of things.

There were so many little children who came out to watch us, this community has hundreds of children who do not and cannot ever afford to go to school. If you notice the water behind me and see the 'cleanliness' of it you will see their primary drinking source. We saw woman after woman come with donkeys and barrels to fill up their jugs and take back home. In this same water we saw people bathing, peeing, and playing.

As we were walking around the work site Pete (the missionary) dared me to sit on the donkey, and well I did. He then attempted to hit it and cause it to run but it was too lazy thankfully.
After we left the LAC we went to a ministry site called Tanghin, this is the area where the people use to worship a very large snake that ate their children. There use to be a Muslim school on this land and when the land was given over to the church and the school was torn down the snake completely disappeared. There is now a native burkinabe pastor who is planning on moving out here to start a church. This is one of the most beautiful pieces of land I have ever seen. As soon as we stopped the van the children, by the hundreds, came running towards us, and as soon as they got to us they grabbed our hands and walked with us. It was a heart breaking moment to realize that more than half of these children would not make it to the age of 10.
This is also the site where I raised money for the new Compassion center to be built, which should be starting really soon. They are hoping to have it done in the next few months. Compassion will give these children a hope and a future and I am thrilled to know that they will see that their lives matter to God.

Departure and Arrival

2009-07-01T01:13:00.000-07:00

We are finally here! After 2 long days of flying we finally made it. Everyone is safe and feeling good, besides my cold that I caught 3 days before leaving I am A+. We had a very enjoyable lunch with everyone's friends and family at the Gazebo and then headed out!

A team picture!

All of our luggage which ended up costing us about $300 extra dollars, 150 due to one bag being 3 inches too big, and the other 200 due to a bag that was extra and overweight, it barely hit the 70lbs limit.

And finally we arrived! We were greeted by Susan and Lynda, it was nice to be 'home'

Departure!

2009-06-28T12:23:00.001-07:00

It's time to say Goodbye to the beautiful mountains

Tomorrow I set out to spend the next 6 months of my life in Africa! I am both terrified and triumphant. Trusting that all comes together in God's hands. Going in confidence knowing that He is Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, and Christ above me.

In the morning I will arise through God's strength to direct me,
God's might to uphold me
God's wisdom to guide me
God's eye to look before m
God's ear to hear me
God's word to speak to me
God's hand to guard me
God's way to lie before me
God's shield to protect me
God's hosts to save me from snares of devils,
from temptations of vices,
from everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear,
alone and in a multitude. -Patrick's 'Breastplate'

Packing Progressions

2009-06-16T18:13:00.001-07:00

Today began my very official day of packing, the 5,000 toothbrushes crammed nicely into 3 nearly 50lb. bags. It's exciting to open each of these suite cases and literally see thousands of toothbrushes in each. For something that weighs so little alone they sure do pack on the pounds when combined together in mass.

Apart from the toothbrushes I have been slowly starting the clothing pile that I only left one bag for, I am hoping for the best. (Mostly hoping that so many clothes can fit in such a small bag and still weigh under 50lbs.)

2 of my other bags contain hygeiene products, crafts, books, and Compassion gifts. I sponsor 2 little girls in Burkina both of which I will have a few opportunites to spend time with so I am bringing them some clothes and a few school supplies.

If you notice the orange bag on the end of this picture that bag is designated solely to food. Shopping for 6 months was quite an experience. I would walk through the isles and grab one pack of muffin mix, a pack of cookies, etc. and keep walking until it hit me that one pack of muffins would only make me muffins for one DAY, how in the world was I going to buy for 6 months? Well let's just say I won't run out of granola bars or cereal :)

Seeing as how this much progress has been made just today I have high hopes of what these next 2 weeks will hold in respect to the completion of my packing. At this point I am just begging other members on the team to agree to cart around one of these clonkers for me (if not 2) because my 2 per person bag quota was very quickly filled (as well was my sisters, she really had no say). I am however so very thankful that I am going with a group of people, and people who pack very lightly!

Garden Party

2009-06-15T07:28:00.002-07:00

On Saturday we had the "Going Away Garden Party." It was a blast. Sherri Tomlin brought these beautiful sunflowers and this wonderful fruit bowl for everyone to enjoy.

My favorite 1 year olds were there of course and so was Maggie and Lauren, I was so glad the whole Bass family could come :)

Scott and Gouge were enthralled that Rob made a surprise apperance, they spent alot of time up close and personal.

Rob and Misty just before Conner would be born.

Oh How I miss him, but sure am glad he showed up.

A Glimpse

2009-06-15T07:17:00.001-07:00

I had a small glimpse as to what life might be like in Burkina the other night. Taylor and I decided to save on gas and ride bikes to church from our Breanna Schultz's house. Taylor hops on the mountain bike and takes off up the hill, I hop on another mountain bike and the tires go completely flat in .2 seconds, well the only other bike there is the little girls bike, so what is a girl to do but hop on. It was quite a feat riding downhill with backwards pedal brakes and forget any uphill action (I had to get off and push) but it sure was an adventure. When we got to church Kevin said it was quite ironic that we decided to ride bikes on that day because he was going to talk about how burkinabe's ride bikes to get anywhere they want to go and he was going to ask us if we could imagine only having a bike to ride....Well let's just say we could imagine it after that long haul. I just hope that I won't have to ride a little girls bike (where the weight capacity is 100lbs.- far outdid that) in Burkina.

Scented Soap

2009-06-15T06:58:00.001-07:00

These past few days have been quite a challenge for men and I have been doing almost anything to keep my mind off of the transition (ie. rearranging the living room furniture) I am about to make. Now don't get me wrong I am thrilled about moving to Africa but all of the necessary steps leading up to it seem to be too heavy for me to take some days. It's all quickly approaching though and I know that I need to get in gear over these last 2 weeks.
These past few days have not only been mentally challenging but spiritually challenging as well. The other night at church we were talking about James 5, where he is talking about accumulating wealth. I was challenged by looking at my life and determining what in my life was necessity and what was luxury. I went to the restroom and began washing my hands when the aroma of the soap hit me and I thought 'mhmmmm this smells good,' and then I realized that even the fact that I would spend $3 extra dollars to have scented soap is a luxury many cannot afford. I began tearing about the small areas of my life realizing that a lot of what I was living in was luxury compared to 3/4 of the world. I don't' want to "have spent my years on earth in luxury, satisfying my every desire." (James 5:5) I was challenged to hand even these areas of my life over to God and trust that He would provide exactly as I needed.
Now don't think I came home and threw away everything I had but I was quite challenged to stop living in such excess and begin living in simplicity knowing that the Lord will provide everything I need, but maybe not everything I want.

24 Days!

2009-06-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

Everyday is one closer to the change that is about to take place in my world. I have been very thankful to hear from Lynda's perspective about life in Burkina. She often reminds me how sweltering hot it is there, so much so that her skin is 3 inches under her sweat, and I sit here now in my air conditioned house thinking 'wow I can't wait.' I am sure that in just a few weeks I will be wishing I could be back here.

Things have been beginning to get super busy around here, we have been jam packed with fundraisers from 2 garage sales to golf tournaments, to another garage sale, it just seems as if asking for money will never come to an end, and yet at the end of the day I still have so much money to raise. This week it has been somewhat defeating to think of all that I still need to do before I leave and obviously the days are dwindling down. I haven't even been able to go to the store and begin to get supplies for the next 6 months because every isle overwhelms me and so I just walk right back out thinking I will do it later. I still have so many people I want to sit and share my heart with about what God is allowing me to do while I am there and ask for their financial support as well as prayer support but life doesn't run around my fundraising and it's been difficult to find times to do so. I guess all I can do right now is cling to Christ's promises of His provision, knowing that He has called me to Go and He will supply my means of getting there.

A Few Random pictures from the Golf Tournament

Time Flies

2009-05-30T04:23:00.000-07:00

4 Weeks and Counting!

It is crazy to know that a month from yesterday I will be sitting in Burkina Faso for the next 6 months of my life! Lately I have been so overwhelmed and yet filled with unexplainable anticipation for what this time holds. Overwhelmed by the amount I still have yet to raise to make this a reality; it's about $1,300 a month and I haven't been able to raise that because I have been trying to raise the money for the 2 week trip. Filled with unexplainable anticipation over how greatly my life is about to change, from ordinary things such as how often I will take showers and what I will be eating, to things of greater depth such as dreams and passions the Lord has yet for me to discover. This time leading up to my departure has been both tragic; with the loss of a very dear and close friend; and thrilling, it has been a time of growth and everyday seems to hold a new lesson in which the Lord molds me more and more into His beautiful image. Everyday has presented a challenge all it's own in becoming that woman who is passionately in love with Jesus Christ, someone who has been made new (Ezekiel 16:3-14 paints a beautiful picture of this) in the transforming grace of our great God, and becoming someone who's only sights are on God's dreams but every second has been an indescribable adventure.

Though time is running out quickly for finances I am clinging to God's promises of provision. In Mark 11:22-24 Jesus tells us to trust in asking big things of God;
"Then Jesus said to the disciples, 'Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, may you be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours."