Renewing , Reconnecting and Returning

 Seven weeks ago I was eagerly awaiting my first trip back home after moving to Burkina Faso. I am now back in my Burkina Faso home. It is a strange feeling to be equally comfortable on two vastly different continents. What makes this so? People! Family and friends have been so welcoming and generous on many different levels. My thank you seems so inadequate when measured against the depth of kindness and generosity extended to me and our Kimini ministry.

Sharing smiles with Sr. Pat

Nothing can compare to Christmas at home with those you love.

Catching up with Sr. Maxyne

And what would a trip home be without spending time with my "St. Agnes Academy Family "? I was able to share my African experiences with the best students on the planet ( and yes, I am prejudiced) !

Busy hands are happy hands!

 Spending time with them and former colleagues brought great joy. I even  had the opportunity to help the fifth graders prepare for the upcoming fund raiser directed toward raising money for our new Kimini Milk Program.

Fifth Grade Helpers

Getting Ready

Attaching Labels

The children enthusiastically placed labels on baby bottles that will be filled with donations to help purchase baby formula  and cereal for malnourished and vulnerable babies. Ruth and I hope to be able to raise enough money to reach our goal of accepting ten babies into the program this year. 

My visit ended on a happy note. Doug Karrel, my niece,Cindy, and I were able to meet The Cassidy Family for lunch before bringing Cindy to the airport for her trip home to NC. It was such a delight seeing how happy and well adjusted Arnaud is and what a sweet family he has joined.

Together Again!

Cassidy Family Plus One 

 Tomorrow we will make the trip back to Kimini  and pick up where we left off before this delightful hiatus.

                                                                God is SO good !

The Year in Review

A gift from the chief

Stopping to reflect on the events of 2014 has left me wondering how I can possibly choose the highlights when so many memorable events fill my head and heart. But...

Home Sweet Home 

   We moved from our first abode into our "Home Sweet Home. "

New clinic

           
       The first building in our medical clinic project is nearing completion.


Orphaned,vulnerable children in five locations know God's love because of devoted sponsors who  assist with education, food and basic medical care.

Our first sponsored widow

Widows know the love of God manifested through the generosity of people like you.


                                                         

Two hundred fifteen Kimini students received medical examinations and treatment.

Open wide

OCC Kimini

Over seven hundred Operation Christmas Child  shoe box gifts were distributed and children were invited to attend bible classes.

Healthy Nadjata

Babies have received nutritional intervention and support.We have  recently started a Kimini Milk program to help fund  the expenses of keeping babies healthy.




Our small guesthouse welcomes Pastor Joel each Sunday when he comes to pray and share the Gospel in Kimini. We look forward to welcoming new Christians through evangelization efforts and hope 2015 will be the year we can say  Kimini has a church.

Hand in hand into the future

I feel so blessed to have met so many wonderful people who opened their hearts and homes to enlarge their families through adoption.

On the road again

We drive forward into 2015 with confidence and peace of mind as we travel far and wide in our new reliable truck.

AND we do all this because of YOU!

Full Circle

1-2-3 Open 

Does this smile say "thank you " ?

It hardly seems possible that nearly eleven years have passed since my introduction to Operation Christmas Child. I had no idea then where this would lead me but I am so grateful for each step along the path that has come full circle… packing shoeboxes, distributing shoeboxes, and now receiving shoebox gifts in our village of Kimini.

Stay clean and healthy

We are so grateful for the OCC  team who spent two days with children in Kimini and Wangolo delighting children with a lively puppet show to teach  the connection between good hygiene and good health. And then the joy of receiving shoebox gifts.

The real gift , however, came in the form of a child focused presentation of the Gospel message inviting the children and young adults  to receive the Greatest Gift of All !

 Those interested will be participate in a twelve week course to learn more about Jesus.

 The rest of the story is yet to be written.

Busy With His Work

On the road again 

Waiting for our new truck to arrive in Ouagadougou seemed endless when all we really wanted to do was get back to the village and minister in our Kimini community. Hearts filled with gratitude for all our donors ,we were finally able to take the eight plus hour drive back "home" with confidence that our days of stopping every thirty minutes to fill the radiator were now mere memories. This year our Thanksgiving Day was spent in our new truck raising hearts of praise and gratitude to God for his faithfulness and abundant  blessings and for you, our generous friends and benefactors, for making this all possible.

Drissa and new trike

Grateful Widow

Happy Aboulaye

Excitement and anticipation of great things to come energized us to hit the ground running as we prepared for our December distribution to sponsored children and widows. What fun we had purchasing rice, school supplies, blankets, soap and little treats for the special children sponsored in Wangolo, Kangala, Niangoloko and Kimini. It gives us a sense of satisfaction to be able to buy most of these items from the market and little boutique in Kimini and thus support local businesses.

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." St Francis of Assisi


                                 And yet the  stark reality of the harshness of life in Burkina Faso is ever present. Some days the sting is felt  a little more intensely. While meeting with the director of the school and a nurse in Nonfesso , a mother with two small infants, one strapped to her back, the other carried in her arms,came walking by. It was clear  these babies were unusually tiny.We learned that they were almost six months old but  each weighed only about five pounds. Something had to be done if these babies were going to have a fighting chance. A few days later we were on the road to Bobo to the clinic for malnourished babies with the mother, twins and Jennaba, a young girl who will assist the mom in caring for the babies.Once more my heart was broken as I gazed on these babies. Holding Fatamata in my arms and seeing her smile as I spoke to her grabbed my heart in a profound way. How many little Fatamatas and Adamas are out there only one illness away from death ? As time goes on ,we are becoming more aware of the need to establish an emergency medical fund  to allow us to respond when the need arises.

Jennaba holding Adama and Fatamata

Through the good works we are able to do in His name, we bring the Gospel to His  people that they may come to know the love of God .

Looking Forward

Twenty-three days ago yesterday Burkina Faso was is the midst of violent protests. Crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands marched on the capital city of Ouagadougou manifesting their frustration and outrage with Blaise Campaore, president for the past 27 years. The attempt to pass a referendum changing the constitution so he could run for re-election next year ignited embers of smoldering anger. Demonstrations became ugly. Lives were lost and parliament was set ablaze. Blaise Campaore fled the country leaving the door open for new leadership.

Parliament ablaze

This week a new interim president was installed just one day after being elected by a unanimous vote. Michele Kafando comes with impressive credentials. Mr.Kafando served at UN headquarters for almost 15 years and was
 Minister of Foreign Affairs for Burkina Faso. He is an experienced diplomat with many international connections to help move the country forward.

US Ambassador Tulinabo Mushingui  and Pres. Kafando

His first act as president, appointing army officer Col. Isaac Zida as prime minister, came one day after his installation.

 

PrimeMinister Col. Isaac Zida and President Michele Kafando

Our prayers are with Burkina Faso and its leaders in the months leading up to the presidential   elections next fall.

Presidential photo

Days of waiting are over. Our new truck has arrived! All that remains is getting needed paperwork, inspection, insurance and license plates. Then we will finally be on the road to Kimini where much work awaits us.

 

It is difficult to find words to express how deeply grateful we are to each and every one of you who helped make this possible. You have done so much more than provide a reliable means of transportation for us. You have helped us fulfill our mission to care for the “least of these” in Burkina. Each time we get into the truck we will whisper a prayer of thanks for each of you.

“ I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy for my every prayer for all of you because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now.”  Phil.1: 4

Burkina Foliage

Majestic Baobab

bananas

Lately, much of my email has contained messages about the colorful panorama of autumn foliage in the Berkshires. This caused me to take a closer look at the foliage surrounding me in beautiful Burkina.

Riding through the Berkshire hillside provides a palette of magnificent red, orange and yellow. Burkina Faso’s environment, though not aflame with color, is nonetheless splendid in variety and beauty.                                                      

Cotton

Sugarcane

Baobab, banana, palm, flamboyant and eucalyptus trees replace the forests of maples, oaks and pines of home.

Okra

Sesame Plants

Cultivation is the mainstay of life in Kimini and the surrounding area. Fields of corn, rice, okra, millet, sesame, cotton and sugarcane dot the landscape.

Seed spreader

Burkinabé are hard-working people who do the back breaking work of planting and harvesting without the aid of modern machinery. Farmers commonly use a short handled hoe-like tool called a daba. Occasionally, you will see a primitive plow or seed spreader being utilized. I have gained a new appreciation for those who make a living by farming.
May  all farmers rejoice in a bountiful harvest and may we say an extra prayer of thanks for those who toil in the fields.

 "Through him all things were made;without him nothing was made that has been made." Jn.1:3

I feel blessed to have experienced the beauty of creation from both sides of the 

pond.  

Transitions and Changes

This has been a week like no other ! On the one hand , we have had a delightful time preparing Guelil  to meet his mother and grandmother. Medical appointments went smoothly.He is a delightful little man and has brought us many smiles. His mom, Christa and grandma, Joan arrived in country on Friday afternoon October 24. Early on Saturday morning we were on the road to Yako where a along awaited meeting took place at Sheltering Wings.

Grandma, Guelil and Mommy

 Spending time together in the place Guelil called home for more than two years was important for understanding his daily life experiences.

While in Yako , Crista met her two sponsored children, Maimounata and Remi.  Joan had the pleasure of  meeting the widow she sponsors and paid a visit to her home. What a special treat for all involved.



As we prepared to return to Ouagadougou on Monday morning, Guelil asked if Mommy was going with us. When we said she was, he could not contain himself and burst into dancing and shouts of joy.

On our way back to Ouagadougou,we stopped for a quick visit with  Delphine and Paul, recently married friends whose wedding we attended this year. Delphine shared the joy she experiences as a new teacher and young wife. We had a great visit but left abruptly when we heard of impending demonstrations in Ouagadougou and hurried to return back before dark.

Ruth holding her gift of a pumpkin , Delphine and Paul 

Once back in Ouagadougou, our family settled into their hotel and looking forward to a peaceful time of becoming better acquainted.

What a difference a day makes ! The next day, October 31, chaos reigned in Ouagadougou as political turmoil manifested itself through marches, demonstrations and violence in response to Thursday's vote seeking to pass a referendum to extend  presidential  term limits. Blaise Campaore, the president for the past 27 years  was hoping to continue his reign. The opposition party had different ideas.Parliament was stormed,voting thwarted and Campaore removed. He was ousted and fled the country. People vied for power in the days that followed. Hour by hour the transitional leadership changed.
The American Embassy sent out daily alerts suggesting we stay hunkered down and restrict venturing out into the city. Curfews were put in place to restrict further pillaging and violence.

 Although we did see  the burnt carnage of the parliament building and charred remains of vehicles in the parking lot, what was more impressive was the sight of the Burkinabe people coming together sweeping the streets and cleaning up after the turmoil. Throughout these events we remained safe and sound.
 Calm has returned to the city. Airlines are flying and land borders have been reopened.  Ouagadougou has returned to "normal". It has been quite interesting being in the center of history in the making!

Friday night,Nov. 7 we bade  farewell to Guelil and his family.  They departed for America with our prayers for a wonderful future together. We certainly will miss them but look forward to hearing all the wonderful stories of their new life together.

Please pray for the people of Burkina Faso. Pray that calm may continue to replace chaos.
Peace may replace anger and God may guide the hearts and minds of  their leaders.