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.