It’s a typical afternoon at the orphanage. Things are quiet, mostly because its hot and people are just waking up from their siestas. Three boys are sitting outside the door of the office putting a puzzle together, which they do with me most afternoons. We sit outside and put puzzles together, read books (either Blanche-Neige, the French version of Snow White or a book written in French about an African boy and his village, Kirikou), play card games or other games. Right now, Elisee, an eight year old has put a Blaise Compare (the Burkinabe president) transparent green visor on my head. He looks at me laughs and tells me it looks good. I don’t believe him. He’s waiting for me to write this so we can open a new game that I told him yesterday we could do today.
Since I last wrote its rained four times! But only one of those rains was a good rain. It was Tuesday morning and we were expecting guests. As it turned out we ended up having a bunch of guests! A couple from Ouaga had been to the States and met Nichole’s great aunt, so they came to visit unexpectedly. They know the pastor of our local church so he came, and we signed up to have a Peace Corp volunteer and a prospective volunteer and her supervisor all came to visit at the same time. While it was POURING rain. ALL morning. It was so difficult to hear what anyone was saying. But it was fun to have so many visitors none the less. Since that rain the weather has cooled down considerably. Instead of being 94 degrees in the house at night with no electricity (I forget to say that we spend 48 hours last weekend without electricity and a few days after with it on and off and on and off…some major power lines were downed in a storm north of here) its now about 82 at night which feels wonderful with the fan on. We’ve been getting some really nice breezes too…oh it feels so good. I’m sure most of you think I’m crazy because that’s still hot. And I know its hot, but after what we’ve been through it feels sooooooooo good. Its nice to be able to not wake up from a nap or from the night sweating. Who knows how long it will last, so I’m enjoying it while I can.
This week has been a crazy week. On Monday we had a young mother (19…with her 40+ yr old husband) come to us with her malnourished twins. They are 15 mos and one weighs 9 lbs. and the other weighs 12 lbs. The mother was just not feeding her children. Out of ignornance…not out of any malicious intent. So Monday afternoon we took her to a pediatric clinic in Ouaghyia (I can’t ever spell it right) it’s a city about an hour northwest of here. Its run by a Christian man, who has the love of Jesus pouring out of his skin. What a special thing to see in a dr. here!!! Its so rare. Wednesday came and we had to make another trip to Ouaghyia because a woman brought her granddaughter to us with an oral bacterial infection, Noma. Noma is SERIOUS if its not treated right away. Its due to poor oral hygiene and basically eats away the flesh around the mouth quickly. The women said her granddaughter was two however we found out later she was three and looked as if she should have been 15 months!!!! Dr. Zala was angry because this child has been neglected and not well cared for. …I think we all felt alittle bit angry. Its hard not to when you see this kind of stuff. I often feel like yelling “TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” but seeing as that wouldn’t do anything and most of those who come to us only speak Moore, a language I don’t speak it probably wouldn’t do much good.
Yesterday, just about the time we were to leave for a day trip to Ouaga, the capital city, we found out that Therese a six year old with a severe heart condition had passed out and what seemed like a heart attack. Ruth was barely able to tell that she was alive. We rushed her to the clinic in Ouaghyia after the hospital here gave her an IV for malaria (im not a doctor…but OBVIOUSLY that’s not the problem. HELLO!!!!!!) Anyway she’s on her way home today so we think shes ok now BUT if she is not healed or if she does not get a humanitarian visa to the States ASAP then its only a matter of time before she dies. PRAY FOR A MIRACLE!!!
Today a friend of mine, a worker here at the orphanage, and the most amazing guy ever, Valentine agreed to tutor me in French! Yeah!!! I’ve been getting along fine but I need to learn more. It will be fun working with him because we are friends and he is sooo sooo sooo kind.
If anyone is wondering whether or not the African continent has taken away any of my personal… uhhh….quirks, such as my clumsiness I just want to let you know that this is not true. I frequently trip and drip things on myself, or pour water all over a table, or numerous other things that I’ve been known to do at home.
Elisee, the boy I mentioned before is going “home” in a month. We found an aunt of his in a village…so hes going to stay with her for the summer. (summer doesn’t start here until July. School doesn’t start again until October) Im SAD. I love this kid. We’ve been having a lot of fun lately. He’s decided that its fun to tickle me. And the thing is it ACTUALLY tickles. Its bizarre.
Well, I’ve written a lot but I feel as if I’ve barely scratched the surface. I LOVE AFRICA. I LOVE THESE KIDS.
I haven’t been able to get my computer working yet…something about the modem. So when I am able to use my computer I should be able to write more consistently…..
Pray for rain, pray for grace to learn French, thank Jesus the grace he’s already given….
Love you all!!!!!!!
PS today is my half birthday!

The First Few Days

Well, since I’ve been here a few days I thought it was time to update everyone! Today is my second full day in Yako and it feels like I’ve been here much longer. I’ve spent my time getting reacquainted with everyone which has been a lot of fun. Yesterday Adi and I spent all afternoon playing games. Sometimes another kid would join us, but it is mostly just us. This morning has been quiet because all the big kids (which includes Adi, even though she’s eight. You are a “big kid’ at the orphanage when you go to school) are still in school. They took their end of the year exams a MONTH ago but for whatever reason school is still in session and we aren’t very clear when it actually gets out…becasue nothing is ever very clear in Africa.
I spent the first night I was here getting all unpacked and stuff which was weird. But I am happy with the way my room turned out. I have lots of pictures that I love hanging on the wall, and I have some yellow, pink, and purple fake flowers I brought from home…It makes the room very homey to me. I will post pictures the next time I am in Ouaga where we can get wireless internet that is much faster and cheaper than the dial up service we get here in yako.
Nichole’s brother John is visiting for the next two weeks. Because he is here we might get to go on a trip to Bobo!!! (a city about five hours south west of us) If we get to go we will see crocodiles, hippos, waterfalls, and maybe maybe maybe elephants (but it could be out of our way) I can’t wait to see wildlife! Because there is NON in yako. Just pigs, goats, chickens, donkeys and weird looking cows. Oh and sheep. Nothing exciting like a crocodile. Or a HIPPO! That would be oh so fun.
THE RAINS CAME YESTERDAY!!! Hopefully it will continue. We have had two good rains a couple of weeks ago and then yesterday it rained. It was so fun!!! We could see the storm coming. The sky got dark and then wind starting blowing which brought a dust storm, so I ran inside to close up all the windows. It started thundering which was lots of fun to hear. The odler boys started playin soccer, and continued to play thorugh the rain. It looked like lots of fun, but I stayed inside because I didn’t’ want to get dust in my eyes…you know, my scratched cornea and all. But it rained long and LOUD, well loud when you have a tin roof anway! I watched out the window and saw rain drops fall to the ground and disappear because it is so dry. After the torrential downpour I came back outside and the ground was DRY. Like it hadn’t rained at all. That’s how dry it is here. The boys are in our field today planting so hopefully the ground is soft enough to get the seeds in and then hopefully the rains continue…otherwise I’m going to be privy to some very sad stuff come next year when everyone runs out of food.
Pray that the rains come!!! And pray that we (the white people) are given the grace to deal with what comes with the rain….BUGS and frogs. Gross. But its all worth it to be with these kids. They are great.
Well, I’ve been typing along time and there are others who need the computer. Ill write more later…

The Two Big Ones

Everyone has been asking me one big question: "How are you feeling?" People want to know if I am NERVOUS (I get the feeling THEY are nervous for ME) or if I'm EXCITED (I get the feeling THEY are excited for ME). I feel like those are the two big ones. The two big emotions that people assume that you are feeling right before you are about to make a major change in your life. Or rather, Jesus is about to flip your whole life upside down...and you agreed to it.
So, I thought I would take this oppurtunity to answer that question. The answer is (drum roll please) YESSSS!!!! I am excited. I am nervous. I feel catious. I feel happy. I feel unbelievable joy. I feel confident. I feel apprehensive. I feel like "Can I just GO already?!!!". I feel like my futrue is secure. I know that I have NO idea what my future holds...but I do know WHO holds my future and that gives me PEACE. Peace that surpasses all understanding. Because my Jesus, my King, my Lover, and my Friend is going WITH me. And not only that but He is already over there working in the lives of the Burkinabe'. I am just an instrument in His hand. Use me Jesus! Use me in whatever way you will.
I talked at youth group on Wednesday night about waiting on the Lord. I think I'm going to be doing alot of that in Burkina...and that is ok with me.
Tomorrow is my last day in COMO...I hope its not raining (its supposed to thunderstorm tonight...I LOVE thunderstorms :) ) so that I can lay out..I know, I know..its bad for your skin. But I'm getting ready to live in Africa....There's not enough sunscreen in the world to protect you from the sun over there.
My family is driving to STL on Saturday were I will go to lunch with my cousins for the last time and then the four members of my family are headed to a Cardinals game!! woohoo!!! Sunday morning will be "Father's Day" because neither my brother or I will be here for it. (my poor dad! If you see him on June 17 give him big hugs and tell him what an amazing father he is..its the truth!) And then we will head for the airport. My flight takes off at 120 pm. Ill have a three hour layover in Atlanta and then Ill leave for Paris. Ill have a five hour layover and then leave for Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. I should arrive in Ouaga around 740 Monday night (Burkina time. It will be 140 pm here) Those are the travel plans!
Soon my posts should get much more exciting as I am able to talk about the kids and tell funny stories and tell serious stories about what Jesus is doing.

Last Sunday Church In English For One Year

Yep, today was the last church service on a Sunday morning in English for a year. It was bittersweet. My church family prayed for me at the end of the service and I was encouraged by their prayers. Prayers of physical healing for my stomach and my eye. Prayers of annointing to do the work Jesus has called me to in Yako. Prayers of strength. Words of encouragement that I AM NOT ALONE. No matter how alone I may feel, not only do I have Jesus who is more than enough but I have my church family who is supporting me, praying for me, loving me, sending me...Encouragement that Jesus made me for this mission; the blueness of my eyes a clue to my mission: bring the ocean of God's love to Burkina, a land locked country that sees little water. Encouragement that there is grace for EVERY day. It's not going to be easy, but there is GRACE.
Thank you to all of you who hold me before the throne of grace daily, or weekly, or whenever you think of me...words fail the gratitude I have towards you...