The chief brought four chickens to our host in gratitude for the health clinic and to bless us.  They were plucked, butchered and served to us. A crowd of boys gathered around to clean out the intestines, wrap them around a stick and grill them- everything else went into our lunch.

We were served chicken and inyam, a gigantic root vegetable like manioc- 

The generosity of the Burkinabé culture is beautiful.

I thought I was being handed a newborn- this little guy is 3 months old, and has a sibling barely able to walk, I'm guessing mama is trying to nurse both of her babies, and struggling to have enough nourishment for all three of them.

One glimpse from this side!

The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.  

Proverbs 11:25

It was surreal to be on the "unpacking" side of Operation Christmas Child boxes- Three Christmases ago, as we strolled through Big Lots and Target to fill our shoe boxes, I had no idea that my kids would grow into these tall, smart people and together, we would watch little Africans open the one gift they would receive all year.

 A 4 person team drove 10 hours south from Ouagadougou with a trailer full of boxes- they spent 3 days in 2 villages, with balloon animals, a puppet show, singing, dancing, a health lesson and evening evangelism program- they have it down to a science!

  We provided willing hands, a little muscle and mad skills at balloon animals in the midst of a mob.

 This sweet baby spends her days on the back of this little girl, while the mama teaches school.

Little eyes lit up only after we explained what all these treasures were!  Soccer balls, stuffed animals and flashlights were the best gifts- useful, and well-known.  This little girl received a letter in her box- I translated it into French, so she could hear of the love of Christ coming to her through this family from Lexington, Kentucky!

I cried as I helped one little guy who received a broken etch-a-sketch, an awesome but non functioning flashlight, a plastic harmonica that didn't work and a box of skittles.   

Arrgh…no fun…

I laughed as a friend explained chapstick to one kid, then another child found what she thought was lip balm in her box too- she brought it over in excitement, but had to be corrected- because hers was a gluestick! 

Beauty

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.  You too be patient, strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8

We spent a few days in the village, and loved our time interacting with kids in a medical clinic (we did height, weight, vision and urine tests- there were doctors there to do the real stuff!) and then got to be a part of a distribution of Operation Christmas Child boxes!  It was enlightening, challenging and I'm still processing it all… surreal to be on this side of the boxes- these came from Kentucky!

Jana's Day!

Making home has been one of my biggest challenges in our first year of life in Burkina…how to cook, keep up with the dirt and dust, do laundry, homeschool, learn language and still have the mental, physical and spiritual health and energy to live life with my new friends and neighbors.  

We are quickly approaching our one year in Africa anniversary, and I realized tonight, as I made Jana's 17th birthday meal, that we are doing so well!  By God's grace, the support of people near and far, and a lot of hard work, we enjoyed a meal that was good, she received some gifts that she liked and we will sing to her in a little while to celebrate her life and the blessing that she is to us!

Jana wanted Gyros for dinner, and thanks to an excellent internet connection, I can find a recipe for anything!!  We used beef in the pressure cooker, made Naan, and last night we made yogurt for the tzatziki sauce!

Megan did a lot of chopping and dishwashing to bless her sister with a special meal!

 Having no same culture friends close by, we are glad that we enjoy each other, have access to dvds and games, and that our evening temperatures have begun to cool off!  We smile bigger and laugh harder when it is not sweltering, so thankful to the Lord for the cool breezes on Jana's birthday!

'Round Here

There are so many times that I wish I could capture the moments to explain our daily life and how people in Burkina Faso function in such amazing ways each day...

At the end of the growing season, the 'leftovers' of the peanut plants are great food for the animals, so we bought it from someone who had a big pile, and it's drying on the roof of the animal shelter

In one day, we spent time with a friend's mother, and also with the newborn daughter of our next door neighbor.  We were certainly at the two ends of life, and equally in awe of these two ladies. Thankful to be here where we can see, smell, touch and feel daily living in a foreign land…full of mysteries that can be answered only by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

'Tis the Season!

We broke out the Vanilla Bean Noel lotion tonight…Christmas is coming! 

Talking with friends we have gained some insight on Operation Christmas Child boxes…from the perspective of families here who are thankful to receive them…

but, just a piece of advice,

Don't Send Play-Doh!  

When one guy opened the box and saw the play-doh, he thought it was food.  He said that he thought it smelled good, so he sent his son to the bakery to buy bread for Play-Doh sandwiches!  When talking about it, he said, "Tell them not to send that dough!"

In one village, a little girl asked if we could answer a question- we said yes and she said she'd be right back.  She brought us three of the four containers of play-doh…they had already eaten one container.  It was amazing to see her face when it was formed into elephants and snakes!

SO- some recommendations…from our friends here:

1.  Soccer ball- ball pumps are available, even here- so deflate them and put them in the box!

2.  Marbles

3.  Water bottles for kids to take to school 

4.  Steno pads and ink pens

5.  Index cards

6.  Fingernail clippers (much better than a knife!)

7.  Hand-written note to the child- I got to translate one for a 7 year old girl- she had kept it for months, along with the picture of the couple who packed the box for her- she prays for the couple, that the Lord will bless them with children!

8.  Toothbrushes

9.  Nail Polish

10.  SOCCER BALLS!!  There is no better gift…really! They sell poor quality ones here, but a nice one would be a real delight, and only cost around $10 U.S.

The kids in our neighborhood can entertain themselves all day with nearly nothing.  Boxes from locally made Mango Nectar with soda bottle caps or Palm Oil jugs filled with rocks can be fun, so your gifts are a blessing and they are given in the name of Jesus!

Small town Saturday night!

If we didn't live in Burkina, we would be basking in the fun of Fall!  Leaves, pumpkins and lots of camouflage!  

Today we vaccinated 50 chickens, visited in a courtyard to practice our Jula, I painted Megan's toenails,  and we finished out the day by watching hunting videos and guessing antler scores.  Aaron is of course the undefeated champion-you can take the taxidermist out of the woods, but…...

We do live in a very 'National Geographic' type of place, but it's not the wild animal editions that would feature Burkina Faso.  Donkeys, goats, chickens and lots of beautiful people, just no wild game!!

 Last week we did see our first African critter, a monitor lizard, crossing the road as we drove-  Not a game animal, but at this point in hunting season, even a lizard was slightly exciting! 

We hope to one day spot wild elephants or hippos,but until then, we'll enjoy the chickens.

Romans 15:13

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

At church in the village a few weeks ago, we were blessed to sing and praise the Lord alongside Dagara believers.

bits and pieces...

~I look toward the area of the house where the cooking takes place and I hear a lot of racket- like someone else is in their cooking.  The woman of the house says casually- "c'est la souris", "its the mice." It happened again on my next visit and my face showed my curiosity/confusion again- she explained that mice come into the kitchen, and that's where they live. 
 
~As close to 'fast food' as it gets around here, our neighbor sets up a table and a coal fire to cook for her customers each night at dusk. We tried it and it was great! When we eat food that our bodies aren't used to, we pray, asking for protection and strength and health as we introduce our body to so many new things.  These are beignets (which we usually think of as sweet) but they are made with beans that they grind into flour, mix with water and then fry in oil.  She also fries white yams and serves them both with a little tomato sauce.



~The man who guards our house at night complained of back trouble last week- I asked how he was feeling today and he explained to me that the pain has been with him since childhood when he worked in the trees (picking mangoes or cashews).  He said that when he worked too slowly the boss hit him on the back with a stick- hard.  I couldn't find the words- in any language- to tell him how sorry I am for his pain today and every other day since he was beaten with a stick as a child.  My eyes puddled in sadness. 

~Someone has been having chickens stolen from their courtyard- when I apologized for the hardship that this poses on their household, the guy responded ''that's ok- I know some magic and I will use it on the thief.''

~For people who don't regularly ride in cars, seatbelts are a new thing.  We recently had some people in the car who looped the shoulder harnesses around their necks- every day we are surprised by how much we assume. 

Jesse's ingenuity made me a hanging produce basket from a broken fan!

~We borrowed Get Smart from a friend (remember agent 86 and his shoe phone?)  We've enjoyed having a genuine "escape" from the heat- but every time that I escape I wonder if I should?  My ability to escape isn't available to most of my neighbors, yet we as a family are still learning to cope. Coping is good, but empathizing is vital if I am to be of any use here. 

~We are weak in the heat.  We have fans most of the time- and our neighbors don't.  Talking with a dad who's 7 year old daughter just couldn't sleep the other night, he told me he used a notebook to fan her until his arms couldn't do it anymore.

~By 8:30 a.m., I've fed my family, hung laundry on the line and spent some quiet time with the Lord. My neighbor, with the help of her two daughters has made 4 trips to the well already.  We joke back and forth (in jula and sign language) because she knows that I couldn't do what she is doing- even though I'd like to. This particular woman uses the biggest basin I've seen- we estimate it to weigh at least 80 pounds when full of water...

 Cotton as it's brought in from the fields- sorted, cleaned and prepared for export

 I would appreciate prayers for my family- I have one older brother, one younger sister (19) and one younger brother (12) who all love our dad very much.  My dad is doing a great job of dealing with a really bad health diagnosis, but he is really sick.  He has a full, wonderful life and has always been healthy and active.  He knows the Lord so we aren't sad about his future, but none of us are ready to say goodbye yet.  Please pray with us for his complete healing.  Pray also for strength as we navigate the hard days and try to support one another from very far away.