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!