A Marvelly observation

This school work assignment so perfectly encapsulates Marvelly's most unique personality. She has her very own way of looking at the world, this one. She is observant. Notices subtle details. A critical thinker. And this homework made me laugh. You can tell this picture is really making the wheels in her head spin!....but, "WHY????? is there no woman at the table?!?!?!?!!" Some.body. tell me! =)

Oh Marvelly. You are the best. I love how you see the world.

Making a comeback.

Whoops.

I've taken a break from blogging.

Not intentionally. Life just happened. Is happening. Since returning to the States we have been busy. We have been adjusting and transitioning and falling into step and figuring out what life looks like for us here. Life is crazy in different ways here than it was in Burkina. We bought a house, our very first house. It took almost fifteen years of marriage and seven moves, but we finally found a place that we feel we can settle and put down roots. Unless God decides to dig 'em up again at some point, we plan to be here for a good long while. Which is good. Because in coming back to the U.S. and knowing that our days living abroad were not going to continue, I knew I needed God to plant me, us, in a place that would so above and beyond meet our needs (and wants) it would quench that desire in me to move and start over every three years.

And, I think we have found that here.

Actually, I don't think, I know, that God has so perfectly planted us in this spot, this city, this community, this house....this is where we're suppose to be.

But it has been a very emotional process.

I haven't written since July. I was still in survival mode then.

I was in survival mode for a while, actually. Juggling everything from the house renovations, to Steven's health, crazy reverse culture stress, the kid's new school, and just figuring out life. The nitty gritty business of learning to drive around a new town, where to get a hair cut, finding a good vet, a church, the best place to buy groceries. Lots of big life things. And lots of little life things. All converging at the same time. Creating for a very chaotic emotional and physical roller coaster those first six months.

But God is good. God is faithful. He is ever present. Even when He is quiet and seems far away. He's always good.

I wrote this back in May, "I just feel like I'm in this weird twilight zone right now. Neither here nor there. Not connected to either place I used to live anymore. Just, floating somewhere in the middle. I'm confident that I won't be floating forever. I just need some time to figure out where to land......"

I don't feel like I am floating anymore. We have landed, albeit not gently (ha!) exactly where we're suppose to be. And I have found, that through it all I am still connected to Burkina and the life God unveiled for us there. And I am re-learning (still in the process of that) how to be connected here.

I am far from having life figured out. But I don't feel like I'm being thrashed around in the waves anymore trying to catch my breath and stay afloat. God provided the life preserver I needed to keep me from sinking.

And we're doing good.

We're doing good.

We're not just surviving anymore.

We're making it.

Slowly but surely, and by the ever present grace of God....we are making it.

Solidarity.

Dinner got burned tonight. Came downstairs and it was smokin' on the stove. I was distracted, from dealing with a very non-compliant, tired, emotionally distraught and all consuming little toddler, who was also put to bed at 7:25pm with no treat and having only ate half his burnt food.

Isaak left for Oregon this morning. We brought him to the airport at 5am. He's gone for 7 days. This would have something to do with my little toddler boy acting like a crazy person today. Praying the rest of the week isn't as rough as today was. I don't know if I can handle seven days like this. Seriously...I might go mad. Or develop an unstoppable eye twitch. Or an ulcer. None of which sound appealing.

Parenting is rough. Especially still navigating how to parent a little guy who's still learning what a family is, the significance and roles of a parent, and has a medley of emotions that get stirred up within him over a variety of things and doesn't yet know how to express those feelings in any other way besides extreme emotional outbursts.

So I'm sending this to myself.

Solidarity Melissa. Stay strong. Don't let them see you sweat. You can do this. You're gonna make it. I'm pretty sure the kids will too, God willing.

*or library, parking lot, super market, sidewalk, house, doctor's office, playground....basically anywhere and everywhere*


(And since I don't have a pint of ice cream to eat to give myself a sugar coma to fall into to forget the angst of this very challenging parenting day, or even a sugar cereal, I will de-stress and put this day behind me eating a slightly less satisfying bowl of Cheerios.

Boooooo.

I mean that's just sad. )

The no shade rant

We were driving back from Delaware this weekend and stopped at a Roadhouse on the way home for dinner. It was a Saturday night, at dinner time, so naturally they were a bit busy and there was a small wait until we could be seated.

The inside of the restaurant was a little congested so we opted to wait outside until our number was called.

We found a nice bench across from one other couple and proceeded to wait patiently for the ten minutes we were told it would take to get a table.

We sat and waited, and the kids played and talked and climbed a rock pillar supporting an overhang outside the building, and played in the stones. We passed the time, in what I found to be a very eye opening ten minutes of cultural observation.

In and out the doors people would go to put their names on the list and then come outside to wait. Except, as soon as they stepped outside, each and every person proceeded to complain loudly about how hot and sunny it was, and "why isn't there any shade?!" "The restaurant needs to provide shade!" "Where are we suppose to sit?!" "It's too sunny out here, I can't believe there is no shade!"

They would all grumble, loudly, in our direction and the couple across from us (who was actually sitting in the only sliver of shade) would offer their obligatory complaints in support of the other person's comments and then the disgruntled patrons would stomp back inside and find a spot, somewhere, squeezed in between all the other disgruntled patrons who also refused to wait in the sun.

I found these interactions both amusing, and deeply concerning.

How is it that, people living in the United States have become so entitled as so demand shade?

Shade?

I was truly flabbergasted. I mean, speechless, as I watched person after person come outside, make the same remarks, and then storm back inside, irritated and "put off" because there was no shade for them to wait under for a lousy ten minutes.

That is truly sad. The heart condition of this country. That people think they can #1-demand shade from a restaurant, and #2, let a lack of shade be a source of complaints, and #3, allow it to determine their attitude.

Not to toot our own horn (but hey-TOOT. freakin'. TOOT), the only people who weren't complaining and scoffing at the injustice of this no shade outrage while outside sitting in the sun...my family.

Why? Living outside the United States for a few years and getting a healthy dose of perspective on what actually constitutes a "problem" as opposed to the inconveniences we mistake for problems will do that to a person I guess.

Also, because having to sit outside in the sun for ten minutes should not cause anyone to become disgruntled. Because having shade to sit in is not some guarantee that you can expect to have just because you are you and you think that in your youness you are entitled to demand that a restaurant provide you with shade so as to not restrict you from reaching your highest measure of comfort. 

Newsflash my fellow Americans....the world does not revolve around your comfort nor is the world your oyster.

Get over yourselves.

What in the world is this attitude so many have adopted here?

This attitude is despicable. Utterly shameful. And embarrassing. To see just how deep this attitude of entitlement runs here. To complain about shade. To be unhappy about a lack of shade for ten minutes.....

I was talking to a Nigerian man from Home Depot a couple weeks ago. This particular man was in our home giving us a quote on new windows and after we were done with the window business, I couldn't help myself and started talking to him about Africa, Nigeria, his homeland, our lives on the continent, his life now. We stood in my living room for a while sharing stories and talking and laughing and comparing cultures. And he said something truly profound to me. Words from a man, like me, who has seen the absolute desperateness in life, and seen the bounty, and lives with both realities in his heart....

"it is easier to manage poverty, than it is to manage a persons happiness."

He hit the nail on the head with that one. Such wise words. Such deep truth right there.

Coming home after living in Burkina Faso has been hard. After experiencing all that we did, we have been left changed. Our perspective on life has shifted. And returning to the United States and seeing the level of ingratitude and entitlement that is brewing in the hearts of so many here is grievous. In order to tame the beast that is this country's never ending pursuit for personal happiness, complaining must be cast off and this attitude of entitlement and discontent in anything less that ideal must not be allowed to fester.

My heart is being stirred with new conviction over this country. With the quest for personal happiness at the forefront of our goals, we will surely experience more desperation than those who live with next to nothing and can still wake up and find reason to smile.

Rewind: The month of May in pictures...from Burkina to Maryland

This photo was taken of the girls on our last day in Burkina on their last morning of school at ISO.

Here they are with their embassy shuttle driver. The nicest man. So sweet, and the kids had such a wonderful rapport with him. When we brought Steven home last year he'd pick him up every morning and hug him tight and speak Mooré to him. The kids had such a great relationship with him. We'll miss his warm smile and sweet demeanor each day.

 Outside our gate headed to the airport later that afternoon. So bittersweet.

We had fourteen people come to our house in the last hour before we left. It was crazy, and hectic and so good to have those moments saying goodbye to people we care about. Here is Joanna, Matt, Megan and Mireya...the last to leave and wave us off as we drove away. Waving goodbye to these dear people, who have been such close friends of ours and have stood by our side and were a part of so many of our memories in country was so very hard for my heart. I will miss them greatly. My heart is heavy from grief in being separated from all the dear friends we made here. God was so good to bring us together.

After 26 hours of traveling we finally landed in America! International travel is rough. So long. So exhausting. Especially with small children, a cat, and three carts piled high with over 15 bags to keep track of.

But what a blessing that my mom was able to travel back with us. Her presence was such a relief to my spirit, a joy to us all, having someone to laugh with and make fun of ridiculous situations with and be silly with, even in the midst of sadness. There is no one like my mom.

Took a trip to Richmond the day after we landed to drop my mom off, and made a pit stop at Jaclyn's to meet the newest family member and visit with our Elsie. Such fun!

For Isaak's 33rd birthday we took a trip up to Delaware to spend the weekend with Jordan and Becca.

We celebrated Isaak's milestone by getting the "kitchen sink". A milestone in itself! Holy moly that's a lot of ice cream! If that giant salad bowl of ice cream doesn't scream Happy Birthday, I don't know what does! Sadly, the seven of us could not even finish it. We made a valiant effort though. =)

The girls collecting some lettuce from their garden for dinner.

We visited Becca's art museum.

My awesome brother teaching us how to make pottery. I was lousy at it, but Isaak had a knack for it! It was loads of fun!

We all had a great time.

We made a return trip to Richmond and made sure to hit up the flea market and walked away with some loot!

Some pics from life at the hotel we called home for a month.

Cleaning up shop! Taking care of our little space.

I am so very proud that we have learned to make a home anywhere we go. Even a hotel. Even for just a month.

Amira: Sydaleigh has trained her to sleep under the covers like a human. =)

Playing and using their imagination with what they've got. My kids make me proud. They are resilient.

Speaking of resilient.....

Second first day of school for these girls!

last quarter of 1st and 3rd grade for my girlies!

The last day of May brought us to D.C. to spend time with Bekah, her family, and we even had the bonus of meeting Bekah's dear friend An Drea.

We flew kites on the lawn in front of the Washington Monument.

Joe put us all to shame with his amazing kite flying skills. We had a fun time hanging out, snacking, laughing, and lunching afterwards. It was a wonderfully fun day spent in our nation's capital with favorite people.

And here we are enjoying the Friday night Farmer's Market on the beach at what would become our new community.

Eating a massive baguette and pain du chocolat. Not quite as good as we are used to, but a suitable alternative. =)

The beach. Our beach. What would become our favorite spot when we finally settle and start putting down roots in our new home next month.

A snippet of life.

Reflecting on our first month back in the U.S. with words....

I started writing this while in the hospital with Steven last week. When I started writing this we were at 21 days back in the U.S., but I didn't have time to finish this post then....so now it's eight days later, and here I am, still trying to update on our life's events here this past month.

And what a month it's been so far. Life has been moving fast since we returned. We have found ourselves in many stressful situations but also benefited from some moments of rest in the midst of it.

For that we are thankful.

While I was at the hospital I wrote this one morning....

"We are still at the hospital, which is pas bon. But we should be leaving soon...which is bon. Also on the upside, Steven has gotten two nights of really good sleep so he is well rested and in good spirits. I, on the other hand am feeling quite tired, which is also pas bon. I tried sleeping on the pleather rocking chair last night in hopes of it offering a better nights sleep than the pull out chair...but I was mistaken. It did not. The vent pushing out icy cold air on top of me all night long didn't help either. Nor did the distressed little girl scream crying for hours in the middle of the night right next door to us. Poor thing. I felt so bad for that family last night...while also very selfishly feeling bad for me because I was tired and again couldn't sleep because of her screaming. The tug of heart that happens when you are feeling both compassion and irritation simultaneously...Romans 7:21-23 comes to mind right about now...I think Paul can relate to my struggle.....

But I was reminded last night when I was tempted to complain and get frustrated and throw a rockin' pity party due to my less than ideal sleeping accommodations...is that this cold room and this reclinable rocking chair is more comfortable than sleeping on a nat on the ground of a dusty mud brick home. It is more comfortable than sleeping on an airplane seat. It is more comfortable than sleeping in a hard back chair in a clinic in Ouaga filled with mosquitos. I may have been shivering cold but it's more comfortable than the 14 hour power cuts and water cuts affecting almost the whole city of Ouagadougou currently due to lack of fuel and power. All situations that many many people I know are at this very moment having to endure."

Perspective is a great antidote for self pity.  (I'm just gonna give myself an "Amen!" on that one.)

I am not perfect. I don't act perfect or think perfect, but I've learned some things along the way in this life of mine...and this one has been key. Like I said, perceptive is a great antidote for self pity, which I am very prone to indulging in at times. =) So having some good proper shifting of perspective has served me well these last few years and definitely since returning back stateside. Keeps me focused on the right things and helps keep me from becoming overwhelmed by life's challenges and stresses.

Speaking of life, here is a rundown on our first month back....

-our first night back the hotel informed us they messed up our reservation and could not give us a pet friendly room that we requested and said we'd have to kennel our cat the duration of our time on base. Umm, nooo. I will not kennel my cat because of your mistake. So, we've had to be super careful about keeping our cat's presence here a secret (making me a bit worrisome because if they find out they'll kick us out.) Which means not allowing housekeeping into our room the entire time we've been here! I think they are growing suspicious, as I've had the "do not disturb" sign in place since we've got here. I heard (and saw through my peep hole-I may be slightly paranoid when they're outside my room that they are going to try to come in anyways or look through my garbage and discover the kitty litter in there....what can I say, a part of me still thinks I'm in Burkina and people are going to go through my garbage). Anyways, two workers were outside my room saying, "think we'll get in there on Monday?" "I don't know, she won't take the card outta the slot." They know somethin's up. Thankfully only three more days to go until this stress is gone and they can come in here and clean to their hearts content! (for the record, they will be very surprised to see that I have maintained a very tidy and clean space without their help. Thankfully we have a washer and dryer to clean all our stuff, and also a vacuum (that we ordered and shipped to my brother while in Burkina, that we expected to use for our new house...but is now serving us well in the hotel!)

-speaking of our home....upon returning to the states we realized the home we were under contract to purchase, the one we were buying site unseen from Burkina (*note to self-don't e.ver try to buy a home site unseen again...too risky)......was in fact not going to work for our family. Major major major disappointment.

-after a lot of thought and prayer we decided to terminated our contract on that home (five days before closing, yup, we did that) and start the house hunting process over. We lost money (no one likes to forfeit money) which was a downer but it was ultimately the right decision and we had complete peace.

-due to the fact that we were initially so sure about this home and since it was so close to our closing date we started using this address for mailing purposes (*note to self....don't be this dumb again!)...and had Steven's citizenship certificate mailed there (major DOH! moment right there). We may have to go stalk their mailbox now to retrieve that incredibly important piece of paper...in the event they don't rip it to shreds out of spite...which is a real possibility....

-since we wouldn't be living in that home we had to inform the school district the girls were zoned to attend that they would no longer be attending that school

-without a home in the works we could no longer register the girls to go to any school, which was a problem as there was still six weeks left in the school year and they needed to enroll in a school in order to finish the year and move onto the next grade

-started looking into alternative means of schooling for the girls but neither private schools, homeschool, or virtual schools were not an option at this point

-we've had many appointments at Walter Reed for Steve already (driving in D.C. is for sure gonna make my hair turn gray)

-we started house hunting again....this time in person. We toured many homes and found one that we really liked in a great neighborhood and a great school district and put an offer in on it

-a week after we terminated our contract on home #1 we received a call from our realtor saying the owners of home #1 refused to sign our termination contract and were threatening us with a lawsuit if we didn't move forward with the purchase. That was stressful. Less than two weeks of being in the U.S. and someone was already threatening to sue us. Freakin' sue happy Americans.

-the day after we received that unfortunate news we were informed that the bank accepted our offer on the new home (it was a foreclosure...diamond in the rough style foreclosure....but it can definitely be a sparkly diamond again. Renovation here we come!....*cue nervous laugh....*)

-I was informed the following day that we would be allowed to enroll the girls in school if we could provide documentation with our future home address to establish temporary residency...hallelujah!

-that weekend we traveled to Delaware to visit Jordan and Becca! It was also Isaak's birthday!

-when we returned from Delaware on Sunday Steve got very very sick

-the following day me and the girls spent a few hours getting them enrolled at their new school (holy mother of paperwork!)

-when I returned that afternoon Steve's health was getting more concerning and his doctors advised us to take him to the emergency room, so off Steve and Isaak went to the ER

-Steve was transferred that night via ambulance to Walter Reed with Isaak in tow.

-the next morning I took the girls to their first day of school, met our house inspector at our hopeful new home for the four hour house inspection ( I said it was a diamond in the rough...there's just a bit more rough than diamond at this point)....and then on the way home from picking up the girls we drove straight to Walter Reed so I could stay with Steve and Isaak could return to work

-Isaak took care of the girls for the next few days and went to work while I stayed at the hospital with Steven

-while in the hospital I found out that the owners of house #1 signed our termination contract and re-listed their home, so we should not be hearing from them again about a lawsuit....that was a welcome relief

-the day after Steve was discharged from the hospital we drove to Richmond to spend two days with family for Memorial weekend

-since we're staying on base but the girls are going to school in the town we're set to move to, I have been driving 2hour20minutes every single day to transport the girls to and from school....that is a lot of driving....and gas money

-this week we were told that our hotel on base did not approve our extension request to stay here longer so we have to leave on Monday, as our standard 31 days is up (and since the home we're buying is a foreclosure the bank is making us wait 45 days instead of the standard 30 until settlement) so on Monday we have to move somewhere else.

-trying to find a short term one month rental in this particular area near the girls school this time of year has proven impossible. They are all booked clear until September or cost $3000 a week as this is a recreational/resort area

-on Wednesday Isaak found one place available to rent until the girls finish school mid June. That's a huge praise. Downside is there is no internet there (I will survive. I hit up the library this morning to stock up on some books.) Another downside is it's waaaay further south and my driving time will increase to 4 hours (deep breaths) every day to bring the girls to and from school... (there may not be any money left to bring the sparkle back to our house because we're going to deplete our bank account on GAS! Holy moly.)

-at least it's only for 19 days though. Because once the girls finish school we're going to have to find someplace else to stay until we close on our home. I don't know where that will be yet. I am not thinking about that yet. One day/week at a time right now.

-That will put us in three temporary homes in two months. Wowzers.

-also somewhere in all of this we bought another vehicle, minivan #2

-rewind to minivan #1 that we bought over the phone while still in Burkina (*note to self-stop buying stuff like cars and houses while living in another country!) Turns out when we went to register it a couple weeks ago, we couldn't, due to problems with the paperwork and then the tags ended up expiring, so we couldn't drive it, so when we drove to Richmond this past weekend we tried to schedule an appointment with the dealership to rectify the situation, but they were closed for the holidays, so they sent us the paperwork this week to our PO Box on base (thank goodness we have some kind of address) and thanks to some handy forgery on my part of my mom's signature on the title (permission received) we were able to register minivan #1 today! and get non expired non temporary plates for it.

This is the latest in the whirlwind of crazy we've found ourselves in since returning. All of this while dealing with a heavy dose of reverse culture shock (which is very real and I have no shame and no pride in admitting that I have struggled with this since returning).

Not all of it has been stressful. Lots of it has...just trying to juggle all the details of life and living and housing and paperwork and school and sickness and dr.'s appointments and how to function here again in the midst of it all.

But we're doing okay. We're making it. Trying to keep a good perspective on our circumstances. We're hanging in there and making the best out of life and finding moments to laugh and smile and rejoice. But we are more than ready to settle and find a new normal and not be living out of suitcases anymore. We are ready to figure out what life is really going to look like for us here when the crazy starts to mellow out and life becomes a little more predictable and we have a routine that doesn't involve spending heinous amounts of hours in the car driving every day. =)

But in the meantime we're just kinda riding the waves...waiting to reach the shore.....

Steven's in the hospital....

Our poor little guy got pretty sick Sunday evening after we returned from visiting Jordan and Becca in Delaware. He had been battling some cold/allergy type symptoms for a few days with watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and cough. But by Sunday evening he spiked a pretty high fever and that night and following Monday morning his fever had failed to reduce lower than 102.5 and respond to medicine and by mid afternoon Monday morning it was at 104.3 and climbing, so we were advised by his specialists to bring him to the ER right away. Steve was feeling pretty bad and him and Isaak were kept at the ER as they ran tests for ten hours until they eventually transferred him to Walter Reed for closer monitoring and additional testing. 

Poor guy in the ER....

Thankfully Isaak was able to stay with him Monday through Tuesday afternoon, and then I arrived and relieved him so he could go to work. 

Tuesday late afternoon when I finally arrived Steven was feeling a bit better. I brought a few more toys to help occupy his time. So I let him out of his bed for a while and we kicked a ball around the room and played some soccer, and then had an impromptu dance party on his keyboard. We had a good time. I think he was glad just to be out of bed! It's not easy for a five year old to be confined to bed all day. After two nights of feeling terrible and a fit full nights sleep, Steve slept the whole night through and got a great night's rest (I wish I could say the same but that pull out chair was painfully lumpy and by 4:45am I gave up on trying to sleep. There is a rocking chair that I have my sights set on for tonight though, hoping it will offer a bit more comfort!).

Me and Stevie boy will be up here the next two days while the doctors await the rest of his tests to return. He has an infection of some kind, somewhere in his body. But they have yet to narrow down exactly what and where it is. So hopefully they will be able to determine exactly what is going on in the next day so we can get home soon!

Mother's Day today

I celebrated a very happy Mother's Day today. I woke up to flowers, chocolate, and cards waiting for me at the kitchen table. The kids helped with a few chores around the hotel room afterwards and then we headed to a matinee showing of....Cinderella! Happiness! We had been waiting to see this movie since we first saw the teaser trailer many many months ago and it was everything we new it would be! So beautiful. I love Disney. These awesome recliner chairs in the theater were pretty spiffy too.

We followed the movie with yummy $5 Little Cesar's pizza, my fave!

And then I took some time to go to the gym (felt so good!) and then we went to a nearby playground for a while where we found this little bridge and spent some time throwing sticks into the water and just enjoying the greenness of it all and romping and climbing all over the equipment together.

I ended the night getting a "bananacure" from Marvelly as she painted my nails with water and toilet paper, applied excessive amounts of lip gloss to my lips, and squirted water on my head with a plastic tooth syringe and then combed it out.

A great day being a mom. Honored that I get to do life with these kids! They bless me and I thoroughly enjoy their presence and company so very much. They make this role of motherhood so wonderful and surprising and stressful and joy filled each and every day. =) It is a great privilege to be their Momma (Marvelly), Mom (Sydaleigh), and Mommy (Steven.)

Saying goodbye to Yako

The little city of Yako, a very small town about two hours northwest of Ouagadougou was a favorite place of ours while living in Burkina Faso. Oh, how we have loved traveling there! I am really going to miss our time there. For so many reasons.

Yako is a very special place to us. In addition to that being the city we met and spent time with Steven prior to bringing him home, we would also go up there to spend time with Mike and Amy who developed into such dear friends of ours these last few years. And going up to Yako to visit with them and partake in their ministry serving the people of their community was the sweetest joy for us during our time in Burkina.

We first got acquainted with Mike and Amy before we ever moved to Burkina Faso. My sweet friend Kelly was actually instrumental in connecting us. While Kelly was on a trip back to S. Florida to visit her parents she was at church on a Sunday morning and Mike and Amy happen to be there giving an update to the church while on a break from the field. When Kelly heard that they were missionaries in Burkina Faso she lovingly stalked them after the service and obtained their contact information and sent it to me straight away. Gotta love good friends. =) I'll be forever grateful to her for following the Lord's leading and approaching them that day.

I love that before we ever moved to Burkina Faso God was orchestrating people to be a part of our journey here. And also connecting us with others who not only have a heart for Him but people who we could foster relationships with while living overseas. What an amazing blessing that is!

So, needless to say, upon receiving Mike and Amy's contact info I contacted them immediately. We emailed back and forth for quite a while before we left the States, and upon arriving in Ouagadougou we met them just three days later.

And that was the beginning of a very wonderful friendship with two people we've grown to love over these last few years.

Upon getting to know Mike and Amy, we came to find out they are actually from the same city in South Florida that me and Isaak lived in while stationed there, and we even went to the same church at one point. Small world for sure!

All the little villages dotting the landscape as we drove through the country to get to Yako.

Inside the guest house 

The local church they attended

Les Ailes de Refuge was a totally different place when we arrived in Burkina in 2012. This small "baby cage" was the only place all the children at the orphanage had to play and spend their days. The cooks had a small place outside to cook up meals for the kids, and the children would sit on a wooden bench at a small table with only room for eight, while the rest sat on the ground to eat their daily meals. But Mike and Amy are motivated, intentional about their work, and absolute visionaries. They have transformed this property and their ministry here, improved it and expanded it in every capacity.

They now have this fantastic area for the older kids to play, complete with a built in slide and play house as well as room for bikes and toys of all kinds.

     

SO many people partnered with us these few years so that we could serve Mike and Amy and their ministry here. Many friends and family sent us toys, cloth diapers, wipes, hygiene products, clothes, you name.

And through our affiliation with Mike and Amy in Yako we were able to invite other people living and working in Burkina Faso to partner alongside them as well.

Through a simple introduction at an embassy event we were able to connect Ruth with a group of military guys serving in Ouaga on TDY. They came to Yako many many times to do hard manual labor as well as play with the children. They were a HUGE blessing to Mike and Amy!

So incredible what God can do! Through a simple introduction and an invitation to friends He was able to not only bless Mike and Amy and their ministry but also use others to serve Him. Never, ever, ever underestimate simple obedience to the Lord. What seems small to us can have far reaching effects for His kingdom!

Mike took us fishing one day. It was really sunny. Really hot. Really windy. And really dusty. But I didn't care. I was happy to be out here, watching the kids try to fish with bread for bait. Watching Mike cast his net into the water over and over again. Watching Steve and Moise dump water on themselves to stay cool. Listening to the crowd of kids behind us laugh every time the girls ran up with a fish.

always being watched....always. 

Steven and Moise playing.

This fantastic baobob treee. Eleven people stood inside that tree at the same time.

Here we are inside the tree to prove it! 

And through our initial relationship with Mike and Amy we soon became acquainted with Ruth, the founder of Sheltering Wings who was also living in Yako at the time. She has since relocated to Kimini in southwestern Burkina to expand their ministry further. Ruth has also become very near and dear to our hearts. She is so wise and full of experience and love for this country. She is tender but tough as nails. This woman lives in the middle of a remote village with no electricity or running water at an age where many of her peers have entered into their "retirement". But not Ruth. She's still out there working for the Lord, advocating for orphans, starting new ministries, running sponsorship programs, making herself available to be used by the Lord to make a great as impact as possible for His kingdom and glory. She has taught us so much and walked with us and advocated for us during our entire adoption process. It has been such a joy just sitting around our table getting to talk with her and know her better. She is an incredible person, and I am blessed to know such a godly woman and call her friend.

This town holds a very special place in our hearts and we will miss it dearly.