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.