Kids being....kids.

The kids love getting their picture taken and then looking at the image. It's not long before they start goofing off, making silly faces for the camera. This group of kids are from our visit to Trudie's Bible Club...a weekly activity for the neighborhood kids that includes music, games, and a brief Bible story/lesson.








Our time was cut short, however, because the children ran off in fright when one saw, in the distance, "the Masks" coming. This is a gang of people wearing masks and leaves, plowing through town during the season of the dead, whipping and hitting anyone in their path.

Location:Bobo

We Are Family...

These little girls at the Maranatha Bible School remind me of my niece..I'm getting homesick, I suppose.

Location:Bobo, Burkina Faso

Word Pictures

Soon we will be leaving Burkina taking many memories with us. Here are some of the things I will remember -
People: beautiful smiling faces, brightly colored, boldly patterned outfits, greetings all around. Women carrying anything and everything on their heads ad babies on their backs. Amazing strength and stories of struggle from the women we met and got to know. A great love for the Lord - singing, praising, dancing, and praying. Children - so many children who love to get their pictures taken!

Sights and conditions: dust, dust and more red dust, everything is dry. Piles of trash, plastic bags everywhere (great free resource for crocheting with plastic bags.) Mango trees, round thatched huts, bumpy roads, boys with red tomato cans collecting for the Imam. Trucks piled high with things, animals and people. Hot, very hot. Sweat - taking sweat to a whole new level! Soothing air conditioning at night in the guest house. Power cuts, water cuts...squatty potties.

Animals: Donkeys, chickens, goats, sheep, dogs, lizards everywhere - often on the road in front of the car.

God at Work: Amazing things are happening in Burkina. Dedicated missionaries with a heart for God and a passion for the people of Burkina to know God. A national church that is growing and developing leaders. Still this is a land where many are lost following false gods - either Islam or animists. A strong sense of need to pray for the church here in Burkina, missionaries and most of all for the lost. May the church grow strong and remain faithful to our faithful God. May the missionaries persevere and have renewed energy for the task God has called them to. And may all the lost be set free from the darkness and bondage of sin and come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. To God be the glory in Burkina Faso!

A Hard Day's Work

Here's a little glimpse into life in the bush....for a woman.
A glimpse of life in the bush....for women. Gives a whole new perspective of Take-Your-Child-to-Work Day....everyday!

Goodnight, Africa Moon

When we stayed the night in the bush, we slept outside, falling asleep to the sounds of animals up high, and down low. In the distance was a tribal celebration that drummed until the rooster crowed.

Mother Comforts

Attending our third wake, I saw something so sweet...so universal to a mother's heart. A small child, not more than 2 years old, in a tattered tank top and undies walks over to a clothesline and begins tugging at a piece of fabric. Once it is down, the child carries it over to mama as if to say, "mama, please carry me, hold me, rock me". Look at another photo on the blog to see how they hold the babes on their backs.

Well, mom was preoccupied with the happenings of the wake, so, the child, instead, reached into moms shirt and pulled out one of her two "pacifiers" and cuddled up. This is so common and casual around here.

Shortly after, I walked over to say hello to the child. Once I picked the child up, though, the child began to cry. I quickly returned the child to mama. White people sometimes frighten the children, but most are quite excited to say hello. I later learned that the mother had said to the child, in Joula, that I would take the child home to my village, causing the child to fright. Basically, mom was giving stranger danger warnings to her young child, not unlike the warnings I give my own children. Still, it's quite interesting to be on the other side of that statement.

Pics

Kenedougou



Church steps at kenedougou


Lunch with widows


Pastors son who took tons of pics with Janna's camera




Compassion kids





Lori taller than the trees