Painting Away

For the past couple of weeks we have been cleaning and redoing the kids rooms. It has been a fun process coupled with lots of hard work and sweat. Cleaning, prepping, and then painting is not necessarily done how you'd imagine it. There are no vacuums, mops, or even decent brooms to clean the floors. On top of that minor challenge you are constantly dodging man-eating spiders...well not man-eating...but still scary. Plus, because it is rainy season, the electricity likes to go out all of a sudden and there goes your nice cool fan breeze and lighting to see what you are doing. But putting the "negatives" behind it is a lot of fun work because you are doing it with people you love and enjoy being around. 

I absolutely love painting! I don't know what it is but it is a therapeutic thing for me and I could do it all day. Unfortunately the paint here stinks! It is SO strong and the inner rooms with only one window make for a long painting process due to the constant "fresh air" breaks. You also get a lovely souvenir of paint on yourself. Luckily the color we chose is blue and it's my favorite color so I don't mind this. 

This is a fun project before all the kids come back to the orphanage for the school year and it's making the orphanage look even better than it does now. It is so fun to bless these kids with a fresh new room and bless the orphanage with a mini makeover!

Achille and myself painting away!

Crocodiles

The next day after my arrival I was privileged enough to embark on a fun, exciting and scary adventure to Bazoule. Here in this small village, lies a lake that has hundreds of crocs inhabiting it. These crocodiles are know to be "sacred" crocs that if you make a sacrifice to them then you will be granted your wish or prayer. We didn't go to do this, but we did go to visit these crocodiles. Little did we know that we would actually get to touch them...and yes...sit on them!

Our two "tour guides" led us to the lake and informed us of the history of the crocs, fun facts and even a biology lesson on the anatomy of the crocodile. But this wasn't all. We had much more in store for our afternoon outing with the crocs. Our tour guides led us down to the water and lured the crocs out of the water by teasing them with a chicken in hand. The men carefully selected the croc that they wanted to lure all the way to shore. Out came a large, chunky crocodile that wasn't the most swift or nimble of creatures; probably this was to our advantage. The men then proceeded to tell us to hop right on the back of this scaly creature. He of course demonstrated how it was to be done. Basically you could do anything to this beast and he wouldn't care as long as you didn't make any loud noises. So on climbed everyone until it was down to me. I have to admit I'm not the bravest of people; I can be a caution freak sometimes so I was just about to pass it up when all of a sudden I conjured up the courage to sit on the beast. With the help of my dear friend Delaney I climbed on the croc and sat there and got my picture taken. I am so glad that I did it and I had a great time!It was an awesome day filled with crazy and funny moments all wrapped up in one. There's never a dull moment when crocs are involved...especially in Africa!

My Fall Mission

What started out as a calling to teach English for a whole school year changed into something completely different. After the first time in Burkina I felt as though I was supposed to return one day for a whole school year. So I held onto that dream for a year and then decided after graduating college then I can pursue that dream. However, God slowly began to change my heart in a new direction without me fully realizing it. Just weeks away from leaving for 9 months I began to doubt that this was really what I was supposed to be doing. After lots of praying, thinking, and discussing with others I have decided to shorten my trip in Burkina. I will be here until December 11th and return with my dad to the States. Once back in the States I will begin my dream to teach at an elementary school and work towards becoming and English as a Second Language teacher. But in these next three months I have a lot of awesome things planned and I am so excited for the new adventures that I will get to go on. I am going to tutor a little boy in English that is being adopted by an American family, tutor an orphanage worker in English, help primary school students after school with math and reading and help out with various other things around the orphanage. It will be a great an amazing time and serve as a great closure to this chapter of my life. I am excited what God is doing in my life and can't see what happens! Thank you everyone for your love, support and prayers!

Follow Me Here!

I didn't realize how hard it is to keep two blogs updated and going...so you can follow me for the time being at blogs.maryville.edu
once on the page...scroll down and click on the tab labeled Teaching in Burkina Faso. This will lead you straight to my blog.

Here I share my everyday experiences student teaching at the International School of Ouagadougou and all the other various adventures I find myself embarking on. Hope you will enjoy!

Home Again

It is crazy how comfortable, relaxed, and at home I feel here in Burkina. When first stepping out of the airport and breathing in the warm dusty air I was reminded of all the wonderful memories and good times here. I was so ecstatic to begin my student teaching adventure here.
Before jumping into my student teaching at the international school in Ouagadougou, I was able to enjoy the rest of my holiday in Yako where I stayed on my previous trips. I made sure that no one told the kids at the orphanage that I was returning to Burkina because I wanted to surprise them all. And was it a surprise! They could not believe that I was back. Jonas, a seven year old boy, who is very close to my heart began crying at the sight of me. Extremely touching! I was greeted with hugs, hand shakes and warm "hellos" (except in Moore and French). Now I felt even more at home.
During my "vacation" I did many fun and exciting things. I helped the Ridderings, a new missionary family, fix up their house and get some things accomplished. I made new friends; two girls from Germany that are in Yako for a year. I went to a 6 hour church concert and a 4 hour New Year's Eve church celebration. I killed two chickens for our New Year's celebration dinner. And last but certainly not least, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with all my friends and family in Yako. It truly was an enjoyable and relaxing week.

Hanging out with Jonas

 

 Preparing to kill the chicken

 The job is finished!

Eve of Departure

Well I can't belive that  I still have the butterflies around Christmas time and I am almost 22 years old. However, these jitters are not a result of being excited for Santa's coming and opening presents; these butterflies are a combo of nerves and excitment to be returning to my beloved West African country, Burkina Faso.
I am very ecstatic to be returning to Burkina for my third time this year. With a new agenda, student teaching at the international school, I am eager to see what this trip holds. It will definitely be another adventure to remember!

Back Home

It has been two weeks since I have touched back down on American soil. It is still quite an adjustment getting back into the crazy, fast paced lifestyle, we Americans live in. But it has been great seeing all my friends and family and enjoying these last weeks of summer before jumping into the hectic thing I call school.
I find myself missing and reflecting back quite often at the time I spent in Burkina. It was an awesome time filled with many many amazing experiences. I learned so much about myself and others those 7+ weeks. That precious time in Burkina that I cherish so much really instilled peace in my heart, a new trust and patience with the Lord, and just an overall boost of confidence and independce within myself. I can't rave enough about what an awesome time I had. I will always hold a very very special spot in my heart for the people of Burkina Faso and especially my friends and family in Yako. I can't wait to go back! Don't worry I'll be back sooner than later Burkina :)