I am so sorry I have not posted more about my trip. It was hard to do that from Africa and than I came home to children, jet lag, and a house with NO Christmas done :) I am going to update each day on here this week and I am working on getting all the photos online for you to see. There are plenty.
When we first arrived in Burkina (without luggage) it was so dusty and smokey we could not even take pictures. Evidently this is their dusty season and it is so think it looks like FOG and takes your breath away. The smoke if from people having fires at their homes. The nites were in the 60's and they think that is cold :) Biba whisked us off to a private party for the US Ambassador. 24 hours of flight, no shower and a fluffy party. It was fun. They love to dance and everyone was so kind.
The next day was the party for the sponsor kids at FOG. Biba totally outdid herself with the planning and organizing. We walked in the gates of our house and there were most of the children (around 10 could not make it) Biba had rented tables and chairs and even had tableclothes. The kids were all dressed in their best and very well behaved (well except for a table of young boys, but they were just being boys). Biba had arranged for a professional photographer to take pictures thru out the event which was nice as it freed me up to enjoy the kids. All together there were over 100 people there. Biba had arranged for 3 of her pastors to come speak to the kids. They gave the children an encouraging message about how it only takes one person to change their world and how blessed they were to have sponsors. Lots of praying and than it was time for the party. Biba had lots of helpers and there was so much food. There was salad, tons of rice (I think she said they cooked 50 pounds) with meat and veggies and 35 chickens. These kids can EAT. I mean their plates were piled high with food and there was very little left. WE also served pop which is a treat over there. Biba had also made up little snack bags with popcorn and other treats for the kids that they took home. Which was good because the 70 bags of candy I made up were LOST in my luggage somewhere in Paris.
I did have an opportunity to tell the kids how much you all cared for them and what a privledge it was to know them.
After the eating was done, the older boys played DJ. The kids all danced and did the bunny hop, it was so cute and they were so happy. We finally handed out the group gifts to the children. Each child got a shirt, skirt or outfit depending on their age. I have pictures of each child rec'ing their gifts that I will be sending to you. After that we did group pictures. The kids all wanted to be hugged and hang with us. Everytime you turned about there were kids hanging on you.
It was getting dark and we finally had to send them home. It was an unbelievable day and it was made possible by you. Thank you to all who donated towards the party. You made is possible and even if you did not donate we made sure every child rec'd a gift.
On a side note, since I did not have my luggage I did not hand out all the pictures and cards you sent, Biba is doing hat this week. Also, you who bought extra's for your kids for Christmas, you children will be rec'ing those this week too. There was just so little time to get everything done while I was there.
Where there is no vision, the people perish!!! Thanks for all you do!
Ann
