May 21

On our way to the Compassion office. When the man driving this mule & wagon saw that I had a camera, he motioned for me to pay him for taking his picture. For being the 3rd poorest country in the world, the people sure know the importance of taking every opportunity there is to earn money!
The guard at the entrance.
There are 3 sections at the Compassion Burkina Faso office: Sponsorship, Translation and Finances (I have to double check that).
And here are all the staff. Unfortunately, I cannot remember their names. But here they are:




This is Desiré in the middle. He was with me for all 8 hours that I visited with Christiane & her family. And the driving he did to pick us up & drop us off added at least another hour to his efforts! Thank you Desiré! You asked when I'd be back too ... I will say this much, God knows, but I am hopeful that it will be next year!




Mango trees at Compassion's office!
I was given a nice ripe one to take home with me (back to Pam's place). It was different than the mangoes I'd had so far, but unfortunately, I forgot to eat it before we left for the airport. Pam, I hope you enjoyed it! :) Let me know how it tasted.
At Pam's place sitting with one of the instruments that someone at this house plays (she wasn't there while I was, so I didn't get to meet her).
I just got back from picking up my outfit from the tailor. I sat in on the rest of the language lesson and then Maria showed me how to tie the piece of material onto my head. I had been without a hat up until then! Oops, I thought I would have found one earlier.
I had the opportunity to give a French Bible to the tailor and he was sooooooo grateful! I have been keeping in contact with him through Pam, because she will be using him from now on (he is very good at what he does!). She tells me that he asks about me when he sees her, and he has asked her for 2 more Bibles to give to friends of his! That is so awesome! Praise God!

This is Combary yentema (Combary is his last name, but that is what people call him). He is one of the guards that stays outside Pam & Kate's house overnight. He was very keen on getting some pictures with me before I left - perhaps to show his wife & child that this is the lady he told them about who came from Canada for only a short 5 day visit to Burkina Faso!?!
The resident Gecko at Pam & Kate's house.
I just had to get a picture of a palm tree before I left ... this is at the airport.

I met Steve at the SIL guesthouse. He is a missionary here, but he is on his way back to England to get married. His fiancé is in Cambodia until the end of May, so I got to be his personal delivery service ... he sent a little something with me to give Charlotte when I get there.
God is amazing! What a privilege to be useful in this way for this couple. The timing of the whole thing just boggles my mind! I could write about it, but then this would get too long, so I think I'll just let you ponder the love & timing of God in the lives of this couple! Wow!