Happy Dance

I promised to not let my blog become reiteration of whatever news Ruth is posting on her blog, but, today I just can’t help myself from diving in the same direction!

When I read Ruth’s blog this morning I started doing a happy dance. (True story!)

Herman, a little boy that lives near Yako, finally has a place in school! Because Herman is blind he can’t attend the schools in Yako. It has been a long road of waiting for a place for Herman in school. (My understanding is it has been at least two years?) Finally, this year, a new school opened up in Ouahigouya!

Last year I had the opportunity to travel with Adiara to the school in Ouagadougou as we attempted to secure a place for Herman at the school. We discovered the greatest problem wasn’t a place at the school but a host family. He needed a family to take him in, care for him and bring him to school because he lives to far away from the school to live at home. In Ouahigouya the school has found Herman a host family.

On that same day I went with Adiara to visit one of our sponsor children, Yemba, in Ouagadougou who is deaf. She attends another school for the hearing

impaired. What I loved about the school was that students who are not hearing impaired also attend but everyone learns to sign! I can’t explain my amazement of walking through the courtyard of the school and seeing all the students signing to each other, while some sang and some skipped. It was truly beautiful.

Yemba also lives with a sponsor family. Her sponsor family has encountered great sadness in the past years but continues to love Yemba and care for her.

Here's a picture of Yemba and me during our brief meeting.

Praise God for His answer to prayer in Herman’s life! And pray for Herman as he adjusts to life in a new city, at a new school, with his host family. Pray for Herman’s family at home as they see Herman off to school.
Let’s pray for Yemba and her sponsor family. Pray for Herman as he begins his studies, Yemba as she continues them and for the students they will encounter in school.

Go Heil

So just a cool tidbit of information for you... Every Canadian probably knows by now that Jennifer Heil won Canada's first medal in mogul skiing yesterday with her Silver.

But you may or may not know she has a connection to Burkina! Last year she travelled to Burkina Faso to raise awareness for Women's Rights. Right on Jennifer.

Salif

The orphanage just welcomed a new baby boy.

Salif’s mother, who is mentally ill, was sexually abused and Salif was born as a result of the abuse. His mother gave birth alone and it wasn’t until Salif started crying that his mother’s family knew he was born. Because of the circumstances surrounding his conception Salif will not be welcomed into or cared for by his family, and because of his mother’s illness she is unable to care for herself let alone a child. And so it is in these circumstances that Salif was brought to Sheltering Wings.

It is possible Salif’s family will chose to release him for adoption. Right now he is being loved, cared for and prayed over by the staff at Sheltering Wings. Please pray for Salif, for his family as they begin to make decisions regarding his future, for Salif’s mother and pray for the staff and volunteers that are caring for the children.

I pulled my information from Ruth's blog, and would encourage you to check it out for yourself too: burkinaorphanage.blogspot.com

Moments in Rewind

This picture was taken exactly one year ago on February 10, 2009.

Sometimes it is hard for me to believe a year has gone by since moments like these, and then, days like today I can feel the time that has come between.

Calgary is full of beautiful moments, yet, my heart waits anxiously for more Burkina moments. I can hardly believe it is two and a half months until I'll experience more of these. More baby cuddles, more evening card games with the boys, more dancing with girls, more singing with the toddlers... many more beautiful moments yet to be discovered.

My Prayer Letter

Dear Friends and Family,

It is with great anticipation that I write to you to express my intent to return to Burkina Faso this coming spring and summer. I will be traveling back to Yako to volunteer once again with Sheltering Wings. It’s my hope to depart early May and return late August.

Before I left Burkina last spring God told me I would be returning to Burkina one day. At that time I had no idea when I would be returning but simply trusted in His promise. This past fall as I began to feel a stirring in my heart and a desire to return to Burkina I began praying that God would bring my heart in line with His will and make His plan abundantly clear to me. Through many conversations with God I have realized He is indeed calling me back to Burkina.

As I embark on this adventure I look forward to working with the babies and continuing to build on relationships with the older children. I hope to be able to help facilitate the short term teams and be of help in the office with administrative work. And, I look forward to discovering serving opportunities I don’t yet understand or know about.

It is my belief that I am in need of a group of people committed to praying for me as I head into the missions field. Many of you were a part of my support network during my previous trip and I cannot express to you enough how invaluable your prayers and support have been.

I am seeking a strong team of prayer supporters committed to praying for me as I serve in Burkina. Please pray for me prior to departure as I prepare spiritually for my trip and pray for all the other preparation (obtaining a travel visa etc). Pray continuously for protection against attack from the enemy: for physical and spiritual protection. Please pray for my personal ministry as well as for the ministry of the orphanage.

I am collecting donations of certain clothing items, baby supplies and medical supplies to bring to the orphanage. If you would like to consider donating you’ll find the list just below titled “Donations”. Additionally I will be collecting monetary donations to cover items that can best be purchased in country, to contribute towards the orphanage and for unforeseen opportunities to bless those in the surrounding community. If this is of interest to you, you’ll find my contact information at the bottom of the page or on the sidebar in the profile section.

Thanks for following along with my blog! I will be updating it weekly prior to departure with information about my upcoming trip as well as with up-to-date prayer requests. Once in Burkina I will endeavor to post frequent updates. To receive emails with updated prayer requests please send me an email and I will add you to my mailing list.

Thank you for your faithfulness and support.

Trusting in His grace,

Brittany Vine

Donations

Thanks for checking out the list of items I will be taking with me to the orphanage!

If you would like to contribute towards these needs it would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to contact me with further questions, or to arrange drop off/pick up.

Underwear: all genders, ages and sizes
Bras: all sizes (new or gently used)
Diaper pins & Rubber pants
Baby bottles (with lots of extra rubber nipples)
If you are purchasing baby bottles for donation please avoid the bottles with the plastic sacs inside and opt, instead, for the single-unit bottle.
Medicine: Tylenol & Advil (regular & children’s dosages), Pepto Bismol, Immodium, Baby Powder, Penaten Cream.
Hygiene Items: Nail clippers, nail files, baby nail clippers, toothpaste.

Additionally I will be collecting monetary donations to cover items that can best be purchased in country, to contribute towards the orphanage and for unforeseen opportunities to bless those in the surrounding community. If this is of interest to you my contact information is on the sidebar (in the profile section).

Due to the nature of the above items we can only accept new items (with the exception of bras which can be gently used).

Thank you for giving!

***April 15, 2010***

Just edited the above list. If you'd already checked it out and have purchased some items or had items in mind that you'd like to contribute don't worry if I took those items off the list! It's not that it's not needed, in fact, I'd still love to take it!

I have just narrowed the list down a bit based on donations that I've received so far and what is still needed.

Thank you!

***

Brittany in Burkina...Again!!

After many months of prayer I can say very happily I will be heading back to Burkina this coming spring & summer.

I am confident this is where God is calling me to be and there is nowhere else I would be than back in Burkina.

I cannot wait to be back and be a part of Burkina and of Sheltering Wings. This journey has many unknowns, however, the biggest known I have is all I need: our sovereign creator knows exactly what is in store.

Stay tuned for my prayer letter and many more updates. There’s lots of information to come about where I’m headed and what I’ll be up to in Burkina this summer.