One word: drained- physically, emotionally, and mentally. Good thing I don’t have to rely on my own strength to get through the challenges of saying goodbye to one home and saying hello again to another. I’m not quite sure if words can quite describe all of the emotions I’ve experienced this week, but maybe my love for taking LOTS of pictures will help…
Sunday- I had the opportunity to share a few words at church. It was such a privilege to be able to speak and I felt honored to share part of my journey to Burkina, as well as what God has done in my heart during my time here.
Sharing a few words
The church was kind enough to give me one of Burkina's traditional pagnes as a going away gift. So nice!
Wednesday- I said goodbye to all 20 of my beautiful, kind, generous, and loving kiddos. I could not have asked for a better last day at school. When I arrived, they couldn’t believe I wore a dress and attempted to fix my hair. They couldn’t contain their excitement and thought my hair was fake. Not to mention, they were SUPER excited about the 2 gallons of popcorn I had in hand too.
Later in the day, Bazié and I presented each of our students with a certificate for something unique they bring to the classroom, along with a photo. I certainly take for granted the fact that I can actually print photos at home to remember people, places, memories, etc. For my kiddos, they rely on their memory to remember everything, including faces of family members that have passed away. After our awards ceremony, the kids and teachers all gathered around my small computer to watch video clips from the school year and also learn more about life in États Unis (United States). We ended the day by watching Alvin and the Chipmunks, which they thought was absolutely hilarious!
One last class photo
Movie time
Isabel showing off her certificate and picture
When it finally came time to say goodbye, many of the children came up to me with outstretched arms and said, “Hug!” (one of the few words they know and understand in English). As I wrapped my arms around them, I couldn’t help but notice some of the kids sitting at their desks with the most pitiful little faces. Justine’s eyes began to well up and pretty soon Elodie, Pogbi, and Sebastian followed. Then, after having held it together pretty well all day, I lost it. While I don’t have children, I have come to love each of my students as if they were my own. Yes, I have been their teacher, but I’ve also been a nurse to fix up their scrapes and cuts when they get hurt and comfort them until their crying subsides. I’ve been a counselor when bickering arises or someone feels wronged by another, even though I do not speak French. I’ve been a comforter when they are sick and need someone to sit with them on the floor to hold a cool, wet cloth on their forehead to help break their fever. I’ve been an advocate for their education and their importance in the world.
I feel like my job has stretched so much farther than the classroom. This has certainly been different from teaching in the States, but what gets me most is thinking about how God has used someone as insignificant as me to be able to love these kids and through loving them, He has shown me how much He loves me and desires to be my teacher, healer, comforter, and counselor. My love for my students is only a very small fraction of His infinite love for me.
After saying goodbye at school, I came home to enjoy some time with a few other missionaries in Yako. Then, I set up my front porch as a home movie theater and the teachers came over to enjoy a cup of tea, while watching one of my favorite movies in French… Freedom Writers!
Thursday, the remainder of my stuff was packed and I said goodbye to Yako.
It was sad saying goodbye to Boris and my guards (Adama and Abdoulaye).
It’s so crazy to think that I have been here for 9 ½ months. Really, that is not a lot of time, but at the same time it feels like I have been here a lot longer. When I think about friends that got engaged and are now getting married upon my arrival home, or friends that are going to have or have had a baby since I’ve been gone, or others that were sick and are now healed, and others who went home to be with Jesus, it feels like it has been longer than 9 ½ months. As I think back on the process of raising support, preparing to depart the States, packing, saying goodbye to family and friends, arriving in Burkina and meeting the teachers and students for the first time, I remember crying out to God saying, “Please, help me! What is it you want to accomplish through me here? What is my purpose? How am I to serve your kingdom here? How am I possibly going to teach in the village when I don’t even know the language?”
In the past month, I’ve found myself yet again crying out, “God, please, help me! What is my purpose when I go home? How do you desire to use my experiences here in the future? Who is it you desire me to be?” Along with all of this comes the difficulty of once again saying goodbye and trying to pack almost 10 months of my life into two 50 lb. suitcases (definitely not an easy task). Seriously, I’m in awe. I’m amazed at what God has done in such a short amount of time and I’m so grateful for His immense love for me. He didn’t need me here. He didn’t need me here at all, but He wanted me here and He wanted me to be a part of what He is doing in Gobila and Yako, even if it was for short time. It has been such an honor to serve Him in this way and I am eager to continue to serve Him when I return home or wherever else He might want me.
To those of you who have joined me on this journey, I would like to sincerely thank you. What a journey it has been! I have appreciated every one of your prayers, comments, letters, e-mails, Facebook messages, etc. It has been such a joy to pray with and for you during the course of my time here. I hope to post updates in the future, regarding reentry, missions, Burkina, etc. While I’m unsure of where the Lord is leading me now, I look forward to sharing the different things he teaches me along the way and how he uses my experiences here in my future.
Many Blessings to You,
Olivia
