Oh yeah.be sure to have Dot tell you about checking the pump!

After three hours in baggage check and security check...were relaxing and having some Dinner before boarding the plane.

We're off! Thank you so much! Keep praying and see you in two weeks!

Your Generosity is Overwhelming!...and Heavy!

The Burkina Team spent Saturday morning sorting and packing the abundance of supplies donated by friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. We filled five duffle bags and and two suitcases with first-aid and medical items, craft and knitting supplies, foods requested by the Missionary family, a volleyball set, and personal care products.

The biggest challenge we faced was keeping within our fifty pound limit imposed by the airline. It was almost comical watching and listening to us work through this process. As one of us would stand on the scale with a suitcase, Faith would often say, "but if we lose a few pounds before Monday, we can take more stuff!" I kept telling her OUR weight didn't matter in the weight of the luggage. She would just giggle in response. Do you think she kept saying that just to egg me on?...hmmm...I wonder?

Help us pray that the airlines are benevolent in weighing our luggage and we are not charged the extra weight fee!

satan’s Piercing Arrows

We seek your help in prayer that we may be able to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes”. (Eph 6:10-11).

As our Team has been preparing for our Mission to Burkina Faso, we have had moments of questioning our purpose, but for the most part, we have had clarity and focus. We have been able to feel God’s Presence and have had a Peace about what we are sharing with others. And, oh, how well you received our Team and our Vision. You have been gracious in your sustaining prayer, and to answering our questions and needs, both as a Team and as Individuals. Those of you who have a relationship with Our Lord overwhelmed us with support, love, and encouragement. Those of you who do not have as close of a relationship have listened patiently, and have considered the thoughts, beliefs and plans we expressed. Some of you even let us know that you, yourself, have considered serving Our Lord in some way, but for whatever reason, have not followed His lead. And in some cases, we have been able to be an encouragement to you to follow your heart and listen carefully to the direction God is taking your life. What a lovely gift God had bestowed upon us to both receive and provide encouragement! Yes, clearly our team member’s relationships with Jesus were strengthening and His wishes for us were becoming clearer. And then satan began striking his blows and shooting his arrows into our lives.

I must explain, for me personally, I only became aware of the reality of satan about ten years ago. (I will not begin his name with a capital s, because in the words of a former Bible Study teacher, he does not deserve a capital letter). I had always viewed satan as a mythical figure; someone to refer to in jest. My Church teachings as a youth did not refer to satan so he was in the same category for me as Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny. However, my view point changed about the same time I accepted Christ as my Savior, which was about 11 years ago.

I was taking a course called Alpha, which is a wonderful way to strengthen your relationship with Christ. It focuses on the questions of “Why Jesus?” and provides a clearer understanding of most of the questions running through the head of a new believer. It is also a great refresher for the more experienced believer, as well. So we’re in Alpha and the course study focus on Ephesians 6:10-18, which was written by the Apostle Paul. Having a basic knowledge of the fascinating life and dedication of Paul, I suddenly had an understanding of how serious attacks from the devil truly are. And realized the role he had previously played in my life, unknowingly to me.

It has taken more years, more Scripture study, and more Biblical teaching for me to learn how satan operates. When one is not steadfast in the desire to serve Jesus, satan is delighted! His work is easy! A person who does not knowingly choose to make decisions that are pleasing to God will often make the choice of what feels good, rather than what God wishes. I know this for fact, having been one of those people for so long. I knew OF God, but did not know Him. And it was easy for me to justify the decisions I made based on what I wanted to do so long as I didn’t violate the basic principles of no lying, cheating or stealing. The devil didn’t have to spend any time on me because I did his job for him.

One’s relationship with satan changes, however, when one’s relationship with God strengthens. As an awareness of the Sovereignty of God increases and one tries to walk closer in step with Him, satan must work harder…and he gets mad about it! The devil will do everything he can think of to distract a Believer. He will discourage. He will lie. He will instill false thinking in one’s mind. How real is the battle with satan? Real enough that even Jesus, while in the wilderness and full of the Holy Spirit, was tempted by satan (Luke 4:1-13). While Jesus was steadfast in His battle with satan, it should be noted that satan did not give up, but “left him until an opportune time” (Luke 4: 13). Goodness gracious! If satan would not leave the Son of Man alone, how could our Burkina Team ever expect him to leave us alone!

Our Team is steadfast in our desire to hearten the girls of Dorcas House. And many of our team members have been subjected to defending herself from the arrows satan has cast our way. In most cases, we have been able to recognize his attempts to destroy our Peaceful relationship with Christ, but we know he is only beginning his warfare. The last thing satan wants is for man to be in the Holy Spirit of God! And it is amazing at how he will tempt the Believer from what is right and good. The more new believers, the harder satan must work to discourage them!

Will you help provide us with the” shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. “(Eph 10:16) It would be interesting to hear from you how you have maintained closeness to God when the devil has thwarted your efforts, especially when it comes to encouraging new believers! And above all else, please pray for our Team that satan step back!

3 MORE DAYS - by Faith Cranford

I too am finalizing my health pieces for our the Dorcas House girls. I don't know how much info to provide or not provide. In reality, it doesn't matter because I know the Lord is going to meet the needs exactly as they should be. I have such a peace in my heart that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing. I too echo Daureen's words that she feels this trip is to bring her to a deeper relationship with Christ. This has been a desire of my heart for a long time but I can't seem to reach that "deep" place. I just want to love these girls! I want to show them God's love through my words & actions. The song "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" keeps going over & over in my head. " I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free. His eye is on the sparrow & I know he watches me." He will be with us thru out this trip. If he watches over the tiniest bird, how much more is he going to take care of us on this trip. I'm looking forward to getting to know more about the other women on the team. I think we gel well together already & I'm sure we will grow closer. I'm anticipating learning from our mature spiritual leaders, Dot & Martha. I long for the deep relationship they appear to have with the Lord....til next time.......faith

Getting Packed - by Daureen Heffner

I'm getting more excited as this day goes by. 3 more days until we leave. I just cried out to Jesus today as I was preparing some of the health teaching, realizing that I'm inadequate to do this on my own. I need Jesus to do it through me. I just believe with all my heart that this trip to Burkina Faso is just what I need in my life at this time. I'm done trying to do things on my own, I want His power to flood my very being and help me to make a difference in these precious young women that we will be spending time with each day for 2 weeks. May they see the Light! The Truth of the gospel lived out in each of us. I'm looking forward to getting to know each of the girls at Dorcas House as well as the women I'm going on this trip with. Also the missionaries that will be helping us. May we be a sweet fragrance to them too!