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!

I'm checking to see if I can post from my mobile phone. Won't that be great if it works!

Prayer Requests

• · Health and Safety for us and our families while we are gone

• · Safe and un-eventful travel to and from Burkina Faso on June 21 and July 4. (We leave JFK at 6:15 p and travel to Boston, Paris and arrive in Ouagadougou at 7:40 p.m. the next day)

• · Pray for our communication with Dorcas House girls who are French speaking. Some are literate and some are not. Pray God will help us to speak the universal language of love.

• · Pray for our projects to be helpful and fun for the girls.

• · Pray for us to be an encouragement (and not a burden) to our missionaries.

• · Pray for unity and patience for our team as we work together in an unfamiliar environment, far from the comforts of home.

• · Pray for us to maintain servant hearts, flexibility and moment by moment trust in God, ready to do what is needed, while laying down our own plans and expectations.

Pray for our "Little Sisters" Ida Flore, Balguissa, Sylvie, Germaine, Solange, Rita, Isabelle, Rebecca T, Elisa, Anatou, Zerbo Mariam, Tene, Viviane, Sara, Rebecca O, Amelie, Therese, Jacqueline, Delphine and Alida. Staff and Missionaries: Tanti Nyagali, Tanti Dinah, Tanti Sara, Mme Tien, Amy, Sarah, Lorinda and Abby

One Week To Go

This is my first attempt at "Blogging". Therefore, I hope that you will be patient with me as I fumble through my first Posting. Okay...here goes!...

The Burkina Team has only one week - yes, ONE WEEK, before we make an incredible journey to a little known country called Burkina Faso. Now, if you are involved in the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, you've most likely heard of Burkina Faso because the CMA has been quite active in spreading the Good News there for a number of years. But for the rest of the general population, the common response is "Where?" In fact, I only know one person who, when asking me where in Africa I was going, actually knew of Burkina Faso. Ironically, that person is a Geographer by profession, so he gets paid to know of the little known countries around the world.

So back to the topic at hand...one week left. And I've created a Blog. Please understand, this idea was not mine. It was presented to me that I be the Team Blogger and since I really haven't been able to discern any other function or purpose for God sending me on this trip, it seemed like a good idea to say,"okay?" I am in complete awe of the other ladies on our team! I jokingly (okay, maybe not so jokingly) refer to myself as the under qualified member of our team.

But I do have a willing heart. And I know I am being sent on this trip for a purpose. And with your prayers and support, together we can unfold that purpose. And for right now, I am the Team Blogger! Yippee!

Tonight our Team met at Mary Groff's for a send off dinner given by the Women's Bible Study that Shirley Tuzi leads. It was lovely! Along with good food and fellowship, we were guided through the final passages of the Song of Solomon by Martha Mellinger. Martha is a fellow Bukina Team Member, and for those who don't know her, Martha's Scriptural knowledge is an inspiration for a "newer" Believer, like myself.

After the Scripture study at Mary's, the ladies presented each of us with a lovely Calla Lily and a personal thought, poem, or prayer. It was a wonderful sendoff, and as our illustrious Team Leader, Dot Milliken stated, "these ladies will truly cover us with prayer."

It is now waaaaay past my bed time. I am going to leave this first Posting by telling you my hopes for the Burkina Faso Short Term Missions Trip Blog. I hope you get to know our Team Members. I hope you get to understand what a person on a Short Term Missions Trip experiences spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I hope you learn about Burkina Faso. I hope you get to see some of the Mission Family's work in action. I hope you get to understand some of the challenges the girls of Dorcas House face on a daily basis. I hope you become motivated to do what you can to make a difference. I hope you choose to listen to what God is telling you to do or where to go. And I hope you enjoy it.

Good Night, my friends in Christ. We on the Burkina Team thank you so fully for your support and prayers. Sleep well.