The Final Day in Burkina Faso

Thanks to the generosity of so many people here in the States, our mission team loaded up the local travel van Friday morning with a dozen or so 22-gal Rubbermaid bins filled with clothing, toothpaste, toothbrushes, school supplies, children’s games, Catechisms and other assorted articles to take to the local people. We were all glad to have provisions that we could leave with the people. They have so little and our meager gifts to them would not make much of a difference in their lives, but it would be a small taken of our care for them in return for what they had done for us all week.

When we arrived at the site it was apparent that they had a celebration planned for the morning. Many were wearing their best clothes. Some had cameras in hand ready to take pictures of us. Several had their names and addresses written out on pieces of paper to give to us with the obvious hope that we would write to them upon our return to the States.

Leopold, Concordia Lutheran Church’s congregation President, brought a young boy forward to recite some memory work. The child was 6 ½ years old and was very shy. What we were about to experience was a rare treat and a very moving experience. Over the next 20+ minutes we heard the 3 articles of the Apostles Creed (and their meanings), the Ten Commandments (and their meanings), and Luther’s explanation of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper recited from memory. Our emotions went from pride, to awe, to tears over those 20 minutes. We were speechless and totally amazed at what God’s Word was doing among these people.

Based on this demonstration, when it came to passing out our gifts, it was no surprise to us that so many of the people wanted the Catechisms in the French and Morey language as much or more than they wanted the clothes.

Before we left, we were presented with gifts by Leopold representing the people of Concordia. Each of us received a beautiful metal cross and a coin purse for the women present, and for the men to take to their wives. Our departure from these people was very emotional. They had captured our hearts and I believe we had captured theirs. We were ONE in Christ, believing in and worshipping the same Triune God. That would bind us together, although 1000’s of miles would separate us.

Thank you for taking this journey with us as you followed our web page. We’re very sorry that the reports were not as timely as we would have liked, but even as wonderful as the internet is; it was very difficult to get our message out on a daily basis. 

We leave you with a song that the people of Burkina sing as they work:

Wende baruka, jime ye baruka junga ... Thank God for everything He has done for us.

God’s richest Blessing to our friends in Burkina Faso, Concordia Lutheran Church

Tom Ritter  Joe & Kristen   Pastor Bob Green
  Liz      Paul & Emily   Pastor Steve & Kim