Honestly Indescribable

In all seriousness so much has been happening and I feel bad for not writing. God has been working on every bit of my heart and I feel so unworthy to even be in the presence of the wonderful people of Burkina Faso. Last week all of the kids came back to the orphanage because the school year has started. So, I was finally able to truly meet everyone and I have fallen in love! They definitely have captured my heart and have left a long lasting impression. Sheltering Wings Orphanage has a lot of young men who are going to school and some are even in their 20s and are still in high school for various reasons. But the first day I was really able to meet them and spend time with them, we sat down and started playing music together. They LOVE music... it seems that most of them are talented and are so eager to learn more. Many have asked me to help them learn piano, guitar, and more vocals. So, I have been growing in relationships with them as we work and spend the time together.

I have been able to sing in church the past two sundays with the German girls and this past week a couple of the boys joined us! It was amazing. And one of the girls and I joined the French Choir in church. Its crazy because I don't really speak french.. haha.  Church is an all together interesting and long experience in itself. It is usually 2 1/2 to 3 hours long with SO much music... and their dancing is so different but amazing. I really love how open they are to let us join in and also share a song in English. :)

Every Tuesday night is a student lead prayer night with a little sermon and some music. So, tonight the kids got all together with their drums and sang praises to our great God in "Moore" their tribal language. It is such a great experience as they honestly sing as LOUD as they can to the Lord haha. One of our little boys named Jonas who is 7 years old, did a little dance that was absolutely adorable!


Then after some songs a young man named Bartholemy stood up with a guitar, looked up and said Praise the Lord (in Moore) and sang an amazing powerful song that HE WROTE! I was in awe as his sweet voice came so alive and everyone listened. It was so great- I thought, i want to take you home and share you with everyone!! :) Hearing him praise God in 'Moore' was honestly indescribable. Then they said, okay Tenielle, its your turn to sing a song. hahaha I was like what? okay... what song? and after that? So, I sang How Great is Our God. They all smiled and clapped. During the sermon one of the older boys came over and translated it all for me. They are so respectful and thoughtful in that way. Always making sure I am taken care of and feel comfortable there.

Ferdinand is the one in black :) 

I have been enjoying myself a lot as I grow in friendships with these amazing people. They keep asking me: when will you come back to Burkina? And how can we contact you when you leave? I am praying more and more about coming back maybe in a year or so :) We are still trying really hard to get all our kids sponsored for school.. its $35 a month and there is an amazing beautiful little boy named Ferdinand who is 11 and needs to be adopted! we are praying for the right family to take in this gorgeous boy. Contact me if you are interested in helping in anyway tenielle_lytle@hotmail.com :)

thank you for all your prayers God is faithful and working!!! :) I love Africa very much and I am trying to take in all the sweet moments. From delivering food and soap to widows around the village, doing bible clubs for village kids, trying to give medicine to sick children in the mobile clinic, hugging one of the babies or just helping our kids with homework! God is working!