Well Drillin' for Jesus

This is well drilling. This is a twelve inch drill bit slowly chomping its way through the ground as it’s pushed by 10 foot medal rods and loads of compressed air; all on a journey to seek out clear water. This is blue casing going down the hole to seal out dirt from the water.

Working on a well drilling site is difficult work. There is always heavy lifting and repetition. There are consistently problems that can only be solved with dependence on God and a clear mind. Work begins early in the morning, and usually ends later in the evening. During the day, the sun is usually a scorching 110 + as you work. With mud, dust, and sludge coming up from the hole, you get dirty.

This work isn’t necessarily fun, but it is ridiculously rewarding.

In my time here in Burkina, I have had the wonderful opportunity to be a small part in the work of “Friends in Action,” an international non-profit who seeks to bring God’s glory to the nations in various ways. In Western Africa, that way is by clean water. A pretty great strategy if I do say so myself. This hasn’t been my main mission here, but I have gotten to go on three different trips, helping produce three different wells in three various villages.

 

Casing

 

The Crew on my third trip

 

 

As a kid, I always heard about the children in Africa who had to walk miles and miles just to get a daily dose of water. In innocence and ignorance, it didn’t much affect me; but to be here now, and to see this reality, it makes me ponder.

 

Spending time with some village kids after working

Where do I go when I am thirsty? Where do I go when I want to boil water for a meal? Where do I go when I am dirty, or when my plants need to be watered? From where I’m sitting now, the multiple water sources would take steps- steps, to get to. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for this. It’s definitely not a bad thing to have clean water at the turn of a knob. But To see the reality that these people endure, though, and to not have a change in heart and perspective, I would be a fool.

 

HE>i

 

How can I be praying for you this week? Comment below!

The African Dream

 

Welcome to the neighborhood.

Every day, as I step outside my gate, this is the sight I see. Walking on the road, I feel the coarse red sand wisp through my sandals; doing my best to avoid raw sewage mixed with heaps of garbage. The people of Yako don't expect the garbage truck to roll around once a week like you or I would, nor is there any type of sewage system available to them here; leaving the only result, to put it in the streets.

As I continue my journey down the road, I am greeted by many children. Children who desperately want just to shake my hand. To get just a little attention from their local "Nassara," (white person) and to try their luck and see if I'm carrying any candy on me. I never once have had it, but everyday, the same kids ask. "Nassara bom bom!?" "Nassara bom bom!?"

These kids have so very little. It is not uncommon to see a group of young boys playing soccer with a couple of rolled up plastic bags; and loving every moment of it. Though most of these kids don't even have a soccer ball to their name, they learn to have fun without all the stuff- and you know what? They do it beautifully. They do it with pure joy and innocence; even if they are just inches away from feces and garbage lining the streets.

I know that God has called me to Africa to make disciples of all nations, but I can't stop and revel in the reality that I learn so much from these people; especially from these kids. Maybe this is just a picture of what Jesus meant when He said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

 

As I continue walking down my street, I make a quick right, and I've hit the main road in Yako. To the best of my knowledge, in a city of 17,000 people, this is the only concrete road. The main stretch is constantly saturated with locals selling anything from a loaf of bread to a T-shirt, a freshly grilled chicken to a sofa. There are many restaurants scattered throughout the entire city, each providing its personal take on "Riz Sauce." (Rice with Sauce, often topped with goat or sheep meat) Eating in Yako, especially at restaurants, is cheap. We're talking 50 cents for a heaping plate, and that's an over estimate. I never feel bad about my inability to finish, though, because there are always boys with little tin cans waiting to take any left overs they can get ahold of. I wonder if this is the only meal they will see all day; my leftovers.

 

In Western Africa, there is a large Islamic population. Just about everywhere I go, I view a mosque. On the main drag in Yako alone, you can visibly see four different mosque's in about a half a mile; the largest directly in the center of town. Each and every day, there are five different calls to pray that Muslim's are required to participate in. This means that five times from 4:30 AM to 6 PM, the believer in Allah and Muhammad will bow on his knees and face towards Mecca, the Islamic capital of the world, to pray.

 

 

 

After a quick stroll through my neighborhood and down the main road, it's time to head to the Orphanage. This is where my heart is, and very little here makes me happier and more fulfilled than spending time with my kids. It is beyond a shadow of a doubt that I know God has called me here for them.

 

I am so blessed to be apart of His business; in seeing the Kingdom come here in Yako, Burkina Faso.

 

 

 

 

 

David and Zeedan

 

 



 

Awa

 

Marium

 

Steve

 

Yanni

 

 

 

HE>i

 

 



Making Disciples of All Nations

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always; until the end of the age”

As a follower of Christ, this is my end all goal; to see the kingdom come. Without his grace and love, though, this would not have been my goal. Four and half years ago, October 17^th, 2009, I gave my life to Christ. Since that day, everything has changed.

My name is Jon Platt, and this is my story.

I am a strong believer in the idea that actions speak louder than words; therefore, I believe that pictures speak great volumes, too. In this blog, my main goal is not to bore you. I actually desire for you to come back to this page. I really enjoy pictures, and I’m guessing you probably do too. So, when you come to my blog, always expect lots of snapshots. I am by no means a photographer, but I will try my best to get that crystal Kodak moment. This is my steady commitment to you, the blog reader!

So, let the blogging begin. This is my personal invitation for you, the reader, to follow along in my journey of this life; it is of little extravegance, but I will tell you that with Jesus Christ by my side, there is never a dull moment.

For those who don’t know, I am currently living in Yako, Burkina Faso; a small land-locked country in West Africa, just underneath the Sahara Desert. While here, I have the amazing opportunity to work at “Les Ailes De Refuge,” a beautifully unique orphanage somewhat near the center of town. While working here, my main duty is simply to love on the children that call the orphanage their home. The little toddlers without a parent to call their own that just want to be held; a pre-teen who needs a role-model figure to play soccer with; a kid my age who speaks minimal English, but attempts conversations with me to improve his; this is my calling and my job here. It is so simple, yet immensely rewarding. I knew coming into this journey that the Lord had a purpose for me here, and it is so incredible to see His plans unfold before my eyes.

                                             Yanni, Marium, Grace, Barto, and Latif


In addition to the work God has for me at the orphanage, I’ve also had multiple opportunities to serve in different areas of the work He’s accomplishing here in Burkina. Recently, we drove around Yako in the back of an old pick-up truck to do what we call a “widow distribution.”Sponsers from the States send money to the orphanage so that we can find and provide for these husbandless women with nourishment each month. During the distribution, we bring a large sack of corn that will eventually be ground into a surplus of meals. In additon to this, each widow recieves two large bars of soap, and whatever little extras their sponser has paid for them to receive; this could be tea, sugar, or even a new mat. After a brief prayer with each lady, we are off to the next woman in need. I do not exaggerate when I say that these women have practically nothing. Most of them live in a mud-brick house the size of our living rooms. They don’t have health insurance, and medication for their pain is scarce. Out of the dozen widows I witnessed on this trip, one of them had a bed. One.

But don’t let their circumstances fool you. These women are beyond joyful. Most of them lifted their hands in praise to their Father as we brought in the food that He provided for them.They are a true examples that happiness is not materialsim. Don’t take my word for it, though; I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

 

 

Much more is to come on my mission here, but in this first post, let me take the time to tell you just how I ended up in this African desert land.


Salem Alliance, the church I have called my own for almost ten years, has had ties with Burkina Faso for quite some time. Though I did have knowledge of the country, no one had ever presented me with the opportunity of a trip; nor did I have any real desire to come.

 
It was a late night in August two summers ago that I felt a direct calling from God to pursue Burkina. Within the next year, I had considered a few other places and programs, but He continually brought me back to the place that He originally called. With this confirmation in my heart, I applied for an internship in Burkina Faso through Envision, a branch of the Christian Missionary Alliance, and within about three weeks, preparations began for the journey I am now experiencing.

 

In short, I am here in the beautiful country, filled with gorgeous people, because God told me to come. It's as simple as that, and I couldn't be happier.

 

I am so weak. I am nowhere near perfection. I screw up every single day.

 

But I'm learning that God likes me this way. In fact, I would go as far as saying that He deeply loves this way. Because of this love, I am nothing but willing. Nothing but willing to go where He leads me. Nothing but willing to love on these kids in my time here each and every day.

 

 

 

Lord, my life is for your glory. Use me souly for your plan on this earth. Use me to see the Kingdom come; to make disciples of all nations.

 

Much more to come.

 

HE>i (HE is GREATER than i)

 

Jon Platt