My Experience in Burkina Faso

The day begins early enough, up at 5:30am, shower, dress, and breakfast on the porch at 6am sharp. Breakfast is the same everyday; oatmeal, fresh bread, (fetched from across the busy street), and delicious sliced fresh fruit from the local outdoor market. The weather? Well, it's going to be another hot one, at least over 100 degrees with high humidity. The sky is gray and overcast, not because of clouds, but from smoke, and exhaust created by the immense amount of traffic moving through the chaotic streets, burning trash, and the wood burning stoves of street venders preparing meals for the day.

This is my first trip to Burkina Faso, West Africa. I can't believe I'm finally here after being invited over and over by my brother who has been coming to the country for the past 25 years ministering to the Burkinabe people.

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Burkina Faso, which was once known as Upper Volta, is one of the poorest countries in the world. The country was colonized by the French in the late 1800's. The name change to Burkina Faso came in 1960 when it gained independence from France. With a high population density and limited resources, most of the region remains economically suppressed. Islam has had a long history in Burkina Faso and represents around 55% of the population. Christianity has a smaller presence which is around 10% of the population.

My purpose for coming to Burkina Faso was to experience and see first hand the needs of the Burkinabe people. Aside from the basic needs for survival, like food and water, there are several other areas in which ministries can provide help to the people. The "Raise the Roof" ministry (a term coined by the Burkinabe), was one of the first ministries started in Burkina Faso. A new metal roof costing up to 00 is placed on top of a church building that has been built of hand made mud bricks by the Burkinabe. The church once outfitted with a new roof will provide shade from the sun and the dry environment during the rare rains. Many pastors will pray for one of these roofs for several years before their prayers are answered.

The main staple, sagabou, in Burkina Faso is made from millet and sorghum. The growing season is from May through September. During this time they must have rain to help the crops grow. This past season the rain came late and was not enough. It came down in torrents and flooded some areas and washed away some homes and churches. It also washed away some of the crops. Most Burkinabe will eat a meal once a day and the meal is normally Sagabou with some variations and sauces. This year the main need of the Burkinabe will be food. Money raised from donations will buy several thousand pounds of millet and sorghum. A five pound bag may last a family of four up to a month if they have only one meal a day.

One thing I did experience while in Burkina Faso was the amazing love and faith of the Christians there. They have barely enough to survive, but what they have they will share with you knowing and trusting that God will provide for them. They are a joyful people.
Their joy is contagious and comes from the Lord.

My Experience in Burkina Faso

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Showcasing Volunteer Experience on Your Resume

At a recent training summit for a large nonprofit organization, I heard several directors lamenting the lack of respect their significant volunteer positions received in the working world. I was flabbergasted to realize that these women did not feel valued for their contributions to others, which included managing hundreds of thousands of dollars and writing lengthy manuals on subjects from communication skills to regional operations.

Every day, millions of people do important work for which they are not compensated. This work can be as complex as medical missions to undeveloped countries or as simple as tutoring the child down the street. If you are one of the many people who give of their time without financial reward, it is important that you include your accomplishments on your resume.

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Perhaps you publish your weekly church bulletin with everyone's announcements. This means you have some writing and layout abilities, as well as numerous work samples. Maybe you're the treasurer of your neighborhood home owners' association. If you collect 0 in yearly dues from each of your 300 neighbors, then you manage a budget of ,000-something many people in the corporate world will never do.

As a class mother at your child's school, it may be your job to coordinate an out-of-state field trip for three classrooms of students and 10 chaperones. On your resume, this task would translate to event planning and travel coordination. Many alumni associations offer graduates the opportunity to share their expertise with current students who need assistance with career planning. These types of mentoring activities involve public speaking and interviewing-so-called "soft skills" that are valued by many employers, particularly in sales.

In addition to volunteer activities, many people's hobbies demand skills that are sought by employers. Organizing a group on meetup.com requires knowledge of social networking and event planning. A personal blog can demonstrate your writing abilities, (provided the content is appropriate for the eyes of a potential employer). Maintaining the Facebook page for your local running club exhibits your ability to connect people through social media. Given that less than a quarter of Facebook users are over 35, an older hiring manager may be looking for someone who understands the "foreign world" of Internet communications.

Most people who volunteer do so by using abilities that come naturally to them. Almost all volunteer responsibilities require some kind of skill that an employer could use. Don't be afraid to incorporate unpaid experience into your work history. College interns do it all the time! A close friend familiar with your activities can often help you reflect on your contributions to the community. If you're feeling particularly uncertain about how to showcase volunteer experience on your resume, a professional resume writer can assist you with marketing your skills-all of them!

Showcasing Volunteer Experience on Your Resume

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Experience the Presence and Blessings of an Angel Appearing in Human Form

On the Wings of Time is an exceptional book, and is stimulating to the mind. This wonderful book is like a diamond shining with actions of a positive nature, which is uplifting and inspiring. Angelo the Angel will make you smile and at times scratch your head regarding his jovial stages of development. He is such a funny, yet wise character. With the proper mentoring and training, he prepares for his joyous journey to earth and to assist others in making their lives more enriching and fulfilling.

This is Margaret Ottley-Okubo's second book, which demonstrates her faith, steadfastness, and ability to communicate with others regarding topics with positive actions, motivational concepts, and inspirational thoughts. Angelo's mission is one which the average person would have some questions about, and probably express doubts before raising his or her right hand and states, "I will do it." She brings Angelo out of his comfort zone and into a world consisting of danger, conceit, and selfishness. His mission is to save others, not himself. In this sense Angelo becomes selfless as he accomplishes his earthly tasks.

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The journey of Angelo is like watching the travel channel in a relaxing state of mind while sitting in a recliner with a tasty snack and soothing drink. The settings are breath-taking. Reading about his travels through the galaxy, looking at the "Big Dipper," his birth on Earth, attending high school, his travels to Africa and India, immersion into the cultures, and being with Jamie his wonderful friend is exciting. The script is not complete unless there is a female in the picture. This is balancing the playing field and avoiding sexual insensitivity. Hey, they are a vital part of the process too, and we cannot live without their love and tenderness.

It is so wonderful that Angelo sets the stage of making great friends everywhere. Believe me, he did not burn any bridges behind him, which is a great lesson in human relations, and spiritual growth. His trip to India and his rendering of assistance there is really touching. He serves as the angel on the spot, just natural, and acting as an angel should. His touching of hearts, making many smile internally, and uplifting up the down trodden signify his love. His service shows an angel of love, not war.

In the end, Angelo's wings return upon the completion of his earthly mission, and the thought of flying once again enters his mind. This time, he is an angel with experience. With brilliance of gold and shining ruby, he spreads his wings once more, as an angel of love, as he leaves earth and many he loves behind.

This time he is heading for his eternal glorious abode and will see his friend Zen once more, his heavenly buddies, and his mentor. There he will play until another mission calls him away to descend upon yet another place, thus, enlightening the hearts of many with his touch of heavenly and eternal love.

Additional information regarding Margaret Ottley-Okubo and her literary approach to life are located at: [http://marge-angels.com/]

Experience the Presence and Blessings of an Angel Appearing in Human Form

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Experience The Apollo Space Mission At Arizona's Meteor Crater

Did you know that the Apollo space mission astronauts took their first moon steps right here in northern Arizona? Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and other astronauts trained for the moon landing at Arizona's Meteor Crater, located between Winslow and Flagstaff on I-40.

At Meteor Crater, you can not only see the massive impact crater itself, but learn all about the space program at the park's interactive visitor center. It boasts the most extensive collection of exhibits and artifacts related to the solar system. There is a lot to learn and a lot to see at this world-class space exploration attraction.

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Training for the Apollo Space Mission

In January 1963, a group of astronauts were taken to Flagstaff, Arizona. From there, they visited a number of sites in the area where it was believed that the terrain resembled that of the moon. These sites include Sunset Crater, parts of the Grand Canyon, and the Barringer Meteorite Crater, known also as Meteor Crater.

The Barringer crater was chosen for the most extensive training because of its resemblance to the moon's surface with its many craters of different sizes. In the hot desert sun, astronauts practiced collecting soil and rock samples from the canyon rim using specialized lunar tools. Astronauts continued to train here until the mid-1970's.

Experience Outer Space at the Visitors Center

At Meteor Crater's visitor center, you'll find the Interactive Discovery Center, which includes 24 unique exhibits including two interactive computer displays that show the outer limits of the known universe using high-tech graphics. Displays cover asteroids, planets, the solar system, meteorites, the Diablo Canyon meteorite that impacted the Barringer crater and the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet that hit Jupiter.

The center also has information about "near earth objects." These are things sailing through space at incredible speeds that scientists believe could cause earthlings worry. Scientists are studying these objects and their trajectories in order to prepare for future collisions.

There's an actual Apollo test capsule in the courtyard of the center, so you can see just how cramped the astronauts' quarters were. It's hard to believe that they could've traveled to the moon in something that small. You'll also find the Astronaut Wall of Fame, which walks you through the history of the space program.

And don't forget the meteorite. Ever touched something from outer space? At Meteor Crater, you can. A chunk of the original meteorite is on display in the park's visitor center. You can touch it, but don't try to lift it - it's made up mostly of iron and weighs about 1,400 pounds.

The gift shop also has astronaut ice cream, patches, toys, games and science kits. It's an excellent one-stop shop for kids who love science and outer space. In addition to meteor and space related goods, they also have a huge variety of things related to the American southwest, Route 66, Native American cultures and Arizona history.

The Biggest Hole in the Earth You'll Ever See

While you're there, be sure to see the crater! It's a giant hole in the earth 550 feet deep and 2.4 miles around. You can hike the rim, which stands 150 feet above the desert floor, and look down into the crater at one of its overlooks. There is also a viewing area inside the air conditioned visitor center if it gets too hot for you. Spyglasses allow you to see the ground where the astronauts walked, and there's even a cardboard cut-out astronaut to give you an idea of how massive the scale is.

Meteor Crater has the nation's best space exploration information center. It's an excellent experience for science lovers of any age.

Experience The Apollo Space Mission At Arizona's Meteor Crater

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