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We have a faithful Father who loves us all so much!
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Family Update
We praise the Lord for this past month and all that God has done. It has been a whirlwind of busyness and learning for all of us. The girls are doing super well, and growing up fast. Briella has been doing well with learning new things in her preschool time with me and Lilya is learning new words all of the time. Barto bought both of the girls’ bicycles a few weeks ago and they have been enjoying them everyday. Felicity is growing well, and always smiling, what a blessing she truly is to our family. My language is growing a lot, especially French since I work with the teachers from the school a lot. I am so happy to be able to build those relationships and hopefully in time, my Mooré will get even better too.
 
Barto is keeping busy with garden projects, meetings with people, and trying to figure out all the government paperwork. We praise the Lord that things are coming together and that we have met some great people who are helping us make it all happen. Please be praying for all of the paperwork and meetings that we have ahead of us, that God will be in all of it, and help us to accomplish all that we need to do. There is a song by Bethel Music that has blessed my heart a lot recently and I wanted to share some lyrics of it with you all.
 

“You are with me, what can separate us, you are for me, what can stand against us, your love it wont let go, and I know it won’t. Darkness, shadows have no power over me. Fear is empty, shame has no authority, your love it wont let go, and I know it won’t. I know your thoughts; your plans for me are good. I know you hold my future and my hope. Your promises never fail. Your promises never fail.”
 – Promises Never Fail by Bethel Music

School Opening/Backpacks
We started classes on October 7th! These past weeks have been so busy; it is crazy to think that the month is almost over. You know when you have plan and vision in your head of how you want to things to happen? Well, we had a plan and it wasn’t working the way we wanted it too—so we had to change a lot of things. One of the biggest changes is that now we have 3 preschool classes, and the preschoolers are coming 5 days a week. The parents couldn’t understand that the kids should only come certain days, and they were getting mixed up. So to make it easier for everyone, we hired two more teachers and made three classes instead of two. The classes are bigger than we wanted them to be, but really things are going well. All together with three preschool classes and two 1st grade classes we have almost 300 students.
 
What a joy it has been to get to know these kids! My heart is filled with purpose and joy when I go to the classrooms to help, and just love on the kids. Many times, especially in the first couple weeks, a lot of kids cried to leave their parents, so we had to hold them and comfort them. When the children got used to me, I was able to hold them and get to know them more. I truly enjoy my time with them, and the teachers are starting to really find their place and the teaching is coming along well. The building is suppose to be finished this week, we will see, everything in Burkina takes longer than they say it will. But we do class under the trees, and two classes are in the building, its just the floor is still dirt and its not painted. We hope soon everything will be finished so we can have everything organized and in their places. We still need to raise $8,000 towards our second school building we want to build, and $4,000 towards bathrooms, cooking/storage area, and desks.
 
A few months ago, we received 400 backpacks from a company called Vessel in California. With the help of some of our great friends with New Gateway Solutions and Horizon SouthBay Christian Fellowship, we were able to attain such a wonderful donation. This last week, the backpacks arrived in Burkina, and we were able to give them to our 1st graders. Oh what a joyous day it was! The children were beaming as we handed each of them a brand new backpack and I wrote their name on it! They danced and laughed with such excitement. We are so incredibly grateful for everyone who was involved in making it happen, you have impacted so many children’s lives!
 
School Food Program/Sponsorship
When we started this school year, we didn’t think that we would be doing a lunch program for the children, but in talking with different friends who are teachers in other places, they told us that when it gets to a certain time of the year, the food in their home will not be very much and they will start to be hungry. So, we prayed a lot and we are so blessed to say that some of our amazing friends are paying for the food program for this school year! That way each child will receive a snack and a healthy lunch 5 days a week. We asked the parents to give millet and beans to help as well, and people are starting to bring it. So, soon we will be building a storage and cooking area for the school, and we will be serving lunch!
 
We are still in need of 9 more sponsors for our school. We are looking for people who would like to give $50 a month and sponsor either the preschool or first grade classrooms. This money will go towards paying our teachers, guards, cleaning lady, and supplies needed to run it monthly. We are so excited for people to be able to connect with our school in this way, and know that they are making a difference in the lives of almost 300 children to receive an education. If you would like to help out in anyway, just let us know. And thank you SO much to all of you who are already sponsoring, we are so grateful for you! 

Prayer Requests 
  • For Felicity, Briella, and Lilya to stay healthy.
  • For this new school year—For the children to know Jesus, feel loved, and learn well.
  • Government paperwork
  • For the Lord to give us wisdom and always listen to His voice.
  • Financial needs to be met for other building projects and sponsorship program.
  • Our teachers to be patient and love on the kids.
  • Language for Tenielle—to improve my Moore and French
  • Safety issues and political unrest in Burkina Faso
 
We have been overwhelmed by the amazing support that you have all given us that it brings us to tears, and we pray that God blesses you even more than you have blessed us. We couldn’t do all of this without all of you! 

Keep the SON in your eyes,

The Yelkounis
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Our mailing address is:
Barto & Tenielle Yelkouni
P.O. Box 914 McCook NE 69001
** Make checks payable to Shepherds Way

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Loved by God Ministries · PO Box 914 · McCook, NE 69001 · USA

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