We were among nine Diocesan delegates joining Catholic Relief Services (CRS) on a seven-day immersion that allowed us to personally experience and meet the beneficiaries of CRS goods and services. The trip would also serve to enhance global solidarity in the Diocese of San Bernardino by advocating for and on behalf of the voiceless around the world.
Visiting the Delwende Center, managed by the Congregation of the Assumption Sisters, we met elderly women, some sick and disabled, accused of witchcraft and ostracized by their tribes. We excitedly introduced ourselves in English, while they anxiously waited for the translation in the Mossi language. They sang and danced forming a circle and their laughter became louder as we joined them.
In Tougouri, we met beneficiaries of the Helping Hands Market Gardening Project, which has been in existence for three years. CRS helps by providing capacity building, creating better strategies, and marketing their crops.
One of us had the opportunity to visit the adobe hut of 27-year old wife and mother, Zongo Odette. Zongo cultivates onion and corn on her small portion of land. It was emotional for both the visitor and the host when Zongo apologized for not having anything to offer. We also met a different family in the commune. Their fenced area has an outside cooking space and four, one room adobe huts for the husband, the first and second wives and for the children.
At the Kaya center, home for female youth and young adults who escaped forced marriage to older, polygamous husbands, a young adult shared the story of her daring escape and two-day journey on foot to the center. Under the care of the Congregation of Immaculate Conception, she learned social skills, weaving and dress making, and breeding sheep and pigs. She is now doing well and is ready to lead a new life with her future husband.
Another emotional moment came when one of the young girls pleaded with one of us to take her to the United States. “I would love to, if I could only fit you in my backpack,” we said, drawing lots of laughter.
CRS has been Kaya Center’s biggest partner in freeing and empowering young women since 1960.
At the Ziniare gathering we were welcomed by beneficiaries of Saving & Internal Lending Community (SILC0, whose members invest and borrow from their own funds; interest gained benefits the members. Presently, the funds are about three billion CFA franc from 360,000 contributing members and have earned 900 million CFA franc thus far. 
We were moved with tears of joy seeing the many faces in God’s House. At the gathering, there were several thousand individuals – adults, young adults, youth, children, males, females. The city mayor, tribal chief and their entourage were present. Their anxiety and joy, and their hospitality and friendliness do not exemplify a nation of downtrodden and impoverished people. They had wide smiles, proudly wearing t-shirts with the CRS logo, expressing deep gratitude for the opportunity they have received. It gave us goose bumps to see that we were all gathered as one people – natives, Muslims, and Catholics.
At the Koudougou Orphanage, we shook and waved hands with orphans and foster children cared for by the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception. Through the leadership of Sister Bernadette and the assistance of CRS, the orphanage has existed for more than 20 years and is now self-sufficient. It had acquired privately donated agricultural land where they are now harvesting oranges, papayas, bananas, vegetables, and other native fruits. It was difficult saying good bye to our newfound friends in Burkina Faso. Our brief stay will forever be written in our hearts - remembering we are the visible face of the invisible God. The people of Burkina Faso blessed us with their faith and culture. Truly, we are one human family.