What an Adventure, What an Honor—Ivory Coast Trip, June 2022

“Thank you for your presence and for all of the joy you bring to us,” says one of the kids. We’re so grateful for all of the memories our Avenir Project family is making for these kids, and for all of the face-to-face quality time with the EMSF staff our Avenir Project family is making possible for us—for the sake of the sustainability of EMSF’s Le Prince Orphanage.

Wow, this trip was so full. Of so much goodness, of so much exhilaration, of so much love. It was incredible for each of us to get to be a part of it. And to all our Avenir Project family, thank you from the depths of all our hearts, for making it all that it was—for us, for the orphanage staff, and for the children.

Whether you were able to come along with us or not, your presence was deeply felt.

So here’s what our Avenir Project family made possible:

• We started off the trip with an EPIC soccer game; these kids go HARD

• Then we got some ice cream at the most respected parlor in town—a HUGE treat for the kids

• The next evening, we spent a long, wonderful evening with the EMSF Le Prince Orphanage staff talking about how to achieve stability for them, and in the near future, sustainability! The following week we had another great meeting, too

• Sunday, we trekked out to the new land they recently received, where The Avenir Project will be working with them to build a brand new orphanage—EMSF Village—on a property all their own where they can finally build out the sustainability initiatives of their dreams

• At the new land, we had a fun picnic and EMSF President Maman Auguy, Pastor Bernadin, and I gave some speeches in honor of EMSF Village; then we sloshed through the tall grasses to lay the first stone of EMSF Village

• That same night, we presented all of the gifts our Avenir Project family gave to the orphanage, and all of the letters they wrote—this was SO special, really showing the kids and staff the sheer number of people who have their backs from all the way in the States and Canada

• Our next fun activity was a ropes course, which for most if not all of the children was their first time! And they ate it up, from the youngest to the oldest

• The next day, we hit the pool and basketball courts for some recreational play—the photos really speak for themselves

• Yamoussoukro! A trip to the former political capital where we visited the Foundation (museum inside of the first Ivorian president after the French colonization), the Basilica, and Crocodile Lake

• We got in a movie night, thanks to our lovely projector rental and a clear night sky, with a good discussion about the movie afterwards led by Maman Auguy and EMSF Program Director Toussaint

• Craft time :) A wonderful instructor came to the orphanage to teach them how to create paper flowers

And with that, the trip came to a close. Two weeks felt like two months, and yet still too short. Now it’s time to get to work, to make EMSF Village a reality—to make their orphanage stable and sustainable, so that more children can feel safe, heal, and thrive.

But first, photos!