Bienvenue!

French for “welcome,” Bienvenu is also the name of the first baby in our infant feeding program.  Once limp, breathless in cellophane skin on wishbone legs, today he runs and climbs nonstop.  “Bienvenu” started something then and now once again as we bid “bienvenu” to our newest missionaries, Tony and Isabelle Covarrubias. Long prayed for and eagerly anticipated, they and their two children, Graciella and Jakim herald the newest iteration of L’Oasis D’Espoir—The Oasis of Hope.

Knowing that God was calling them to West Africa, they arrived in Burkina Faso trusting in God for their next steps, steps that led to the “Oasis.” Like the interlocking fingers of praying hands, Tony and Isabelle melded with the mission and ministry of rescuing underfed and sick babies, giving hope in Jesus’ name to unskilled and marginalized women, and meeting the physical and spiritual needs of “the least of these.”

For the first few years, the Oasis worked as a “mom and pop shop” mission with only Janet and me.  Eventually, the Oasis’ reputation grew and we now have over 100 hundred babies in our nutrition program for malnourished babies.  We raise chickens for eggs and grow Moringa trees for nutritious powder to improve maternal nutrition and lactation.

Women learn to sew and we give them highly subsidized new treadle machines and the supplies needed to start a business.  They also learn to make and sell soap.  We host a literacy program to give them the gift of reading and writing.  We are starting a program to serve internally displaced people (IDPs) who have been chased and hunted by jihadist terrorists.

Tony and Isabelle bring much-needed skills, experience, and faith to help serve a large and growing community of myriad needs.  Currently residing in the US, they are building the necessary prayer and financial support base to allow them to live and work in Burkina Faso.  We trust that Father God will use Tony and Isabelle to grow the number of lives we can save and souls we can point to an eternity in God’s kingdom.  Your support of the Oasis of Hope helps make this possible.

Bienvenue Tony & Isabel!

“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.”

Revelation 14:6

If you would like to become a ministry partner, tax-deductible donations may be made online at:  http://sheltering-wings.org/our-missionaries/#don

Or you can make checks payable to Sheltering Wings with a note “Guizzetti” and mail to: Sheltering Wings, 5104 Old 66, Leasburg, MO  65535.  (314) 635-6316.

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