From March 4 to April 26, we, second-year novices of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, were sent to BURKINA FASO for a second internship. I, Anne, was sent to the community of Phariyago, in an area where multi-culturality and inter-ethnicity are lived. I am happy to share with you my discoveries, my joys, my experiences and my questions. For me, it was a stay that was too short, full of testimonies and training!
First of all, I was touched by the warm and affectionate welcome received from my DHS sisters Nathalie and Edith as well as from the parish community. This welcome gave me the courage to start the internship and made me suspect a fruitful stay!
To ensure that this time was fully productive, my sisters suggested the Health and Social Promotion Center and the Saint Jean de Phariyago High School. Regarding my daily experiences in the community, I experienced with my sisters a life together, rooted in God in prayer, a simple and joyful life, inhabited by the joys and worries of the population to which we are sent; We always dedicate our day to God with a mass in order to then help each other in our shared, dynamic and active activities: producers of bissap wine, gardeners and breeders: – opening of the enclosures for our various animals, search for hay for the sheep and termites for our chicks… – before joining our various mission locations. At noon, the joy of reunion where we simply share the meal and, in the evening, the lived mission. Then we bring in our herds, pick the vegetables for the sauce and take our time of personal and community prayer always reporting to God of our mission in thanksgiving. After dinner, it’s the recreation… At this time we often have times of recollection, of rereading the signs of the Spirit, of reconciliation and questioning our actions.
In addition, the community is also involved in the activities of the parish where it tends to bear witness to the charism. What touched me the most was Good Friday, when the parish celebrated the funeral of Jesus crucified in the Djan culture, with dancing to the sounds of balafons: it was very beautiful to see the inculturation of the Gospel! But beyond all these values, many questions have arisen in me when I saw several faithful turn away from their faith to consult the witch doctors or even perform rites against trials and worries.
I then did an internship at the Bondigui dispensary, where I gained knowledge in the field of health. These discoveries allowed me to change my way of conceiving the human being and his Creator who models man with kindness. On a daily basis, the clinic is filled with patients and the maternity ward is full of women for weighing and childbirth; there, midwives can not stop, always active, in a hurry and tireless, always present to relieve pain and treat serious cases. In the maternity hospital, we can count at least 15 deliveries per week to which are added the vaccination of children. In this dispensary I saw a very young population, ethnic groups from all over, young gold miners… I was saddened to see these young people attending the clinic to get treatment for their drug use, and to see many pregnant girls. Personally, I was paralyzed every time I encountered a serious case: many questions arose within me – what happened? – Where are their parents?
Finally, I intervened from time to time at the Saint Jean de Phariyago high school where I participated in the teaching of students in French. There, I observed and appreciated each student’s commitment to their own development and success.
In conclusion, I would like to thank the Lord for all that he has enabled me to experience, see and understand in order to communicate the realities of our integration into rural areas. I thank Him for his Spirit who has always renewed me every day and guided me throughout my internship. I am grateful to my dear community that has accompanied me on my journey, so caring for me. For all the experiences that have touched or shook me, may the Lord transform them into grace and bless the whole population of Bondigui. May he dig into the hearts of young people’s desire for conversion. AMEN!
PAGBELZON Anne, DHS novice. Published on May 1, 2026
