Breanna Gaona is my name and traveling the globe is my game! It’s been a whirlwind since I turned 3 years old this summer in Uganda and spent the fall in S. Asia and Nepal so I wanted to update you all as we close out 2018.
Do You See What I See?
This summer in Uganda we were able to return and visit many of our 
friends that live in the BidiBidi Refugee Camp. We were able to host children’s programs each week for kids that live in the refugee camp and I made many new friends. We would walk hut to hut and invite all of the children to gather and sing praise songs and read a bible story together. Many have lost a parent and family members during the war in South Sudan, but they still find reason to sing with passion and joy.
God Loves Little Girls
On the summer nights and weekends, my mom and I spent time at the girl’s
dorm that is home to 90+ girls. They all go to school at CC Midigo Primary and live in the dorm to be close to their school which is only a 2-minute walk from where we stay. I love the way the girls sing and dance with all of their heart and they taught me many new songs and my favorite is “Somebody Loves Me, Somebody Cares.” They would share praise songs with us and we would read bible stories with them. When I see them around the village, they are always calling my name and wanting me to come play with them. They push me in my stroller to church each week and there are lots of giggles and smiles whenever we are together. It was hard to say “see ya later” at the end of the summer to my friends.
Carry or Be Carried
Women and children work hard in Africa and part of their regular chores is to fetch water. Young girls take a jerry can to the local well to get water and bring it home. I don’t know how they do it, since the 5-gallon jug weighs 40 lbs when it is filled and they carry the jug on their head all the way home. That is more than I weigh all together. My friend Joy tried to teach me how to carry a jerry can on my head, but I will tell you that it is harder than it looks.
In Nepal, we visited the village where one of our friends has planted a church. It was during harvest season where women were busy in the fields cutting, threshing and hauling rice away in baskets. I talked my mom into giving me a ride in the rice basket and it was a blast. Rice is a staple that is eaten every day in most parts of Asia and families depend on the crops they grow in their fields to be able to eat. I love rice and eat it all the time and while most kids in America live for chicken nuggets, I pick rice hands down!
Christmas Outreach for Kids in Nepal
My mom had a wild idea to plan a Christmas party for 250+ kids in the slums. We rented an indoor soccer field and earlier this month we went through the slums inviting all the kids to come from the shacks and make shift homes. A team of visitors and our friends in Nepal made it the best 
Christmas ever for the kids with a great day of skits, songs, sharing about the birth of Jesus, games, photo booth and crafts. We were wanting to give each child a gift and secretly we prayed asking the Lord to bless each child with a backpack. It seemed impossible, but our friends at BWO showed up with 250 brand new backpacks. It was our Christmas miracle and answer to prayer. I got to be part of stuffing each backpack with school supplies and snacks. It is awesome to see firsthand the goodness of God who makes crazy Christmas dreams of telling kids about His Son and giving out backpacks a reality!
Many Firsts and Some Fun Facts
I ditched my diapers in S. Asia and use the potty now. (still not a fan of squatty potties especially after a frog jumped out of one I was trying to use when we were out)
I love music and we have regular dance parties with kids around the world. I got to help pick out instruments in S. Asia for the new ministry campus and church we have been a part of that launched this past year.
I boarded my 50th flight and my passport is filling up with stamps as we travel throughout Asia and Africa sharing the good news and love of Christ with people. We will be heading to S. Asia in early 2019.
In my three years of life, I have seen a lot. I have experienced how being sent overseas allows us to be your hands and feet to be a blessing to meet many physical needs, but also to share with people about Jesus who is the greatest gift of all that we celebrate this Christmas season! Thank you for praying for us, for financially supporting us and sending our family to teach, love, share, pray, help and give the hope of the Gospel to unreached places in the world.
Huggies and high fives,
Breanna Gaona
(On behalf of our family – Bond, Heather and Breanna Gaona)
