Barto and Tenielle Yelkouni – Burkina Faso
Ministry Organization: Loved by God Ministries.
Biography: In the fall of 2009, Tenielle (a Nebraska girl) started serving at a mission/orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. After 2 1/2 years of volunteering, she became the assistant administrator and mission director of communication.
In 2011, she had the opportunity to leave Mexico for a time and fulfill her dream of going to Africa. She was sent to Burkina Faso, West Africa. There, in the first month, she met Barto Yelkouni. They instantly became friends and even after she left, they kept in close touch. A year later she was able to leave Mexico again and return to Africa.
On that trip, Barto and Tenielle’s friendship grew tremendously and they prayed for the Lord to guide in His ways for their lives. After many months, they felt it was the Lord’s will for them to marry and do missions together. In September 2015, they were married in Tenielle’s home church in Nebraska and left a month later to serve at the mission in Mexico.
After almost a year in Mexico, they felt the Lord leading them to start their own mission and return to Burkina Faso to work in Barto’s home village. They moved to Burkina in 2018 and opened their own school in 2019. They hope to reach out to the kids, their parents, and the community to share the great news of Jesus Christ through this school as well as possible future ministries. They also have four beautiful young daughters.
Biography: In the fall of 2009, Tenielle (a Nebraska girl) started serving at a mission/orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. After 2 1/2 years of volunteering, she became the assistant administrator and mission director of communication.
In 2011, she had the opportunity to leave Mexico for a time and fulfill her dream of going to Africa. She was sent to Burkina Faso, West Africa. There, in the first month, she met Barto Yelkouni. They instantly became friends and even after she left, they kept in close touch. A year later she was able to leave Mexico again and return to Africa.
On that trip, Barto and Tenielle’s friendship grew tremendously and they prayed for the Lord to guide in His ways for their lives. After many months, they felt it was the Lord’s will for them to marry and do missions together. In September 2015, they were married in Tenielle’s home church in Nebraska and left a month later to serve at the mission in Mexico.
After almost a year in Mexico, they felt the Lord leading them to start their own mission and return to Burkina Faso to work in Barto’s home village. They moved to Burkina in 2018 and opened their own school in 2019. They hope to reach out to the kids, their parents, and the community to share the great news of Jesus Christ through this school as well as possible future ministries. They also have four beautiful young daughters.