Last night we went through our usual bedtime routine. Dinner, baths, Daddy-story (the Hobbit right now), teeth, into bed and another story. We sang our current favorite song; “Over in the Meadow”, as the children lay in their bunks in the dimness. We prayed for all the new babies, for the grandparents, for our cousins, for our friends. And we prayed for new friends, who are here visiting the mission, praying about God’s plans for their future and who had lunch with us today: ” God, help Mr. T and Miss A know what you want them to do. Help them to know where to live and how to serve you.”

A little voice piped up from the bottom bunk, ” I’m satisfied with your choice.” What? Quinn repeated for my benefit “I’m satisfied with your choice of how to serve God.” Oh. I smile in the darkness. Then a moment later ” what does satisfied mean?” Naomi speaks from the top bunk ” it means content. I’m content with your choice too.” Quinn: “Oh.” . . . . . “What does content mean?” And I say, “it means you feel settled in your heart.” Quinn asked, “is that how you know God is speaking to you, when you feel settled in your heart?” “It’s not always easy to do what God says,” I say. “But when you’re sure God’s giving you directions for your life you can be guaranteed that in the end it’s going to make you happy because God loves us and wants what’s best for us. He’s on our side.”

“Yea.” says Quinn. And I am reminded profoundly that God is using each struggle and challenge and joy of our lives in this place to mold their hearts too. IN the last months we’ve heard a lot of emotional turmoil in our kids hearts. It was healing to hear this moment of “settled”.

Here are pictures of Quinn on his Christmas gift, a zip line!! And Naomi getting her hair braided in a weave by a local friend.