How about the boys…

I suppose one of the biggest questions we keep getting asked, is how are the boys going?  Well, wait for it – unbelievably well.  Yep, they have exceeded our expectations in how they have handled the immense changes over the past few months – as Jack reminded me – four continents in that time – counting the travel layovers in London and Madrid!  And this is not due to us.  Again, we see Divine Intervention here.  God has been good to us once more and we are really blessed with how well our three are settling in.  It reminds me of that passage from Proverbs 16:9:

In his mind a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.

There is no way we could have planned such a smooth transition – it is beyond my comprehension.  This is answered prayer. This is God directing our path.

For starters: Jack.  Jack has started the new school year in Grade 6.  This is the first year of Junior high school here and as such, he has different teachers and must go to different rooms for classes.  Blessing #1 – 3 of his teachers were on course with us in Texas so he got to know them, and they him, before school started. 

Secondly, there are 6 kids in Jack’s class.  And they are welcoming kids.  He has been asked to sit with them at dinner times; asked to join in their games and invited over to play (albeit Minecraft) today.  Awesome.  So he seems to be fitting in well.  Blessing #2

Thirdly, 6^th grade is a transitional grade here so there is a big emphasis on organization – a weak point for Jack.  They have a great homework diary – called an assignment organizer – detailing what needs to be done.  He is managing this pretty well and getting the homework done relatively quickly. Blessing #3

Fourthly, when he does forget his schoolwork, we can send him back to get it.  Blessing #4(Hopefully we don’t need to keep using this blessing…)

Finally, when its time to go to school, he rushes out to join in with enthusiasm.  Blessing #5. Mick came off watch one day and after seeing Jack and Mark hurry to get back stated, “Who are these children and where are mine?”

A caveat – I know it’s early days yet but I am enjoying a good start and God willing, it may yet continue.

 

Harry and Marks bedroom (not its normal state)

    Our friendliest chap – Mark.  Mark struggled in Texas without a peer group.  He has landed in a grade 3 class of 2 with his friend Eli and have they hit it off. - Blessing #1 (As an aside, Eli’s last classmate left at the end of the previous school year and he was worried about being in a class of one – he prayed with his Mum (Mom) about it and was thrilled to find out Mark was coming.  So Mark became an answer to prayer for someone else) 

      Mark is now back to his social self. Blessing #2.

      Mark seems to be going along well in class.  He has had little homework as I think Mrs Denise is able to comfortably cover most of it in class.  Big blessing #3.  

     Only prayer point for Mark is that he is having trouble getting to sleep still. This may be exacerbated by the malaria medication we are taking – but was an issue before we started.

 

Harry with his class and  his teacher, Miss Shea as the ship docked on Friday.

     Our little extrovert – Harry. Harry seems to have taken most things in his stride.  He has gone into grade 1 and is going well.  Blessing #1 

     Socially, as you would expect, Harry is busy meeting people ALL the time.  It is a challenge in the dining room as he just HAS to go and chat to someone! (rather than eat of course.  I’m not sure that he will grow much whilst we are here if it continues.)  It is a blessing (#2) that he feels so comfortable with everyone.  

      In his class of 5, he has become good mates with Renier from South Africa and Nathanial, the Captains son.  As a consequence, Harry mentions airily at dinner that he might just go and say hello to the Captain and then heads off.  Fortunately, the Captain doesn’t seem to mind. (#3)

     There is that saying, count your blessings.  In writing them down, it makes me realize just how lucky we are here.  There have been many times in the last few months when I have wondered if we were doing the right thing, however, seeing their three excited faces as we pulled into port, waving their homemade Congo flags with their classmates and joining in with the enthusiasm of everyone onboard, makes me realize that God is directing all our steps.  And He can do more than we ask or imagine.  It makes me more excited to see what He will do here in Congo.