Roadside shops on the way to Charisma Tumaini in Sinai slum

Sam, my dad, and I had the amazing opportunity to spend the day out with our dear friends from Pebbles and Stones, Kathleen Trock and Sue DeKoekkoek, visiting the children at Charisma Tumaini school and Provision Education Center. (Mom & Baby Aviya stayed home to rest.) We did short Pebbles & Stones groups with them, teaching them that God not only speaks – He wants to talk to and have a personal relationship with each one of us. I think that my very favorite part of the day was our “listening time” with the students at P.E.C. Over 160 children – ranging from about three to twelve – were gathered into one room, yet there was nothing to be heard but the beautiful sound of silence. God’s sweet presence so filled the room that it was nearly tangible.

When I looked at all those little blessings (as Mrs. Kathleen so fondly calls us children), each and every one of them had his or her eyes scrunched shut and hands folded neatly, expecting to hear the Father’s voice. Student after student came to the front to share what God had said to them, or a prayer that He had given them. I can’t help but think about how much the Lord must love it when His children quiet themselves before Him and simply listen.

Listening to the Father’s voice

In the silence
You are speaking
In the quiet I can feel the fire
And it’s burning, burning deeply
Burning all that it is that you desire to be silent, in me

(Lyrics from Jason Upton’s “In the Silence”)