thoughts at the end of a long day

Here we are in Africa, safe and sound, while our extended family battles the elements. My mom's basement flooded for the first time in her 35 years living in that home, after torrential rains in Virginia, something like 15 inches in a few days. By the time she discovered the problem extensive damage had been done, a lifetime's worth of saved memorabilia, boxes, papers, photo albums, clothes, christmas decorations, all damp and moldering, some ruined, some salvageable. She also had some disappointing zoning/financial news about property my Dad left her with rental income to sustain her. So pray for her. Thankful that our dear church friends and neighbors have helped her carry and sort the junk.

Scott's sister and family are in Norway for a year, something like a working sabbatical. So his parents went to visit, and took a cruise ship up the coast. But today their cruise ship caught fire, evidently an explosion in the engine room killed two crew members and several others were burned fighting the blaze. All the passengers were evacuated by lifeboats, wearing life vests. We saw the photos in the news. We've been able to get through to a hotel where they have been taken, but have not talked to them yet. Norway is having a very bad year, and our parents must have been rather frightened. All of their luggage is still on the burning ship.

Luke talked to Marine recruiters visiting Yale this week, and they told him he could sign up for a free helicopter ride. So he did. A 15 minute flight over his school, the city of New Haven, the ocean, with him in the co-pilot seat. Pretty effective recruiting . . and pretty cool opportunity, even if he did miss one class in the process, and even if helicopter rides are a bit dangerous. I've been thinking that if you raise your children in a war zone, and they repeatedly hear gunfire and have to lie on the floor until it stops, and the soldiers they see are good guys protecting them from rebels who have killed people they know, you can't be too surprised if they are attracted to serving in the military. Particularly if tuition is involved. Only we learned today that the Marines don't pay for med school because they don't have doctors, which seems kind of crazy, but I guess they use Navy physicians, or just tough it out.

In a day where almost everyone I love was in danger in some way . . it was good to pray with the Moms In Touch group here, a handful of moms of college-aged kids praying for them and their schools. I appreciate the fellowship of maternal worry and joy.

And my last thought for the day, I really like RVA students. I'm glad I get to see them in clinic every Thursday, and at other times for acute illnesses or injuries during the week. I like teens in general, the way they are finding their way through this world, learning and experimenting and watching and being, seeing things with fresh eyes, challenging. They are interesting. And RVA teens are even more-so to all that. These kids are courageous and creative. Sometimes they are vulnerable and lonely. They are a unique breed, passionate about justice and Jesus and bush living and art and culture, driven to excel because they have purpose, but also still kids who miss home and long for wholeness and peace. I like cheering at their games and listening to them explain their travails in the examination room. I like the taste of the big picture of all that God's people are doing in countries all around us, as I hear from their kids. Of course there are a handful of RVA students I like best of all, my own kids, including the indomitable Acacia.