peace.

A fellow missionary showed us a picture of their log cabin this evening. It's a picture perfect small log cabin, nestled right in the middle of nothing but woods and fields. Something within us both just snapped: WE MISS THAT. We miss being able to walk out the door and not step right into the middle of a missionary compound, with the seminary 20 feet to our left and 20 missionaries, the mission office and the clinic are 20 feet to our right. We miss going outside in our pajamas...or even being INSIDE in our pajamas without a steady flow of people coming to the door. We miss going places where there is NO ONE, miss being invisible, miss blending in.

The last few days have been rough (thank you all for your encouragement). I have come down with a cold, and problems at the school have served us a few very long days. We are tired!

However, today has brought us some unexpected answers to prayer, and the added joy of it being Friday! (one of which being the expulsion of the student causing all of the problems all week...and all year.)

A log cabin in the middle of solitude
or a mud house in the middle of ministry...
beautiful, happy days of seeing much fruit
or long, difficult days of sowing seeds on dry, rocky soil..
We will take them all, because the Lord just continues to be our unwavering peace.

A magnet my sister sent us says this:

peace.
it does not mean to be in a place
where there is no noise, trouble or hard work.
it means to be in the midst of these things and still
be calm in your heart

Praise the Lord for the peace He continues to give us despite our surroundings. We can handle missing things, as long as He continues to lead us, provide for us and gift us with His unconditional peace!

(pictured: Matt translating a student's testimony for a Wednesday night seminary presentation. Also pictured, our new kitty "Bundy", also quite at peace here in Haiti :)