French lessons

"My quiz got posted on the wall today mama, because I got a 10/10! Will you pick me up Friday and come see it?" Sofie uncharacteristically asked on Wednesday.

So I took that easy YES and today she smiled shyly as she and Madame Zigi showed me her quiz and her handwriting page and Madame Z told me how well she's doing, and it just really hit me: the girlies aren't just getting by in Haitian school anymore.

It's not just about the frienships as it once was.  They're...thriving. They're speaking and understanding and writing (cursive!) fluently in Haitian Creole and WELL in French and they're making up French poems in the shower and with all the cultural flair :)

Nora came with me, and we visited her classroom for next year and talked with her teacher. She wanted to play on the playground, but was a little hesitant because there were a lot of kiddos already playing. Lily pulled her to the side and said, "Now Nora. The kids are going to call you foreigner, and try to pick you up, and touch your hair, and watch you do everything. But it's just because they want to be your friend. So just hold their hands, and tell them your name is Nora, and just play...remember they want to be your friend."

"OK," Nora said with confidence, and off they went.

She's going to be ok.

On our drive home it just all came flooding back today.  The crazy idea eight years ago I firmly felt God planted in my mind to send the kids to school with all the other kiddos in our village. The many months of praying and thinking and asking and visiting and trying and trusting. The first days and weeks and months that were SO hard and wondering what in the world we were thinking.  Pulling Sofie back out and wondering what in the world to do next.  God opening doors and opening doors and opening doors and asking me again and again to trust Him with what He seemed to continue to communicate was the right thing for them at this time...which has now been seven years! Having them at two different schools for years, all the driving and uniforms and braids. Preparing for Nora to start in the fall...and trusting Him all over again.

To trust Him with this has been probably the most challenging surrender of my mom-life...stretching beyond words. My very most precious mustard seeds of faith have been planted in Him, almost daily, on this.

And then "suddenly" today the girls were giving their expert sweet advice to their sister, they have worked through the cultural differences and understand the HEART behind it, they have dear friends and teachers they talk about all the hours they're home and yeah...French compositions in the shower.  Precious gifts I could never have given them.

I'm thankful for the ways He grows us, even in the hard trusting...because of the hard trusting.  I'm thankful for how He uses tiny things like a French quiz or a sister-moment to remind us of His unwavering faithfulness. To remind us that He is to be trusted, holds the big picture in His hands, has our loved ones.

Whatever's not guaranteed today...whatever is difficult, be it forgiving or going or stopping or freeing or changing or doing something crazy no one else is doing, if He's prompting you to step out and trust Him, keep on.