I was looking through, of all things, a CHRISTMAS catalog that came in the mail today and there was a lovely Thomas Kincade throw with this scripture written on it:

"My people will live in a peaceful habitation, and in secure dwellings and undisturbed resting places."  Isaiah 32:18

I don't think I've ever really *read* that verse before.  Isn't it lovely? 

We had a great weekend with Bo, though we are all still suffering mosquito bites (I think the no-see-ums were worse!)  They are pretty awful in the swamp!  The girls melted down after only a bit more than an hour out there every morning so we had to take a mid-day break.  After spending more time at Teen Missions, I find myself more impressed than ever.  The scope of their work is just amazing to me.  They're in thirty-some countries.  They build granaries where people are able to store their grain for the first time ever so it's not lost in "famine season."  They dig wells so Africans have clean drinking water.  They run Orphan Rescue Units which serve 400-600 children each--in a 5-mile cirle surrounding one unit.  Robert Bland is in his eighties and is still hard at work doing what he can to make the world a better place and bring the light of Jesus to the world, and I think that's awesome.  We truly need to be meeting the needs of the poor as Christians, and I appreciate that example being set for the hundreds of teens who go out on teams each summer. 

They were blessed to have Marilyn Laszlo as one of their speakers; she spent over 24 years with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea, translating the Bible into a previously unwritten language.  Amazing work, and she had fabulous stories to tell--some funny ones, too!  Twenty four years is some serious dedication.

I asked some of the guys who have been part of Bo's life to write letters to him for his sixteenth birthday, giving "manly" advice or telling "manly" stories or whatever.  So many were kind enough to respond and the letters were great--funny and touching.  I found a great treasure-box looking type container to put them in and gave them to him before the candlelight commissioning service last night.  He loved them all; I think it was definitely a big surprise!  The service was beautiful.  He gave us one last hug and then walked out with his team onto a waiting bus and on to Orlando, where they spent the night in the airport and were the first team out this morning at 6 am!  They arrived in Panama around noon and were in Brazil by 4:30, so he had his birthday in 3 countries.  I guess he couldn't possibly want more than that, right?  We miss him, but are thrilled that he's able to serve God in this way once again.