For our boys, the one thing standing between them and Africa was a nurse with a needle.  Actually, 5 needles.  Their last experience with shots was far from pleasant.  It took three women to hold one of the boys down, and he screamed the whole time.  So, the whole needle thing was pretty scary.

When we first approached them with the idea of mission work they were excited about it, but their excitement waned when we brought up the shots that are required.  But, our decision to go was not forced on them.  We knew that if we had indeed been called that God would call us all.  So we sought God together and asked our children to pray on their own, asking God if He was sending them to the mission field.  We wanted them to know that even though they are small God can and will use them in big ways.  We checked in with them periodically to see if God had given them an answer.  Finally that answer came, in the form of another missionary child that they met in Dallas while we were at PBT for training.  Andrew had gotten the shots too, and although he agreed that they hurt for a minute, he said they weren't really that bad.  That was all it took.  Somehow just knowing that someone else they knew was able to endure the shots made all the difference.  They wanted to go, felt that God was calling them, but instead they had been focused on their fears.

They both eventually faced the Shot Nurse very bravely.  No tears.  Not even a wimper.  I'm sure it didn't hurt that our "Nan" sent Bionicles to reward bravery either.  Initially they wanted to pray that the shots wouldn't hurt, but after some discussion, asked the Lord for courage instead.  It was quite a lesson for me as I held their hands that day.  If my little boys can face their fears to serve their God, so can I.