long. “Why?”
“Because if you haven’t done so already, you need to have it looked at. Something isn’t right.”
“Do I come to see you or Dr. Elizabeth?”
“Dr. Elizabeth. Shall I put you on the appointment sheet for ten o’clock in the morning?”
“I think that would be fine.”
“Good.” Astrid stood. “Thank you.”
“Know that we will both be praying for you to follow God’s leading. Would you like the three of us to pray now?” Pastor Solberg touched her sleeve.
Astrid hesitated. What if someone saw them? Don’t be dumb. What does that matter? People get prayed for a lot around here, and you don’t mind it in the operating room, in fact you count on it. “Yes.” Now it was her turn to clear her throat.
“Why don’t you sit back down, and we’ll each put a hand on your shoulder.”
Astrid did as asked, her own hands clenched so tight her fingers cramped. Her shoulders felt the warmth of their hands, and she blinked and swallowed. Right now, all she wanted to do was run to the field and join those she could hear shouting and laughing. Why couldn’t she leave well enough alone and ignore what she thought she heard?
Even the twittering birds in the cottonwood tree fell silent.
Pastor Solberg led off. “Heavenly Father, I thank you for this young woman you have given to me to shepherd all these years. I rejoice in all the gifts you have given her: gifts of service, of healing, of love and encouragement. She is such a blessing to us all, and we thank you for Astrid Bjorklund.” He paused, his voice deepening. “Lord, she is your daughter and you have a purpose and a plan for her life. Please make it clear to her what you have in mind, so clear there is no room for doubt. And then give her the grace to follow your leading.”
After a bit Reverend Schuman joined in. “Lord, we know that you want us to understand your Word and your guidance, for you have said so over and over. The Word says you speak in a still small voice, but there are many instances in your Word where you spoke clearly and with great precision. We ask you to do that for Astrid. Of those to whom much is given, much will be expected. I know that you will use her in a mighty way wherever you send her. And, Father, thank you for the privilege of this moment, of our meeting. We will give you all the glory for what you will accomplish. Thank you. Amen.”
Astrid wiped the tears that she’d not known were dripping and blinked again. Heaving a belly-deep sigh, she looked up. “This reminds me of confirmation.”
“It is kind of like that. One more step forward in the path He has chosen for you.” Pastor Solberg patted her shoulder. “The Lord will bless and keep you.”
She nodded. “I think I know that part.”
“The rest will follow.”
“Good. I don’t have the proper clothes for Africa right now.” As she stood again to leave, the men joined her. “You coming to watch the game?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
When Astrid reached the field, she leaned up against the barn by her mother. “Who’s ahead?”
“We are.”
“So you’ve taken sides?”
“This time.” Ingeborg clapped and shouted, “That’s the way.” She turned to look at her daughter. “You all right?”
“I think so. At least for now. But I still don’t really want to go to Chicago, let alone Africa.”
9
T he next morning Hjelmer looked up as Joshua approached. “So when can you come to work?”
Joshua stared at Hjelmer, who was studying the bent blade for a windmill head. “Right now. That’s what you said.”
“Good. Grab that end of the blade, and we’ll heat it up enough to bend it easily. You ever worked with metal?”
“As in . . . ?” Joshua grabbed one blade, and Hjelmer picked up the one next to it that also had a slight bend.
“Forge?”
“Some. I can do the basics.”
“Machinery repair?”
“I can take things apart, hopefully figure what’s wrong, either fix them or buy a new part and put them
“Because if you haven’t done so already, you need to have it looked at. Something isn’t right.”
“Do I come to see you or Dr. Elizabeth?”
“Dr. Elizabeth. Shall I put you on the appointment sheet for ten o’clock in the morning?”
“I think that would be fine.”
“Good.” Astrid stood. “Thank you.”
“Know that we will both be praying for you to follow God’s leading. Would you like the three of us to pray now?” Pastor Solberg touched her sleeve.
Astrid hesitated. What if someone saw them? Don’t be dumb. What does that matter? People get prayed for a lot around here, and you don’t mind it in the operating room, in fact you count on it. “Yes.” Now it was her turn to clear her throat.
“Why don’t you sit back down, and we’ll each put a hand on your shoulder.”
Astrid did as asked, her own hands clenched so tight her fingers cramped. Her shoulders felt the warmth of their hands, and she blinked and swallowed. Right now, all she wanted to do was run to the field and join those she could hear shouting and laughing. Why couldn’t she leave well enough alone and ignore what she thought she heard?
Even the twittering birds in the cottonwood tree fell silent.
Pastor Solberg led off. “Heavenly Father, I thank you for this young woman you have given to me to shepherd all these years. I rejoice in all the gifts you have given her: gifts of service, of healing, of love and encouragement. She is such a blessing to us all, and we thank you for Astrid Bjorklund.” He paused, his voice deepening. “Lord, she is your daughter and you have a purpose and a plan for her life. Please make it clear to her what you have in mind, so clear there is no room for doubt. And then give her the grace to follow your leading.”
After a bit Reverend Schuman joined in. “Lord, we know that you want us to understand your Word and your guidance, for you have said so over and over. The Word says you speak in a still small voice, but there are many instances in your Word where you spoke clearly and with great precision. We ask you to do that for Astrid. Of those to whom much is given, much will be expected. I know that you will use her in a mighty way wherever you send her. And, Father, thank you for the privilege of this moment, of our meeting. We will give you all the glory for what you will accomplish. Thank you. Amen.”
Astrid wiped the tears that she’d not known were dripping and blinked again. Heaving a belly-deep sigh, she looked up. “This reminds me of confirmation.”
“It is kind of like that. One more step forward in the path He has chosen for you.” Pastor Solberg patted her shoulder. “The Lord will bless and keep you.”
She nodded. “I think I know that part.”
“The rest will follow.”
“Good. I don’t have the proper clothes for Africa right now.” As she stood again to leave, the men joined her. “You coming to watch the game?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
When Astrid reached the field, she leaned up against the barn by her mother. “Who’s ahead?”
“We are.”
“So you’ve taken sides?”
“This time.” Ingeborg clapped and shouted, “That’s the way.” She turned to look at her daughter. “You all right?”
“I think so. At least for now. But I still don’t really want to go to Chicago, let alone Africa.”
9
T he next morning Hjelmer looked up as Joshua approached. “So when can you come to work?”
Joshua stared at Hjelmer, who was studying the bent blade for a windmill head. “Right now. That’s what you said.”
“Good. Grab that end of the blade, and we’ll heat it up enough to bend it easily. You ever worked with metal?”
“As in . . . ?” Joshua grabbed one blade, and Hjelmer picked up the one next to it that also had a slight bend.
“Forge?”
“Some. I can do the basics.”
“Machinery repair?”
“I can take things apart, hopefully figure what’s wrong, either fix them or buy a new part and put them
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