Last week the school implemented and passed on the emergency plans for evacuation and lockdown incase anything should ever happen here at DA. Today we had the lockdown drill and the kids did an outstanding job of getting against the wall in turtle position and not making a peep. I think the sound of the siren mixed with the lights being off and all curtains and windows pulled with the door locked and bolted sent a chill through all of us.

As we sat there in dead silence, I just started praying for our safety. Safety is something we take for granted many times. Some of the students here at DA today are alive and well because they knew the procedures for a lockdown when ICA (the missionary school in Cote d'Ivoire) errupted in war three years ago and again this last year. Three years ago, Cote d'Ivoire was one of the most stable African countries on the continent...and virtually overnight, it became a warzone. My roommate, Cori, was one of those people at ICA when they were evacuated 3 years ago and I have heard about what happened from her as well as others.

I guess I am just thankful for the safety we have here and pray that we will never have to do anything but simply drill these emergency plans. I felt almost as a mother hen when that drill was happening...counting all my kids...and when I found that one was missing, just praying that she would remember what she needed to do to be safe where ever she was on campus. It was just a drill, but it does make you think. Things can change very quickly...but no matter what, God is in control and has His hands upon us.