There was an awful lot of noise coming from the other room.
I was in Chaplain Rick Jones’s office discussing service planning and recent baptisms. The Spiritual Life group room where the kids on the Minot Campus meet is on the other side of his door.
When I came out of his office, I was surprised to see Deaconess Kelly Bristow with only two boys. From the volume, I had honestly expected a room full!
Aidan and Sergio are only 10 years old and they are as cute as can be. They are of average height for their age, which is short. They are in constant motion. They are the two youngest children living with us right now. When you look at them, it is very disturbing to think of what they have been through…what they have seen in their precious lives. They are so little.
Sergio seldom sits down. He does almost everything from a standing position. He doesn’t seem to have a volume control knob and has a pretty high decibel output all the time. Nope, he’s not hard of hearing, just loud.
Aidan is quieter, but intense and wants to check in with Deaconess Kelly every couple of seconds as to his progress on his very important project.
Deaconess Kelly is serene. She sits next to the boys with a big smile on her face while she cuts something out of construction paper.
“What are you working on today, guys?” I ask.
“Making cards for when we go sing,” Aidan says.
Deaconess Kelly adds, “Next week we are going to sing at one of the long-term care homes in town, so the boys are making cards to give to the people who come to hear us sing.”
Deaconess Kelly is an amazing musician. She gives music lessons to interested children while they are at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch and provides the music ministry for that campus. In addition to her Masters in Deaconess Studies, she has a Masters in Social Work and is licensed as such. She’s a true blessing to the children and her co-workers at the Ranch.
Sergio chimes in with a barely controlled yell, “And I’m opening cards from people! From people who are…” and he trails off looking at Deaconess Kelly.
“Cards from people who are donors or Hope Notes writers or who just decided to send encouragement to the kids. Sergio is helping me open them and then we will share them with the rest of the kids,” she fills in.
“Yeah, donors and stuff!” Sergio affirms.
“We’re also talking about the upcoming talent show and what we might do and about Jesus… all at the same time,” Deaconess Kelly says with a grin. She continues to work away serenely in the midst of the small boy tornados.
I walk out of the room to the sound of two little boys talking at the same time—one very loudly—and a Deaconess humming while she works.
Please keep our staff and children in your prayers.
In His love,
Joy Ryan, President/CEO
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch
Sign up today to receive ministry updates and stories about our precious kids directly to your inbox!