"I can't be here forever," I told her. I almost added that I'd go when the wind changed, flying away on my umbrella with charcoal dabbed on my nose and cheeks.

"You can't leave me!" she said. "Where will you go? Why? Will you visit? Why do you have to go? Can't you just be gone for a few months at a time, like you are now?"

I didn't know what to tell her. I know that kids, especially her, don't accept vague, abstract explanations. And I know that if I want to teach kids to hear God's voice, I better start with teaching and modeling it with the ones I know.

"I'll be here for a while, still," I tried to assure her. "But I can't stay forever. I need to be obedient to God. I can't do what God asks me to do by living in this city the rest of my life.

"Of course I'll visit and write. I miss you whenever I'm gone for a long time," I added. "And maybe you can come with me on some of the trips when you're a little older. The world is a fascinating place."

My answers didn't seem to satisfy her. I don't really blame her. I always feel at a loss for words when trying to explain the idea of asking God for direction, expecting Him to answer me, and then obeying what He says. I imagine that it just seems foolish to others.

So what do you say to people when the idea of getting direction from God is so strange? And how do I explain this to a girl without somehow planting seeds in her mind that God takes people away from her? And what if, deep down, that is my own view?

I'm still learning how to sort out this world of giving up rights, of trusting God, of being vulnerable with people, of remaining committed to relationships. It's not an easy thing to do, even after being in missions all my life (especially after being in missions all my life).