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The next day was filled with activity. Megan and her team showed the children the stables where the horses were, the rec room with the tv and the games and toys, and the gardening area. The group toured the pool, and the outdoor playground set, and the library. As she saw the children's eyes widen with every new discovery, Megan was ever the more thankful to God that so many people had generously donated and volunteered to help get Healing Hearts started.

Megan sat back and watched the children play. Nathaniel, Anna and Jamie were happily enjoying one another's company, but Brian seemed to steer clear of the commotion. Megan walked over and started to chat with the small quiet boy.

Megan loved spending time with "her kids". People had warned her against getting too emotionally involved with the children, but Megan knew that these children needed love from the Lord. She hoped that the Lord was working through her and her love for the young ones to help them overcome.
As the weeks wore on, Brian slowly came out of his shell. But every now and again, he would retreat back to his beloved books when he became overwhelmed. He loved to spend hours in the library.
Jamie had all but forgotten about being scared at night. She now looked forward to bedtime, because Anna, who was apparently a great storyteller, would tell her wonderful tales until she drifted off. During the day, the small girl was lively and happy. She was always raring to go.
Nathaniel and Anna were happy living at Healing Hearts. Nathaniel told Megan he was glad to be in a place where he wasn't made fun of for being a foster child. The children at the private Christian school near Healing Hearts were nice, he said.
Megan thanked the Lord continually, and especially during Sunday worship and daily Bible studies, for her kids.

The children and Megan grew ever closer to each other as time passed. She loved watching them learn new things and become friends. Healing Hearts was truly everything Megan had hoped it would be.

One day, a new child came to live at Healing Hearts. Her name was Natasha, and she was eight. Megan was eager to meet her, but the surprise that awaited her was nothing like she would have imagined.

Natasha was a sullen child, with beautiful features but a fiery temper and antagonistic demeanor. She was ready to fight if someone looked at her crosseyed, and hardly spoke at all other than rude, monosyllabic phrases such as, "Move," or "Watch it". Megan knew that something must have gone terribly wrong in the young girl's life, and she longed to know what it had been.

The other children tried to be nice to her, but their efforts were unrewarded. The girl could not be reasoned with, could not be reached. Megan's team of counsellors talked to her, the supervisors tried to draw her interest into classwork or activities, but all to no avail. Natasha was a hardened soul, but Megan knew that with the Lord's help, she would change.

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