Storms

This year has been a very busy year in the tropics for storms. Ophelia is out there churning in the Atlantic but she is not expected to come near the Virgin Islands. The one thing about storms is that they come when you least expect them or don't want them. They usually make a lot of commotion for a while and then they disappear. You can't ignore them. The only way to survive a storm successfully is to go through it. There are lessons we learn when we go through storms that can be of help in the future when the next storm rolls in...and storms will come again!

It is so true also in our life as missionaries. Just as God has control of which tropical storm we will experience, He also controls the "storms" that come into our lives. They are there to teach us something. Sometimes it is to learn to have more faith, more patience, trusting God even though we can't see the outcome, or any number of other lessons. Isaiah 26:3 is one of my favorite verses. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

I will have to admit that is hard to do sometimes. We recently found out that our rent where we are currently living will double in price on November 1st. We have been blessed to stay here for a reduced price for these last  few months. Billy has not been able to find much work (work that provides an income that is) though he has been busy with work projects. We are taking this as an opportunity to see how God provides for the need in this situation. What direction does He want to take us in. The key is to remain open to whatever possibilities are out there and to be willing to follow the Lord's leading. Though this storm came at a time that seemed inconvenient to us we know that God is in control and He will bring glory to His name through the solution!