What the Wind Does in the Moutains

Afternoon winds whip up massive thunderstorms over the mountains near Furcy in Haiti (above).  Some of these storms have dumped six inches of rain in thirty minutes on our home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

We got soaked by this afternoon rainstorm forming over the mountains near Breckenridge, Colorado.  The rain was a lot colder than in Haiti!

Those who live near mountains, whether those of Haiti (where we lived) or in North America (like the Rockies pictured above), know that the weather in large part depends on the wind.  Every afternoon the wind blows air over the mountains, condensing moisture in the form of fog, rain, thunderstorms, and blizzards.  These weather changes can happen unexpectedly and spectacularly.  In mission, the Holy Spirit really functions much like the wind blowing through the mountains.  Despite all our best efforts to plan, create strategy, motivate, and connect people to the Gospel, real change only happens when the Spirit blows through us and our efforts.  At those times, the change that the Spirit makes is often immediate and spectacular.  Through this dramatic action of the Spirit, Christ draws people in our families, neighborhoods, and cities to a life-changing encounter with the Gospel.  For this reason, our biggest and most pressing item of prayer is that we will be attentive to where the Holy Spirit is leading the Christian Reformed Church in mission.  This is, without a doubt, the most important task of Zach's job description as Director of Resonate Global Mission.  However, human nature constantly resists the direction that God longs to give.  Please pray that we will be attentive to the movement of the Spirit in mission.