Book Review - Of Stillness and Storm by Michele Phoenix

Of Stillness and Storm is written by Michele Phoenix and published by Thomas Nelson.

I have finally been getting caught up with my reading lists this month. I know, I know, most people are so busy with the holidays that reading, for them, takes a backseat. However, I need that calm in the mornings and evenings to get me prepped for my busy days. I have been hard at work on a new book by Michele Phoenix.

I had not heard of Michele Phoenix before so I had to do a little investigative work to "get to know her". She was born in France to a Canadian father and an American mother. She worked in Germany as a teacher for 20 years, then joined with Global Outreach Mission. She obviously has a heart for missions.

In Of Stillness and Storm, Phoenix paints what I think is probably a fair picture of missionary families. The husband is called to serve in another part of the world and the wife and child(ren), though they might not feel as called, end up following suit. The husband adjusts well because he is doing what he feels God has led him to do while the wife and child(ren) struggle.

The husband in this book, Sam, is a strong believer who has always known that his desire for world missions is at the heart of God's will for his life. However, his wife, Lauren, is not so sure. She does love the Lord and she's always done "the right thing". However, doing the right thing includes taking their son, Ryan, halfway around the world to Kathmandu, Nepal. Sam is gone for weeks a time, ministering to remote villages in the mountains while Lauren and Ryan stay in a hot, dingy apartment that has basically none of the amenities that they were used to back home.

Ryan struggles and, through his struggles, Lauren struggles as well. That's a lot of struggles. And it makes for an interesting read. Rejoicing, aching, working hard to overcome - it all comes together and we get to come along for the ride.

I enjoyed this book for its rawness and good writing. Phoenix paints a vivid picture of what world missions can be like for those who give up almost everything in order to reach the lost for Christ. It's not as glamarous as some of us might think. It's sacrifice, and that is portrayed very well in this book. I recommend it highly for those who want to read fiction with a boost of realism.

*I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are my own.*