You may recall that last rainy season we had a record amount of rainfall in our part of West Africa. Apparently our roof had never been sealed after construction, so we ended up with water damage and mold in several rooms.

“It will be worth it! Believe me.”
I tried to convince my daughter that having house painters invade our home for a day would be worth it in the end. We knew the painters would be coming eventually, but their surprise arrival was a shock to our normal routine.
“What if they get paint all over my stuff?”
“How can we do our schoolwork with workers in the way?”
“The paint will stink up the house”
“This is going to ruin our day!”
I over-confidently replied; “Honey, being flexible is one of the top requirements for living on the mission field.” – But by the end of the day I was the one who needed that reminder!
It’s not easy to have your plans changed and your routine interrupted. If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we have far less control over life than we think. Being flexible is so important. On days like that one when I see my plans crumbling before my eyes, I try to take a deep breath and remember that God is in control.

I am very thankful to have the mold gone and the ceilings bright white again. And if by rainy season the problem returns, I will just have to look in the mirror and say “Be flexible, God is in control.”