The dry season can be tough here. Heat that sucks the energy out of you, and if it doesn't rain at all for several weeks, many locals begin to burn their fields. This leads to a constant shower of "River City Snow" as they call it: ash. Every morning you have a layer of ash on your car and anything else you left outside. The air is smokey and many don't even like to be outside during this time. But when the tropical showers come, all is washed away and everything blooms like it's Spring time. Everything becomes beautiful. The millions of people that live on our island often experience oppression, poverty, disease, and corruption. Smoke clouds their vision and a spirit of heaviness rests on them. Please pray that they would encounter new life in Jesus and experience the blessing God wants to give them: beauty for ashes.
Isa 61:3
To all who mourn in Israel (to all God's people), he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.
