One of the stories *Charlie and *Sarah love to share with their neighbors on the island where they live, is the story of Jesus calming the storm. A vibrant batik painting of this scene hangs prominently in their living room, serving as both a piece of art and a conversation starter.

But sometimes, God doesn’t calm the storm. In fact, sometimes He sends one. In Acts 28, God used a storm to redirect Paul to the island of Malta, where Paul survived a snake bite and healed many people. We don’t know if any churches were planted or if people believed in Jesus and were baptized. But we do know that Paul’s detour to Malta was part of God’s plan. Once there, Paul continued his mission, sharing the Good News of Jesus through his words and actions.

Recently, Charlie and Sarah experienced their own divinely orchestrated storm while on a small wooden boat at sea. They were traveling with family and friends on a 30-meter Phinisi, a handmade wooden boat, perfect for island hopping. Their destination was Komodo Island, but rough seas changed their plans. With 15-20 foot waves battering the boat, the captain advised everyone to put on life jackets and cautiously navigated the rest of the trip. They weathered the storm but ended up on a small, unknown island instead.

On this unexpected island, Charlie met *Fadhlan, a Bajo man. During their friendly conversation, Charlie expressed his desire to visit a Bajo village, and Fadhlan eagerly invited them to his. A few days later, Charlie and Sarah traveled on a rented motorcycle to meet Fadhlan and his cousin, who took them by boat to their village on a small island shared with 1,500 Komodo Dragons. Though they didn’t see any dragons, they had a spiritual conversation about how God had used the storm to bring them together.

Sarah shared the story of Jesus calming the storm, which resonated deeply with the sea-faring villagers.

Charlie then showed them part of the Jesus film in the Bajo language on his phone. The villagers had never seen it before, and they eagerly copied it onto their cell phones. Soon, the film spread throughout the village, gaining a “fan base.”

Charlie and Sarah had no idea that this little village existed and would never have visited it if not for the storm. But God knew, and through this divine detour, the villagers heard about Jesus for the first time.

Pray for Fadhlan and all who heard the Good News that day. 

Pray that God will continue the work He started in that village and that the Jesus film will be shared over and over again as it is copied from phone to phone.

Beyond is a faithful partner of The Bolick Foundation.