Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Of Stillness and Storm
    Of Stillness and Storm
    Of Stillness and Storm
    Audiobook8 hours

    Of Stillness and Storm

    Written by Michele Phoenix

    Narrated by Michelle Lasley

    4.5/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    Award-winning and highly acclaimed author, Michèle Phoenix, pens a story of marriage and missions, and what happens when they don’t always align.

    “The Poisonwood Bible for a new generation.” —Elizabeth Musser, author of The Long Highway Home

    “I felt torn between two worlds. Each with its own mystery. One more captivating than the other, but the other more real and breathing.”

    It took Lauren and her husband ten years to achieve their dream—reaching primitive tribes in remote regions of Nepal. But while Sam treks into the Himalayas for weeks at a time, finding passion and purpose in his work among the needy, Lauren and Ryan stay behind, their daily reality more taxing than inspiring. For them, what started as a calling begins to feel like the family’s undoing.

    At the peak of her isolation and disillusion, a friend from Lauren’s past enters her life again. But as her communication with Aidan intensifies, so does the tension of coping with the present while reengaging with the past. It’s thirteen-year-old Ryan who most keenly bears the brunt of her distraction.

    Intimate and bold, Of Stillness and Storm weaves profound dilemmas into a tale of troubled love and honorable intentions gone awry.

    “In this fine novel, Phoenix realistically captures the deep struggles enveloping a missionary family.” —Publishers Weekly

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateDec 6, 2016
    ISBN9780718086381
    Author

    Michele Phoenix

    Born in France to a Canadian father and an American mother, Michèle Phoenix is a consultant, writer and speaker with a heart for Third Culture Kids. She taught for 20 years at Black Forest Academy (Germany) before launching her own advocacy venture under Global Outreach Mission. Michèle travels globally to consult and teach on topics related to this unique people group. She loves good conversations, mischievous students, Marvel movies and paths to healing. Learn more at michelephoenix.com Twitter: @frenchphoenix  

    More audiobooks from Michele Phoenix

    Related to Of Stillness and Storm

    Related audiobooks

    Contemporary Women's For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Kathryn Hughes

      Nov 4, 2021

      ‘The Memory Box is my fifth book, which began life with a simple image of an old lady celebrating her 100th birthday in the care home where she lives. However, instead of being surrounded by friends and family, she’s in the company of strangers who h

      1 min read

    • Article

      Top 10 Books

      Jun 16, 2023

      Top 10 Books
      1 min read

    • Article

      Devotional

      Sep 1, 2021

      Devotional
      11 min read

    • Article

      Valley Oaks Drive

      Mar 1, 2021

      Valley Oaks Drive
      10 min read

    • Article

      A new START

      Aug 19, 2020

      A new START
      3 min read

    • Article

      A Symposium on Loss

      Mar 1, 2023

      A Symposium on Loss
      30 min read

    • Article

      Averted Vision

      Sep 1, 2022

      Averted Vision
      25 min read

    • Article

      Jason the Heat Guy

      Jan 11, 2021

      Jason the Heat Guy
      11 min read

    • Article

      Intelligent Creatures

      Jul 6, 2023

      Intelligent Creatures
      19 min read

    • Article

      Five Poems

      Nov 1, 2022

      This is the time of year when stormsspin up from distant dustand sand and make their way to us,and we worry and adjust the scales we carry in our headsto account for luck and prayer.We buy batteries and candles, cordsand water to prepare. There are t

      5 min read

    • Article

      Strange Season

      Jun 4, 2020

      Strange Season
      14 min read

    • Article

      Stockpiling for Winter

      Dec 14, 2018

      Stockpiling for Winter
      3 min read

    • Article

      Waiting

      Sep 3, 2020

      Waiting
      6 min read

    • Article

      Ready, Set, Let go!

      May 15, 2019

      Ready, Set, Let go!
      11 min read

    • Article

      Pulling Up Azaleas

      Jan 10, 2023

      Throughout their lives, women are showered with bouquets of roses on numerous splendid occasions. But men? They’re only given flowers at their funeral. It’s a harsh world for men, as our lives tend to go unappreciated until death. Such was the case a

      22 min read

    • Article

      My Mother’s Stalker

      Jan 16, 2024

      My Mother’s Stalker
      24 min read

    • Article

      A Tale Of Two Crises

      Nov 17, 2020

      A Tale Of Two Crises
      5 min read

    • Article

      THE HOUSE with the BLUE DOOR

      May 7, 2020

      THE HOUSE with the BLUE DOOR
      6 min read

    • Article

      Now That I’ve Arrived

      Dec 30, 2020

      Now That I’ve Arrived
      5 min read

    • Article

      MAKE or BREAK

      Nov 28, 2019

      MAKE or BREAK
      8 min read

    • Article

      Table Talk

      Jun 1, 2021

      Table Talk
      6 min read

    • Article

      Six Poems

      Nov 1, 2023

      loved best. Words I have neversaid. New sentence, at 80. Of coursenot more than his children, and their children. That goeswithout saying—but I want to lay down eachelement of love’s house. First,the hole, under—apple cellar, potato cellar,cellar to

      5 min read

    • Article

      Come with Me

      Dec 1, 2022

      Come with Me
      12 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Of Stillness and Storm

    4.5/5

    9 ratings4 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Title: Of Stillness and StormAuthor: Michele PhoenixPages: 336Year: 2016Publisher: Thomas NelsonMy rating is 5 out of 5 stars.Before writing the review, I took time to visit the author’s site and I hope others do as well. The ministry that Michele is engaged in is very unique as I haven’t heard of anything close to what she does. I also read of a woman with a grounded faith that came through adversity, trials and good experiences too. Most of all, at least to me, she is a flesh and blood example of someone who is unashamed to speak truth about the experiences of Missionary Kids.Of Stillness and Storm is one novel that grabs the soul of the reader and its tentacles reach so deeply into the reader that it doesn’t let up until the end of the story. Well, maybe not even then because I don’t think I will forget this novel for quite a while, if ever. Michele uses flashbacks to take readers into a single family’s experience with answering a call to go to Nepal with young child. The father, Sam, is gone for weeks at a time. His wife, Lauren, works at a school and their son, Ryan, attends a different school and loves soccer. While in Nepal they begin to experience a slow disintegration of the family unit. The one member who carries the brunt of it is Ryan. Michele crafts a family that at times focuses on individual members. For me, Sam is someone I would love to shake till he awakes and sees how his choices have fractured his marriage and relationship with Ryan. Lauren had her part in the problems too as did Ryan. Some of these problems I think came out of Sam’s unwillingness to see what was really becoming of his family.When Lauren finally realizes what is going in her own heart, what an awakening occurs in her heart, mind and soul. I could relate to the shame a mother feels when she hasn’t made wise choices and how they affect the family. I could also relate to the healing Presence of God when I honestly faced the issues of my heart. Some things Lauren experiences, says or does are foreign to me and some I can’t say I understand. However, Michele did a wonderful job showing readers a world view honestly without covering it up to the sometimes negative outcomes when a family doesn’t focus on their family first before their ministry outside the home.A very raw, tough, gripping novel that I highly recommend for people to read, especially because it shows how real, loving and close God is to us. It reflects how He alone can make beauty from ashes!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is a poignant, heartrending exploration of the devastating effect missionary work can sometimes have on families.

      Living in the midst of poverty-stricken Nepal, Lauren Coventry and her thirteen year old son, Ryan, are struggling to cope with the difficulties of day to day life. Lauren is trying to be supportive of her husband Sam, who is off for weeks at a time fulfilling his dream (and self-proclaimed calling) to spread the word of God while trying to improve conditions in outlying communities. Although Lauren has a strong faith of her own, the isolation and growing distance in their family leads her to question Sam's zealous pursuit of his ministry and his lack of conern for its effect on their family. When a childhood friend reaches out to her on social media, Lauren's viewpoint of her family's sacrifice for her husband's dreams begins to change and she grows increasingly concerned over the disconnect between her and Ryan. When tragedy strikes, will Lauren find the strength and courage to do what is best for her family?

      Lauren fully admits she is partially to blame for her current situation but she cannot help but resent Sam's intractable beliefs and decisions. She wants to honor her marriage vows and support Sam's dreams, but at what cost? The changes in Ryan were immediate and despite Sam's pleas to give him time to adjust, two years after their move, he is growing more distant and unwilling to communicate. Lauren is fed up with Sam's edicts and she is frustrated with living without any conveniences that would make their life more bearable. Unable to reach her son as he grows more despondent, Lauren is sinking under the weight of living a life that is not of her choosing. But how can she reconcile her desire to put the needs of herself and her son ahead of Sam's calling to do God's work?

      Sam's need to do missionary work is admirable but his zealotry blinds him to the effect his work is having on his family. He does not take Lauren's needs or objections into consideration as he blindly follows his path. His complete and utter disregard for his son's downward spiral is incredibly frustrating as he puts his efforts into bettering the lives of others while ignoring the pain his family is experiencing. Sam's devotion to his cause, his fervent belief in God's will and his expectation that Lauren submit to his will makes it impossible for her to have productive discussions with him about their fraying family. His reactions and edicts are counterproductive to Ryan's increasing despair and Sam absolutely refuses to take Lauren's concerns seriously.

      Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix is an emotionally compelling and often times, heartbreaking, novel about the difficulties of balancing a family’s needs with missionary work. This thought-provoking portrayal of family in crisis shows how easy it is to put service to God before family and the destruction such a decision can have when conviction blinds them to the needs of their immediate family. An absolutely outstanding cautionary tale that is deeply affecting and will linger in readers' minds long after the last page is turned.
    • 5/5
      Of Stillness And Storm is a difficult book — a book that is filled with hard things. Hard things beautifully expressed. There is much loss and sorrow and despair in Michele Phoenix’s book, but also a glimmer of hope and love that transcends the failings of men. This book is about relationships and would be a wonderful addition to a book club’s list. There is so much to talk about.Lauren, Sam and Ryan are a family of three living in Nepal. As Sam brings God’s word to remote villages, Lauren and Sam struggle to survive the power outages, unrest, pollution and utter foreignness of Kathmandu. Called to live among its people, Nepal seems to require more than they can give. But is it God or Nepal that demands so much? Or a vision that is man-centered?Of Stillness And Storm is told in Lauren’s first person voice. Present day events are set against past recollections allowing the reader to see the path that has led to the circumstances the family faces. Sam is remote, not really present in his family even when he returns from the field. Ryan is angry, more angry than a typical teenager. And Lauren tries to hold it all together, even as she slips into a forgotten life a world away. While the reader could spend time examining the wisdom of mission work or the toll it takes on the family, it is really the family’s own choices, not the purposes of God that impact this story. The family portrayed could live next door . . . or in your own home. As I stated above, this book is beautifully written. The language is exquisite and almost painful as it reveals sorrow and loss. The ending is not what I would have wanted; no fairy tale endings here. But it is gritty and above all real.For those who want a book to challenge and expand their thinking, Of Stillness And Storm is a good choice. Not a quick or happy read, it is a recommended one.Highly Recommended.Great for book clubs.Audience: adults.(Thanks to LitFuse and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 5/5
      Title: Of Stillness and StormAuthor: Michele PhoenixPages: 336Year: 2016Publisher: Thomas NelsonMy rating is 5 out of 5 stars.Before writing the review, I took time to visit the author’s site and I hope others do as well. The ministry that Michele is engaged in is very unique as I haven’t heard of anything close to what she does. I also read of a woman with a grounded faith that came through adversity, trials and good experiences too. Most of all, at least to me, she is a flesh and blood example of someone who is unashamed to speak truth about the experiences of Missionary Kids.Of Stillness and Storm is one novel that grabs the soul of the reader and its tentacles reach so deeply into the reader that it doesn’t let up until the end of the story. Well, maybe not even then because I don’t think I will forget this novel for quite a while, if ever. Michele uses flashbacks to take readers into a single family’s experience with answering a call to go to Nepal with young child. The father, Sam, is gone for weeks at a time. His wife, Lauren, works at a school and their son, Ryan, attends a different school and loves soccer. While in Nepal they begin to experience a slow disintegration of the family unit. The one member who carries the brunt of it is Ryan. Michele crafts a family that at times focuses on individual members. For me, Sam is someone I would love to shake till he awakes and sees how his choices have fractured his marriage and relationship with Ryan. Lauren had her part in the problems too as did Ryan. Some of these problems I think came out of Sam’s unwillingness to see what was really becoming of his family.When Lauren finally realizes what is going in her own heart, what an awakening occurs in her heart, mind and soul. I could relate to the shame a mother feels when she hasn’t made wise choices and how they affect the family. I could also relate to the healing Presence of God when I honestly faced the issues of my heart. Some things Lauren experiences, says or does are foreign to me and some I can’t say I understand. However, Michele did a wonderful job showing readers a world view honestly without covering it up to the sometimes negative outcomes when a family doesn’t focus on their family first before their ministry outside the home.A very raw, tough, gripping novel that I highly recommend for people to read, especially because it shows how real, loving and close God is to us. It reflects how He alone can make beauty from ashes!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”