We also prayed that our orchard would sustain minimal damage. Fortunately, our family and house were unharmed, but more than half of the pears that we had grown for about a year and were close to being harvested fell off the trees before they were ready.

The storm also blew away the bird netting, and left the trees exposed. Disheartened, I told God that I would not be able to continue next year, nor would I be able to give the fruit away for free to families and children in need.

However, God encouraged me to keep going through prayer, reading the Bible, and through the prayers and support of my friends in the Lord.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

and there are no grapes on the vines;

even though the olive crop fails,

and the fields lie empty and barren;

even though the flocks die in the fields,

and the cattle barns are empty,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord!

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Habakkuk 3:17,18

Then this summer, something really strange happened. The salt damage caused by last year's typhoon, caused the leaves and blossoms on several pear farms to fall off. This caused several farms to have a failing harvest while the two pear farms that I manage had a better than usual harvest than usual.

I was convinced that God protected our orchards. We were also hit by a typhoon this month, but there was no damage at all. Amazingly, the swarms of stink bugs that caused great damage to the pears last year, did not affect the orchard this year at all. That meant I didn't have to apply any pesticides before harvest, which I hate doing the most.

God listens to our prayers, encourages us, supports us, and protects us from various attacks.

It makes me think of the following Psalm which I love.

I look up to the mountains—

does my help come from there?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel

never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!

The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm

and watches over your life.

The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,

both now and forever.

Psalms 121