The first blessing is our house that we have lived in for the last eight years has been sold. The bank approved the sale, the papers are signed and the boxes are being slowly packed. We are very sad to leave this house that God dropped in our laps. We bought before the housing boom and we weren't actively looking to buy a house. It has served the kingdom with having many life group meetings in it's living room, many birthday parties, going away parties, and baby showers in our basement. It has been a house of many impromptu BBQs and family gatherings. It is also been a hotel for many out of town guests. We are thankful for all the memories that we have had in this house with our two kids and handful of housemates. The papers were signed and sent on Monday, July 16. With these doors closing we began to actively search for apartments online.
Wednesday, July 18 we posted on our Facebook that we were going apartment hunting in SW Portland and ventured out to look at a few places. Joel and I spent a few hours touring a few developments and a few hours just driving around calling different places and checking online. It was kind of disappointing what was out there or should we say not out there. The places that had vacancies didn't have washers and dryers. How do we continue with cloth diapers or have kids with all the laundry they produce without paying an extra arm and leg to wash our clothes? But as we drove home... I had this peace in my heart and we were talking about how God has had perfect timing and plans for us. He gave us the current house we are living in, he had people put an offer on the house the day Addysen was born so we didn't have to show the house any more. And we finally signed the papers after my sister's wedding, which was another big event we were trying to get through. We also thought it would be cool if we could stay in this house for when Zach and Amanda returned from China so they can come "home" to a place of familiarity. This verse in the Bible popped into my head: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:25-34) With that conversation we drove home after a full day of apartment hunting.
We got home to some Facebook comments, but the one that changed our world was from one of Joel's friends from Seminary telling him to give her a call. I left to go to a kid's stuff exchange when Joel called his friend. He called me while I was driving and told me the news! His friend has a house in SW Portland and wanted to see if we wanted to rent it. We knew we couldn't afford to rent a house, especially with the utilities being more expensive than in an apartment. But God had other plans for us.
Thursday, July 19 we agreed to go take a look at the house and talk about if this arrangement was feasible. We looked up the address on google maps and were really excited about the little red house at the end of the street. When we pulled up to the house we were overcome with emotions when the house was repainted since the google maps picture to the EXACT colors we were dreaming of painting our current house if we ever had the money. Joel didn't want to get our hopes up, but I knew we were embarking on a God moment. I started to tear up the second we set foot inside the house. The house is on it's final phase of being completely remodeled. We got the tour and each room is perfectly designed for our little family as if God was telling this couple, "this is the cuppboards that Joel and Lisa always eye when they walk through Ikea... or this is the colors that they would choose or this is the way Lisa would love to organize things." I couldn't help but give Joel's friend a hug and we both began to cry tears of joy!
We sat down to discuss the details of the living arrangements and they started to share their story of the house and how they have been praying for us and wanted this house to be used for ministry. That they were thinking of housing missionaries in the house or something of the like. So, when they saw our Facebook post about apartment hunting they knew that this was the arrangement! They shared that they have been blessed much and wanted to bless others. That their heart for Jesus aligns with our heart for Jesus for this neighborhood. They want to work with whatever budget we can afford and basically is saying that the house is ours to live in.
I am still in awe of how God orchestrated the timing of this all. That their remodel on their new house will be complete about the same time as we need to be out of this house. That Joel's friend checked her Facebook when she did (and she said she never really checks Facebook) to post on Joel's wall. We are in awe that we will be close to the school that Missio partners with so we can be more of a presence in that school. That it's near church and has room for our family and friends in the ways we entertain and love on people with the space we have. It couldn't be more perfect. I am in awe of such a wonderful gift God has given us. It's a confirmation for us that Missio is where he is calling us to be at this time.
Please pray for us in this transition time that Kaden adjusts well to a new space, that we are wise with our finances and budget enough to pay off school loans and have enough for start up costs and some furniture we will need and that we raise some more support for Joel's position at Missio to cover our insurance (since I am no longer working). But most importantly pray that we will be missional in this area of SW Portland that many will experience the hands and feet of Jesus in a positive, loving way. We are really excited to move into this neighborhood and be obedient to where God is calling us to.
