
Sometimes you simply stand back in complete awe and wonder at the handiwork of the Lord! We all speak of and know of the faithfulness of God. Yet, being flesh and blood, we often wonder if we truly have the faith that is pleasing to the Lord.
I have commented on numerous occasions that it seems as if we are leaping into a deep, dark abyss and that some-where down there are the hands of the Lord waiting to catch us. Well, we found out that those divine hands are truly there and they have caught us safely and securely.
We have been working overtime to get our house onto the market. Its sale was an important element of moving toward the realization of Mission Senegal. Without a sale, we would be obligated to our mortgage payment ~ seriously ham-stringing us financially. So, it was imperative that this happen! The market in Woodstock is like everywhere else... hit and miss!! You simply never know what is going to happen when you put a house up for sale. There are, in our neighbourhood, a number of houses that have been up for sale for over a year. In other parts of the community the same thing was happening. We approached this sale with faith and fear mingled together!!
After much work, interrupted by times by important trips to take care of elements of our mission, we felt close enough to sale that we could bring in the real estate agent. On this past Friday (December 14) we finally had our agent come in to take pictures and get 29 Keenan Drive on the market. The agent came in the early afternoon and took pictures that showed the best our home had to offer!! All the cleaning, painting, building, trimming and other hard work was proudly on display! The sale went "live" online at about 4 that afternoon.
Saturday morning, we got a call that we needed to get ready for our first showing - at 4 PM! Needless to say we were quite stunned but excited at the prospect! There were a few things to do to make the house totally ready and with the help of some great friends (Mike & Beth Wittmeier) we "got 'er done". The agent came just before 4 and put up the for sale sign in front of the house. (Digging through the ice and snow to plant it firmly).
A few hours later there was a phone call and a few questions from those that saw the house were answered. This was Saturday, however, and Saturday evening means prayer. Faithfully, when we were in town, we were at the church sanctuary to pray from 7-8 weekly. Mike and I joined with others to seek the Lord for His blessings on CUPC and that in all of our lives, the will of God would be done. Inwardly there was a cry to the Lord for a miracle!!!
On my way home from prayer I started getting texts from my wife... "Where are you"... "We have to talk to the agent"... I did not answer them as we were almost home anyway. Walking in the door I was met by my wife with phone in hand talking to our agent. We walked back to my office and engaged in a conversation that was centred around an offer for our home. An offer only $1,000 less than our asking price.
SOLD!!!
I just found the hands of God, in that darkened abyss called faith!! We leaped, were falling quickly, and He caught us, just as I knew He would. Mission Senegal is indeed an amazing journey of faith but it is also an amazing journey in the perfect will of God!!
I had walked into the house straight into that phone conversation. Completing this convo I walked out to find the man who had been installing the ceiling in the basement. There were a few things that were needed to be done, requested by the buyers, so I showed him those things. As we chatted about how amazing it was to have already sold, our agent walked in with the papers to sign. All papers initialled and signed we stood back and glowed in the goodness of God. The glow had not even had a chance to dim and our agent let us know that they were going to support us financially in Mission Senegal!! Could anything get any better???
Thanks for praying!! January 31 we will be vacating what has been our home for the last 8 years. This will not be the easiest of steps, but we continue to walk in confidence in the Lord. With this miracle, we can move forward in confidence toward a February departure for French West Africa!! I have nothing less than a complete confidence that God will continue to show Himself strong, mighty and able to take care of His own!!