We have a new home

Well, it’s been long in coming, but Angel & I, as a married couple, will soon be moving out (again) into the world. We never thought it would take so long to be on our own, after we fell on hard times and moved in with Angel’s mom so many years ago. It seemed even more remote when we bought a house together after that, when we wanted to help Angel’s mom out after she fell on hard times too. The process of separation & independence has not been easy for all of us; it’s been an emotional one to say the least. Yet God knew well in advance how to best engineer the circumstances of our lives so that we would benefit the most from His loving care.

This week started off with a lot of discouragement; prospective properties that our realtor would bring to our attention were gone in a matter of hours, and the thought of having to settle for less than what we wanted didn’t appeal to us. I felt depressed and yet I didn’t want to give up hope. Then a miracle happened - the better home that God had in mind (remember the other townhouse with the 18 offers on it?) came to us. Here’s how it happened:

On Tuesday we got a call from our friends Colin & Galya. Colin’s mom has some real estate dealings in… wait for it… north-east Edmonton. A friend of hers also has some rental property (same area), which he wanted to sell. I called Colin’s mom, who knew our situation, who then matched us up with her friend with the rental property. We couldn’t see the place until Friday, and only I could go in pretending that I was a workman. Apparently the renters are very sensitive and would be offended if they knew I was there as an interested buyer. I hated the idea of deception but if I wanted to see the place I had to go along with it.

So Angel & I went for a drive to see the place, and we were excited to find that it was in a complex we had toured before and had liked. It’s in a nice looking residential area with nearby shopping, public services, a park and easy access to the highway going out of Edmonton, which is exactly what we wanted. No smell of chicken fat here! Also, with the offer being made to just us we had no fear of being out bid like before. But wait, it gets even better. Although the renters would need 90 days notice, which would put our possession date at September 1, Colin’s mom offered to let us stay at a unit that she owns in the same complex, which would be available the day we have to be out of our current residence, for the six weeks prior to possession.

And who is slated to live in that unit, if they so choose, when they come back to Canada? Colin & Galya. So now it looks like our best friends may also be our neighbors! Finally Friday comes; I put my grubby painter clothes on and I drive to our prospective home to do the “inspection.” (Now I know how the 12 spies felt when they scouted out the promised land) It’s a fixer-upper, but not as bad as the “chicken fat” condo we looked at – mainly some patch & paint work. It has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and an unfinished basement. At about 900 square feet it’s just the right size for us. So we met with the owners this evening to go over the paperwork, and now it’s a done deal.

Truely, God has done a powerful work of grace by giving us the new home we have. In spite of our doubts and fear of being disappointed, we have been cared and provided for by our heavenly Father. The price, location, timing and the possibility of friends nearby have made this place a gift from Jesus. Everything just happened to fall into place, but I know from experience that things don’t just happen, because God involves Himself in our everyday affairs. Words cannot express how happy & grateful Angel & I are.

Thanks to everyone who loved us, prayed for us and encouraged us. Thanks especially to Colin & Galya, who pointed us in the right direction. You guys are true friends; we love you, miss you and we hope we become neighbors. And thank you God for providing for us, who says in His word, “He who did not spare His Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)