On Friday my friend Jeanette asked how I was doing with the preparations for our move. I told her I was in a really good place. I had thought through what I wanted to ship (based on placing our furniture precisely our new home floor plan) and had a some idea of what we were going to sell on eBay, put in a garage sale or give away. I was selecting special family items that I felt needed to be given to other family members ie. Grandpa Willis’ pool table should stay on the Willis side while Grandma Cosen’s bible should stay on the Cosen’s side. (Yes, I see the irony in the choice of two items to be left here). It was good, and I had peace.
Then Saturday the wheels fell off.
All of a sudden I was completely freaked out.
For the first time since our decision to move to Swaziland I was shaken. Was this really God’s plan or was it a crazy idea that we had, maybe that I had, and had convinced everyone else of its wisdom. Did we really have confirmation? How on earth would we get rid of two thirds of our worldly possessions in order to fit in to our new house? Do we really have to spend $10,000 shipping a container of “stuff”? How will we get it all unloaded, AND get Chloe in school in Africa, and hang pictures properly on a wall that is made of cinderblock, covered with mud and paint (no dry wall used there). Holes in my new walls would be permanent!
Then I freaked out about our appliances. We would have to run 110V in the house along with 220V so that we can take our big appliances, as they are really expensive to buy there. Who would be able to help us run the 110V wiring and set up the transformer in the garage?
The rainy season was to start in November and our dams should be full by now, but they are dry. How does that affect the water supply at our house? If the dam is dry, we will have to irrigate crops from the borehole. Our house water comes from the borehole too (pumped to the top of the hill, held in a tank then gravity fed back down to our house), but if the bore hole dries up, what about our showers? Cooking? Drinking?
And what about the electricity? The price of it has gone up 1300% in the past year, and when South Africa “turns off the switch” we have brown outs or no power at all. I will pack hurricane lamps, but suddenly they didn’t seem so romantic.
God is good, and He is faithful, and He gave me a husband who knows how to calm me down. We pulled out a calendar, made a plan (I LOVE plans), moved some people around, and then asked our heavenly Father for some help (probably should have done that in reverser order). And it came. It came in the form of words of encouragement from Jere and Janet. It came in the form of our kids tackling their rooms and getting rid of things, packing treasures and helping get their space prepared. It came in the form of Ian going out to the garage and starting to purge and clean. It came in the form of Nan (our wonderful real estate agent) coming and assuring me that HE would take care of us. And then a wonderful gift – our dear friend Ralph was supposed to fly to Swaziland this week to serve at Project Canaan for 5 weeks. Sadly, his mother-in-law had a bad fall yesterday and he had to cancel his plans. And guess what? He rescheduled them to go when we move, so he can help with the 110V and the holes in the wall and the electric fencing and whatever other immediate needs we have. God has sent us a friend to help, ‘cause that is just the way He is. I am so thankful that His plans are perfect so I don’t have to worry about getting my plans right.
Today a man will come to the house to help me get some big items listed on eBay. Nan will come with a “home stager” to help get the house ready for showing. Tomorrow Woody will come and help us get some painting and fixing done. Then we list the house for sale on the market and it will be official.
Oh, and today we also go to the police station to get our fingerprints done so that we can submit them to the Canadians for police background checks. We need these to apply for work permits that will allow us to live in Swaziland.
I am not freaked out today. Today is a good day and I am thankful for His peace that passes all understanding. Be encouraged today friends.
Luke 12:22-32 Do Not Worry
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Amen.
