"This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see."
-Corrie Ten Boon, The Hiding Place
Three weeks have passed so quickly. Twenty one days. Countless loads of laundry, meals made, dishes washed. Shoes and coats gathered again and again as the weather warmed and cooled. Conversation and prayer over finances, ministry, loved ones, and Basque Country. Time lines changing to fit a future we are so sure of and yet still feel so far from.
Three weeks ago, we paused fundraising efforts for a time of prayer. To hear from Him about direction and timelines and ready to lay it all down if asked. And then, in the middle of not fundraising, a very very large matching pledge was given, and the direction was renewed and clarified. We are currently at 50% raised to be released to start up Young Life in Basque Country, Spain. A whole 20% closer than where we were three weeks ago. We had hoped and planned to transition this summer. Packing up, renting our house, and selling the rest of our belongings just in time to start the boys fresh this Fall to begin their first year of school in Basque.
We are now readjusting to leave by January, 2014. Six months difference. Middle of the year moving and schooling options varying. It is not what we would have chosen but it is good. It is good because when we leave is one of the only things completely out of our hands. There is so much we can choose, change, and hurry through. Leaving is not one of them. So to have it change is incredibly challenging and freeing at the same time. Challenging, because we are readjusting expectations, time lines, and schooling. Freeing because it is a beautiful reminder that we are not calling the shots. And we are not orchestrating this on our own.
We are half way there. We want to live out the rest of the 50% well. With joy and expectation. Enjoying every moment of family, friendship, and ministry here and now. And trusting that ultimately it is God who sets the time lines and not us.
Thank you for walking this out with us. In prayer and encouragement. We can't wait to share the next steps with you...
