just some thoughts

So, what do you do when your plan A, B, and C fall through?

First of all, you realize how stupid it was to put your faith in your own plan, in a person, in a company, in someone other than God, who has promised to do more than we could ever ask or imagine.

When we decided to move to Pasadena, it was a step of faith, but at the same time we felt very confident in our secret weapon: the fact that Elvis's company has a plant nearby. We imagined he would easily get transferred and so it was a step of faith, but not a huge one because we felt like we could count on that job.

Well, it didn't work out.

We also imagined that housing would not be a problem b/c FUller offers affordable (in comparison to other California prices) housing.

Well, that didn't work out either.

No apartments in our price range. There was one house, right in front of Kelly's house which would be awesome, but it wasn't the cheapest and wasn't exactly what we wanted. However, it was our in-the-bag plan B (or was it C or D by this point?) b/c it has been available for over 6 months. Surely no one would get it right now. Except they did. Plan B out the window.

So...where does this leave us? Three weeks away from our hopeful departure date, and no housing, no job, no flights...but also no job or housing or possessions in El Salvador after mid-December. Not the most comfortable state to be in. But if God confirmed time and again that NOW is the time by helping us get the residency papers so quickly, selling everything so quickly, etc, we have to trust that he still has something else up his sleeve...something better than all of our Plan A's.

He does that just because he loves us and loves to surprise us, just as we took delight in preparing Suzy's birthday surprises. She had never even imagined the possibility of watching a movie on a huge, movie theater screen because she had only seen Elmo on her tiny DVD player. How could her little brain dream of something so much bigger and better? But when we took her for her birthday surprise, she was in complete awe that something so amazing existed and she didn't even know about it. She hasn't stopped talking about it since! See where I'm going with this?

I think this puts us exactly where God wants us....he's helping us learn how to trust in his goodness b/c literally we have no other options left. Every attempt we have made at trying to come up with our own "best plan" has fallen through.

Let me be honest with you...I'm scared to death. I want to make sure Suzy has a roof over her head. I would love to be able to assure those people that ask me "But you have a job right?" that we did in fact have all of our bases covered when they raise their eyebrows at our seeming lack of preparation.

Could you take time right now to pray for us? For an apartment, for a job, etc etc etc. For emotional transitions too. Thanks friends...I am looking forward to sharing some kind of great news soon, and I'm sure it will be bigger and better than anything I could ever imagine!