God just took us to the movies, metaphorically speaking

So, you remember when I was talking about how God wants to amaze and WOW us with things we can't even begin to imagine, kinda like how we took Suzy to the movie theater for the first time and blew her little mind? Wellll...... God went and dun' it, as we would say in Stokes County. He blew our minds.

We just got an email assuring us that in 2 weeks when we leave for Pasadena, we will have an apartment to live in! Hooray for not being homeless! And not just any apartment....it's fully furnished, ready to walk in and live in. Like, including forks and linens and even a crib and all kinds of crazy stuff I was wondering how in the world we would get. More than we could ever ask or imagine.

Oh, and it just so happens that rent is HALF what every other apartment in Pasadena goes for, including Fuller campus housing. And utilities are included. That's not just going to the movie theater for the first time...that's surround sound and reclining seats with arm rests that raise up so you can snuggle AND a bottom-less can of caramel popcorn mixed with salty popcorn.

It is SO obviously God and no one else because yall, we did not meet the requirements for this apartment, not one bit. You see, it's for missionaries that are coming to Pasadena for furlough and then going right back overseas. You have to work with a recognized missions agency. Required. You have to sign a piece of paper saying you meet those requirements to even apply. Well, we didn't sign it, but rather wrote a note explaining our situation, that we don't work with a missions agencies, we're not on furlough, we see the US as our "overseas mission field", and they said YES. And that's why it is completely God.

He sure kept us hanging, that's for sure. I mean, 2 weeks before we are supposed to leave? Are you kidding me? But God kept confirming time and again that this silence was not a closed door but a time to wait and trust. Just last night, we had a special time of prayer at church for people ready for some kind of breakthrough, a needed answer. I was the first one to go running up for prayer. And a close friend shared some really specific words of encouragement with me last night that we were heading in the right direction. It's nice that God sends along little hints, a cup of cold water to get you to the end of the waiting period. I have a feeling we'll need to be using these lessons learned of patience and faith again one day. Oh boy!

Thanks for your prayers and support and sharing this journey with us...I have to keep reminding myself that now the journey has just begun....we've still got cultural adjustment and job searching and master's degree and all kids of fun stuff ahead of us...whew! But at least we have a bed =)