The House is Sold

Quite a 12 month period. Last September we began a four month interim ministry at West Highland Baptist Church in Hamilton. January and February (08) we did some preaching elsewhere but capitalized on a quieter schedule by finishing the lower level of our house. This was to 1. enjoy the entire house and 2. to prepare the house to sell. We finished the room just in time to list the house and leave for Mexico in March. We had a lot of interest in the house and accepted a conditional offer that later fell through. After returning from Mexico we took the house off the market but continued to dialogue with our Realtor and good friend Dale Groombridge.

In April we began six months of interim ministry in Woodstock at Oxford Baptist Church and decided to put our house back on the market later in the summer. We hoped it would sell before October so we could go to Mexico with the house sold. Finishing at Oxford at the end of September, we had three Sundays committed in October to ministry and travel, and then we were leaving for Mexico sometime during the week of October 20. Then an offer came, a really bad offer, but a purchaser that could close at the end of October. As we left for Chicago last Thursday, we dismissed another lame attempt to purchase the house by the same buyer. This week we gave her 24 - 48 hours to meet our price or we were going to leave next week for Mexico and she would not get the house. I had my doubts she would come through.

Unknown to us, a small group from Emmanuel, filled with dear friends, began to pray in earnest Wednesday night for our house to sell. Thursday the call came and after a bit of back and forth, we learned at 5 pm yesterday (Friday) that the buyer had accepted our terms. We rejoice at the wisdom and faithfulness of God. We now have two weeks to pack up and store our stuff and then leave for Mexico.

It is time to move on! The cloud is moving. Where it will lead ultimately is not our concern. That is the Lord's. And he will direct our steps. The fact is, we are more flexible now than we have ever been in our lives. Our home will be wherever the Lord has us. He will be our refuge, as He has always been. Our plan is to buy again as soon as the cloud settles. The prayer and encouragement of our friends and family are of such importance to us. We are grateful.

Gary