The Roller Coaster Continues

Today Sarah and I had a very testing moment.

The landlord called us about our apartment. We had left a message that we had a few things we had found that needed to be fixed. One was a leaking valve, more like pouring, to the washing machine. Another was two tiles in the shower that were broken through, so every time we took a shower water would be pouring into the wall. By the time I was on my fourth item he stopped me and said, "maybe we need to return your deposit back to you and let you find another place to live". Sarah and I was about to be forced to move out and begin searching for a new place to live. After talking a little bit more he then told me he would call me back.

I start praying.

Over an hour later the landlord shows up and we begin to talk. I don't know whether he has having a really bad morning or if God was changing his heart toward us (I'm inclined to believe the later) but he said, "let me show you another apartment". He explained that the problems in the place we're living are bad enough that he would need to have people working on it for a a considerable amount of time. He would rather not be working on it while someone was living there.

I'm giving you the short version here, but Sarah and I were not happy. It looked like we were going to move again, with just Sarah and I doing all the work! Sarah and I debated over what to do and finally came to the conclusion that the move would be best.

The good that has come out of it so far is

1. Three people from the church were able to be reached and they came to help us.
   
2. We met the landlord's parents. The mother cleaned and the father is a handy-man. They were kind and generous. They went above and beyond trying to make the new place nice for us.
3. The new place is a lot nicer. It has a new stove and new refrigerator in it. All of the kitchen cabinets are much nicer. The bathrooms are in much better condition.
   

The bad that has come out of it so far is

1. I've had to pay some money to get the electricity and water turned off and back on in a new location (which takes place tomorrow).
2. I've hurt my back. Only one of the people who was able to come had a strong back so the both of us moved all the heavy stuff.
3. We're not done. There's a lot of heavy moving left and a lot of boxes still unpacked.
4. This has delayed Sarah from job hunting and will delay me getting into the church office and begin my work there.

I like the new place a lot more. I think Sarah and I will be a lot happier there, but the second move rather rough on both of us. We've been working and working with no time to recover.

Please pray:

1. That God will give us rest.
2. That Sarah and I will reflect Christ to the landlord, his parents, and others that work on the homes we are living in.
3. That Sarah will find a job soon that pays well enough for us to afford to make payments on a car (we really need a second car, and eventually replace my Suburban for something that uses less gas).
4. ABOVE ALL THESE. . .pray for Nathan, Tricia, and Gwyneth.