A House

Tuesday afternoon found us walking the streets of Chepo (the neighborhood is called Margaritas), asking anyone we met if they knew of a rental house.  Neighbor after neighbor told us that they didn't know of anything, and that it was difficult to find rental houses in that area.  We saw a couple of rooms for rent, but I wasn't quite willing to go that route.

We had prayed before leaving that God would open a door for us to move soon.  But things were not looking promising.  Then one woman pointed down the path behind her house,

"I heard the house down there is for rent."  I couldn't tell which house she was pointing towards, but we followed her directions to talk to the step-daughter of the owner.  She took us rather unenthusiastically to see the house, but her mother had forgotten to leave the key.  The house didn't look like much from the outside, but when she said "two bedrooms" we were encouraged.  At least we had one viable option.  We agreed to meet the owner the next morning, since he lived in another town.

We continued on our way.  On another side street, we asked an older gentleman about rental houses.  He pointed from where we had just come, mentioning the house we had already looked at. Then he stopped for a moment.

"Didn't I meet you in Gamboa?"

I realized that he had visited our church in Gamboa about a month ago and we had talked briefly. I had shared with him about our desire to move to Chepo.  We learned at that time that our church had contributed to the construction of HIS church, in Chepo.  Coincidence, huh?

He ended up giving us a small tour of the church (I also found out they have a Sunday school program, which would be nice for the girls) and pointed us to another possible rental.  As we talked, he said, “The doors are open for you here!"   We also learned that another couple who works at the church are missionaries who we had worked with in the past through the Home program.

We were encouraged by this, although we didn't find any other rental houses.  The next morning we got a call from the owner of the one house we had seen.  He came in a taxi to pick us up at the house we were staying at, and we got a look inside the house. It was nicer on the inside than on the outside: a very decent kitchen, a newly finished bathroom, two bedrooms, and a living room/dining room area that wasn't too tiny.  All and all, not too bad a deal. And the rental price was very reasonable.

Alex and I looked at each other, and both nodded.  We told him we would take it.  We talked about when he would get the electricity hooked up (the one important detail yet to be done), and went to the nearby government office to sign the rental contract for 6 months.  In about an hour, it was all done.  We have a house!

We will wait until we hear from him that the electricity is hooked up, and probably move the last week of February.  Standing outside the house, I think Alex and I both realized how much the rhythm of our life will be changing.  Challenging, but it's a good change.  Alex and Francisco already have many plans for working with the young people of the church.  I am excited to start a small women's bible study, now that I have somewhere to invite them too.

Abigail is excited about the move, although I don't think she realizes completely what it will mean.  She does understand that we will be packing up all our stuff.  Carolyn is just having fun playing in the cardboard boxes…. Oh to be as oblivious as a two year old!

Thanks to all who have been sending encouraging words our way during this time, and for your prayers.  We can't wait to see what God is going to do!