Close and Open on Friday

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We don’t begin to understand God’s timing, but sometimes I think it is sprinkled with a sense of humor.  Even if He isn’t laughing, the orchestration of events in our lives must bring Him joy as He watches the plan unfold.  Take our American home for example.  This summer we spent at least 10 if not more days of our furlough: scrubbing, painting, mulching, replacing a fan, waxing floors, trimming, re doing entrance steps, resurfacing back patio, and more.  During all this work, expense and time away from family and relaxation we decided that we really did not want to hang on to a place that we called “our haven” for 8 years.  It went on the market on a Monday.  By that Wednesday we had two offers.  There was even a bidding war (unheard of in several years, in the poor economy). 

This past Friday the new owners signed the papers on our home in Ringgold, GA.

This past Friday in Papua, Indonesia we began to move into our new home.  I was on my way back home from picking the boys up from school, when Darron called to say that 15 young men had shown up to help us “clean” our house.  Darron had gone earlier and requested that 5 girls come and help.  He asked, “What are we going to do with 15 guys?”  3 or 4 started cleaning windows.  Man power equals muscle power.  The bird cage made out of iron wood (the only wood here that termites will not eat)  was picked up by them all and carried to it’s new spot under the trees (a good 5 minute walk).  Andrew and I transported the parrots by our car.  The male was frantic and climbed all over my feet while I was driving, using his beak to pull up and his sharp claws to hang on.  It was quite the ride!  The trampoline, book shelves, two big wardrobes are now home.

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Rumor has it that the oven will be moved from our current house Sunday a.m. and then the ladies will begin to cook for a party at noon, in the new house.  If my oven is going, I’m going! : )  So if indeed that does happen we will move the bedding, etc. over on Sunday.  I am left marveling at the timing of it all.  We let our American home go at a loss to us, but we are moving into what most people here would call a mansion.  Aubrey designed it.  The floor plan is simple but open and lovely.  Windows and air abound.  Don’t you find it just slightly amusing that one house would close and another open for the same family all on the same Friday, a world away?  But that is just like my God!  Blessings as you read and pray….may you experience God’s timing in your life through closed and open doors, windows or houses.

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