God is so amazing! In just 10 days I went from clueless to a lease holder in Woodland Village. Honestly, I had no idea how I would get to move into the mobile home park. No. Clue. Then the day after I write about my “itchy” feet, I get a phone call from the manager at Woodland Village (WV henceforth, and yes, it is a bit like West Virginia). The one and only apartment, the one and only rental opportunity, suddenly came open. That is a God thing!
Can you imagine how utterly perfect this is? I do not need to purchase a mobile home. I don’t have that responsibility for upkeep or finances. The lease is month to month. Yes! Month to month! So if God redirects or if the worst case happens that I don’t have the funds, I can move without penalty. The complete freedom this gives is amazing! I plan to be there for at least the next year, if not much longer, as I do the residency program with ForgeAmerica, but one never knows. It has two bedrooms, hardwood floors in the bedrooms, lots of storage, a private entrance, a place for my bike! It is easy to find and right by the mailboxes. 
The timing could not be more perfect. As Barry starts his treatment and needs limited exposure to germs, I’m able to lessen that risk. The residency program starts the end of September. CCDA National Conference is in early September. I can be out of one place and in another at just the right time.
In every way this was perfect. It so screamed “God Thing” it was almost hard not to start making plans. Yet, I did not “count my chickens before they were hatched.” Still I could not see any other outcome, even with the employment/income verification that was required. It really was a God thing. Fusion Church sent in a letter of endorsement in place of the verification. I sent in my 2009 tax return showing that I have had an income in the recent past. M and the manager talked me up to the “powers that be.” The manager was particularly interested in seeing me in the apartment because she didn’t want someone she’d have to worry would burn down the barn.
Did I mention, the apartment is part of an old barn? It is full of character which also means it is full of flaws. Yet it is definitely nicer than a number of mobile homes I’ve been in at WV. The bathroom poses the biggest hurdle at the moment, but with lots of Clorox Cleanup and a bit of rehab, it’ll be much more livable. It seems that I have gotten a bit more particular about my bathrooms since I first went to Turkey. Let’s just say, I appreciate the sanitized smell of bleach in a toilet (and the fact that there really is a toilet and not just a hole).
I’m so excited for this clear direction. More than the place, which I so appreciate for its imperfect perfection, I feel God’s blessing. Until now, I could have ideas, make plans, build limited relationships, talk about living in mission, but I could not really live it out. I’m relieved, exhilarated, dancing inside and outside, overwhelmed, thrilled and humbled. Finally, I have a clear path before me. The vistas are wide. The vision is clear. I feel like I can breathe. And what is so very cool and amazing is that God did it. God did it.
