Patience. I am pretty sure that my Father has been trying to teach me that lesson for many years. However, I'm learning that maybe it isn't what I always thought it was. You see, patience isn't sitting around waiting on God to open a door or provide what you need. Patience isn't letting go of your dreams. Patience isn't a command to stop trying. Patience is rest--Resting in the fact that God is completely sovereign over a situation. Patience is an active belief that God will provide in His time. But patience is active.
For the past 6 months, we have been praying for God to provide land in Alex to build a resource centre/office for The Hidden Place. I honestly had no idea where to begin looking as townships have their own culture when it comes to buying land. Basically, it's by word of mouth. So, I started spreading the word--telling anyone I could that we were looking for land. For a while there weren't really any leads, and then about a month ago something happened. A guy who does some recruitment for camp came to me and had some potential land. I was beyond thrilled. We went and looked at the property and chatted about what would need to be done to create what we wanted. And then I waited.
I waited on "the man" in Alex to come back to me with an offer. I waited to sit down with him and talk about prices and conditions, etc. And it never happened.
Earlier this week I found out that the purchase has most likely fallen through as there are some issues between him and the municipality. Not really sure of all the details--I was just told it wasn't going to happen.
So here we are--back to searching. Back to being patient while knocking on every door we can to find out anything we can about land. I am truly confident that in the right time, God will provide exactly the piece of land He wants us to have--but I still have days when I don't want to wait. I have so many days when I'm ready for this venture to continue to grow--when I am ready to have a place our kids can come to grow in their walk with Christ. I am ready to take this to the next step.
And then I wonder--maybe God is waiting for me to really be ready. He must know when the right time is--He must know what needs to be in order first. He knows. And He will provide.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed and encouraged me during this time--please don't stop your prayers! Let's continue to go to God with this and trust that He will open the right door at the right time.
In other news, we will be having a follow up day with our kids on the 17th of July. We are taking them to a local park for the morning where we will have a braai, games, and worship--after that they will split into their groups from camp and chat about how things have been since. The local leaders will be there to encourage them in their faith and touch base to let them know we are still here. It will be an amazing day--please be in prayer that all the kids will be able to attend!
Also, I will be home for a few weeks in June/July so I am looking forward to seeing many of you during that time :)
lots of love--
Court
