Thank you for buckling in with us on our most interesting housing journey.  The meeting yesterday with the agent representing the owner of the land that we are trying to buy did not go as we had hoped.  Our Asian Access (A2) business manager had put in a counter-bid to the original asking price.  Yesterday, their agent came back and said that the owner is not willing to budge from the original asking price.  This is pretty unheard of in the real estate world here (and why did they make us wait 3 or 4 weeks to come back and tell us they weren’t willing to negotiate the price?)  In addition, we think that we would also  need to pay for the official surveying costs, as well as the grading of the land that would need to be done.  Our A2 board member, Phil, made one more attempt to give a higher counter-offer, just under the original asking price, reminding the owner that we would pay cash and need to pay for these other things. We will see what kind of reply we get.

By the end of the night last night, after putting kids to bed and getting ready for another school week, we were somewhat discouraged as we processed this recent turn of events.  We really thought that the Lord was opening up the door to this property.  I finally have really had peace about building a home;  we both love this location.  Those who have come and prayed with us have also had different confirmations in this direction.  But the non-budging owner has mystified us.  We don’t know if he’s trying NOT to sell this to us for whatever reason;  we could speculate many things.  But the door doesn’t feel wide open anymore.

So we are back to asking for your sustaining prayers.  If this is the path that God has us on, we would really love things to move along so that when we come back from our short U.S  home assignment in late August there would be a home (even if unfinished!) that we could move into.  At this point even if things move along that may not be possible.  Coming off of a really tiring week, my heart is a bit weary with the prospect of still numerous moves up ahead.

This morning a hymn from long ago popped into my head – the words have been reminding me of truths that I need to hear.

O God, our help in ages past, 
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:

Under the shadow of thy throne,
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all its sons away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past, 
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while troubles last,
and our eternal home!