The Beginning of Something New

I'm lying on the floor, in a completely empty house, writing this newsletter. It's kind of ironic; when we first moved into this house over 2 years ago this is where I began. There was no computer sans a small box which the monitor was on - I sat on the floor. It's funny how things tend to come full circle.

In October of 2006 our family packed our belongings (no small task) put them, along with ourselves, on a train to Johannesburg and began the trek into Swaziland. At that point we had no idea where we were going once in the country, no transport , and not sure of what the future held. We did however have friends in the north mountains of the country who had offered their home to us for a couple of days.

After our first 4 days in the country we borrowed a car and headed down to Mbabane to look for a house. Again, we had no idea where to look, and had the challenge that we needed to return to the mountains that evening toreturn the car. We didn't know when we would get another opportunity to come down to look.

After our first two visits to estate agents we were a bit discouraged in that we had been told there was nothing available (or what was available was too expensive). At this point, we looked in the paper again and realized that there was a three bedroom house near Mbabane which looked promising. We called the estate agent and made an appointment to meet him within 30 minutes.

As we pulled into the shared lot (there are 2 1/2 houses on the property) we immediately fell in love. First off was the view... wow! You could see all down the Malagwan and into Ezulwhene (the valley of heaven). Next: Lisa had prayed for two things in particular, a fireplace and a bathtub. Once inside we discovered that there was a fireplace, and not only one, but two bathtubs. The living room was spacious, the bedrooms well sized, and the neighbors friendly. We were flabbergasted.

However, we didnt want to presume that this was God's provision, and acknowledged that we might just be jumping at the first thing that came our way. We walked to the side of the house and prayed that if this was the house that the Lord had for us that the agent would drop the price by R200... without us asking he offered to drop it E300! Within 2 hours of coming to town, we entered into a lease agreement for where our family would stay.

For the last (near) 3 years, this has been our home - the only place that our son Michael has known. We have made friends, built tire swings, drawn cartoon animals on the walls, acquired animals, and grown as a family. It has been home. Today, the Lord has provided a new place for us. It is smaller... a little less certain... definitely quirkier. But it is God's provision. Our new child will be born there in November. We will remain a family. It will be our home.

Thank you for your prayers during this time. We are in awe of the wonderful things that the Lord has done through and for us. With the encouragement of what He has done, I am certain that there is greater things to come. Thank you for being a part of that.

With love,

Jim & Lisa