Last year we took a scouting trip to Seattle, Washington, to see how we liked it and to see if maybe God was leading us to that city. We anticipated every moment of the two weeks we were going to be visiting. What were we going to do? see? Who were we going to try to impact? Where would we serve? Unending questions loaded our minds, or mine, at least.
We encountered a few of what we believed were angels in disguise. We gave what we could to some. We ached at the end of our journey because we didn't know when we'd be back. We tried many times to make our way back to the Northwest and God simply said, "not yet." We believed that God gave us a love for the Emerald City and we knew we were coming back. What we didn't know was how or when. We didn't want to give up on our attempts to go, but we decided to wait, since that was what God was saying.
After the hype of God saying that we were finally going to go back to Washington, I started planning a little bit. I didn't want to do too much that would prevent God from working His wonders. We talked to our pastor about what we felt God was saying to us and he prayed with us in agreement to what we were called to. We left with excitement and peace about the prospect of moving.
There was uncertainty about everything: where we were going to stay, our money situation, our vehicle, our furniture. We just had to tell everyone who asked about jobs and housing that we didn't know. Talk about faith. We knew that it sounded like God wasn't leading us with no housing and jobs in place. I definitely started doubting when we were asked, "so... where are you going to stay?" Maybe God isn't leading us to move... Wouldn't he be providing that? The fears were a lot to handle, but leaving it in God's hands and knowing eventually, he would provide what we needed was all I could do. I prayed a lot. Every time I'd get butterflies from thinking about going to Seattle, I'd pray.
I can't say how many times I verbalized my uncertainty to God about His bringing us to Washington. "God, you said that you were going to be bringing us to Seattle, so I trust you, but I don't see how." When I'd get overcome with doubt, I'd remind myself that God is the Creator of the Universe, God of the impossible. I'd ask God to take away my anxiety and ask Him to have my guardian angel next to me to ease my doubt.
Eventually, things started lining up. We had a prospective place to stay. We started fixing the 2003 PT Cruiser to drive across the country. We let people know that we were going to sell some of our stuff since we weren't going to be taking a lot of things with us. Things were coming together in an unexplainable way.
The day before we were scheduled to leave, we start the transaction of selling my 2006 PT Cruiser to my brother, who'd been paying the car notes on it since May. We couldn't find any way around driving to New Iberia to get the title for the pay off. We have a new radiator, new horn, new tire, new fan... we start the trek to Bank to get the title... and right outside of Opelousas, the car severely overheats to the point of the temperature light coming on... I pulled the car over and we sit for about 45 minutes. We eventually get to the mechanic. Both of us are going through the possibility of what it could be. 9am, the phone rings as we are sitting in a booth at McDonalds down the street. The pressure test was indicating that it could be a cracked head or a busted head gasket, but there's no way to tell unless the head is taken off... Great. So, the car isn't going to make it to Washington. What on earth do we do now?
God promised that we were going to be in Seattle in April. I got so mad that I told God that it was HIS problem! He promised to get us there, He had to provide a way! Little did we know, that this was one more way that God wanted us to trust in Him and not in ourselves.
After getting the stupid piece of paper for the sale of the car, we started looking to see what the prices were of rentals. We had enough money to get the car. We didn't have a credit card or debit card because we just closed out checking account. My mom agreed to have her credit card on file so that we could complete the reservation. When we dropped off the car, we would pay in cash and she wouldn't have to pay. Well, God blessed us through her as she offered to pay for the car when we dropped it off. Amazing. We were totally blown away at how things just happened!
So, when we started looking for a place, we eventually just asked "do you accept pets" because it's scarce. We ended up going to stay with the same guy we stayed with as we scouted. We are currently looking for a new apartment for us that accepts pets and for jobs. People are coming out of the wood works to help us! People at our new church, Downtown Cornerstone Church are blown away at God's provision for us and God's guidance. It truly is an amazing story that I will want to share with anyone who asks.
When I'm in doubt, now, I just remember that God has brought us this far and provided for every single need... why wouldn't he do it again? God is true to His word. He doesn't lie. He wanted us here so I'm just going to trust that He's going to provide for us. He's been keeping us on our toes, but I think He likes it that way.
I titled this entry as "His mercies are new every morning" not only because of the scripture, but every day for the past few months, I can see how He's been so merciful and gracious to us by forgiving our blunders and helping us see past our humanness.
We may not have jobs, and we may not know what the next month holds, but we definitely are trusting that God is going to keep providing for us while we're here. As always, I want to thank you for reading and praying for us in our trip from everything we know to the spiritual wilderness that is Seattle. Pray for the city because I know that God is going to be doing mighty things here. He's called so many people from across the United States to help with this church plant. God can do it. He can turn this city around! I'm so blessed and humbled that we are going to be a part of it.
