A Community House

Once again God has reminded me, "IT"S NOT ALL ABOUT ME!"  

We just bought a second house.  That sounds crazy as I write it.  We own a small house on 20th St. in Holland.  We bought it a few years ago, rented it out until we moved into it last June, and said, "We'll never do a rental again!"  But here we are...fixing up a fixer-upper with the intent to rent it out. 

How did we get here???  Good question!  

First of all there were still some foreclosures still available.  

Second, we wondered if down the road one of our kids, most likely Acacia and Ephraim, would need a US home to base in while working in Africa.  

Third, Al finished up an interim assignment in April and there was nothing on the horizon until late summer/fall.  He needed a project, though maybe not such a big one.

Fourth, we have a seminary couple who were hoping to live in the community and were looking for a rental property.

Back and forth, back and forth...does it make sense?  Can we do it when we are basically incomeless?  Is it wise to use some retirement funds to invest in property?  (We are not very investment savy.)

Should we...shouldn't we??  We prayed, we looked, we talked, we did it.

And once again we realize it isn't all about us!  We are very excited to have seminarians living in the house and hope to be able to provide the opportunity for more families to live in the community in the future.  Angel and Janelle will be able to work off a portion of their rent helping us finish the renovations.  Hopefully a win/win.

Our realtor, Jeanette and husband Jonathan are committed to this neighborhood and are so excited that this property will be improved and have a local landlord caring for it.  That felt good.

This weekend there was a BONUS dimension.  Central Park church has played an important part in a ministry called 70x7, which works with ex-offenders.  Al asked them if they knew of any men who would like to earn some extra money by helping with some dirty reno work.  Caan was recommended and showed up Friday.  YEA!  He is a great young man, not afraid of hard work, and looking for opportunities to learn skills.  We have had some exciting conversations with him already.  He might bring another friend along tomorrow.  God is at work and we get to be a part of not only rehabbing a house, but rehabbing a life, or two, for the Kingdom!!

SO, this is not our house!  It is God's house and we get to play a part in it.  May all those who walk through its doors know the presence of God and the joy of community!