Unexpected

God knows my needs before I ask Him. He knows what is best for me and has a plan for providing. He has provided for us so many times, in so many ways, that I expect Him to continue to do so. In my experience, He enjoys providing in unexpected ways.

The house we are currently living in is for sale. While we have an agreement with our landlord that we can stay here for a few month while we look for a new place, it could be sold out from under us at any time. It has been for sale for 10 months and no one has been seriously interested. This house and yard have been an amazing blessing to us but not without cost. We knew that finances were going to be tighter than ever this year, so we were wondering how God was going to provide for our needs.

About a month ago, our pastor approached us with the offer of a two bedroom house that he and his wife own. He said we could live in it rent free. On the day that we were to go see the house, we drove passed the part of the city where the house was supposed to be and kept driving right out of Bangkok. The pastor noticed our bewildered looks and laughed, "I just realized that we are taking you to a house that is not even in Bangkok Province!" He had done some thinking and praying, spoken with the assistant pastor, and realized that the other house would not work for us but another house might.

The church had been given two townhouses in Ayutthaya Province, 45 minutes from Bangkok. A team of people have merged and renovated the houses and started outreach there. They plan to teach English, hold special events, and gradually build relationships with those in the area. Some day, church service will be held there. Right now, the first floor is set up for church event and the second and third floor are empty. The pastor and the church plant team asked us if we would live in the top two floors, build relationships with those in the neighborhood, help teach English, in short, be the "on site" Christians for the new church plant.

To put it mildly, this was unexpected! God providing for our needs in a way that furthers His church and strengthens our relationship with our church family here. This was not a step we wanted to take in haste, but in our praying and continued discussion with each other and the church, it has become evident that this is His plan for us.

As our current lease ends April 1, we plan to move at the end of March. We have much to do to prepare for this move, but it will be our first non-international move since Philip and I have been married, so it should be easy, right? We are excited about God's plans as we learn to embrace and expect the unexpected.