To say “moving across borders requires careful planning” is an understatement. But if we put the endless details to be sorted out aside, and just consider the transition from 5 bedroom house and years of accumulating stuff for a family of 7 to a small 2 bedroom apartment for 3 people. It is a massive job. And here’s the thing, we really have very little we need to hang on to. We are pretty much selling everything we own. The sale of items will help us raise money for our time in California and take away the burden of figuring out where to store it. For the most part, it has been an encouraging and exciting process.
This weekend, I embarked on a huge project. I began selling things I had collected during my 21 years (so far) as an educator. I have a ridiculous amount of stuff that wasn’t being used in my current position. This has proven to be a bit of an emotional and bittersweet process. For almost my entire adult life I have been a teacher. I have loved my career and each book and each item carries with it cherished memories. It feels incredibly strange to let it go. Christina, the teacher, is no more… Letting go of my old self, and putting on a new self…
Ephesians 4:22-24 says, ” to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” This whole process of selling our belongings, and ‘putting away’ our old lives and starting fresh, reminds me of the work Christ has done in my life. He has given me a new heart, and a new spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). My new self is committed to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. My new self is committed to the path God lays before Nathan and me—a path which appears, at the moment, to end up in California.
My teaching things are just ‘stuff’ and, in the end, the memories and time they represent are safely stored in my heart. But they too will have ‘new life’ with many different people. I am grateful that they will be put to good use and my heart was warmed to receive messages and pictures of some of the books already being enjoyed!
Garage and Bake Sale a Go!
Our Garage Sale is confirmed for Saturday, March 28th from 10-4 at our home. Check back here soon for more details and address. Some friends have kindly offered to bake goods to help raise funds and will sell them at the garage sale, so come with an empty stomach! Please pray for good weather so we can be outside! We have been overwhelmed by donations (Literally! We can barely walk from the bathroom to the bedroom there are so many boxes of items). It is amazing and we are so thankful to God for the many ways he provides for our needs. Our deepest thanks to everyone who has donated.
Fundraising Update
The last few days have been a whirlwind as we have been selling all my teaching supplies. So far this sale has raised nearly $1500! I haven’t had time to do a precise count, but it looks like we have raised about $12,000 so far. We still have a ways to go, but we are feeling very optimistic. God has blessed us with a number of ways to raise the money, including by providing work opportunities for us, garage sale donations, our bottle drive, and through the generous financial support of many people.
We need to prepare to apply for our Student Visas in April, so we hope to have the majority of the funds by the end of the month. There isn’t much time left, but nothing is impossible for God. If you are considering supporting us, even in a small measure, you can find our Gofundme Page here or contact us here.
Faithful 