Patti to the garbage man: “We just sold our house and I was wondering if you would be willing to take some extra things in the next few weeks.”
Garbage man to Patti: “Are you kidding me? Your house sold ALREADY? You just put the sign out there.”
Patti to garbage man: “Yep! It sold in just 3 1/2 weeks!”
Garbage man to Patti: “WOW! I’ve seen houses that have been for sale for 3 YEARS!!”
Patti to garbage man: “I guess it’s all in Who you know!”

Our house was officially put on the market February 10. On March 6, three and a half weeks later, we had a buyer. The clincher was that the buyers’ first baby was due the beginning of April and they wanted to be in the house three weeks later–March 26, which was a Friday. We thought that having less than three weeks to close was pushing it a bit but we also knew that we couldn’t wait until the last minute to move all of our stuff out. We started packing–not knowing where we were moving!

On March 15, many closed doors later, a place for us to live opened up and was basically dropped in our laps. A friend of a friend of a pastor (you get the idea!) needed to be released of a 6 month duplex rental lease and it just so happened that we needed a place for about 6 months! We had no doubts that God had prepared this place for us. It was right in Jenison, close to the kids’ school, and it even came with some furniture so that we could begin the process of selling ours for the big move to Kenya. So we moved out of our house of nine years on March 20 with the best moving crew you could ever imagine! We are so thankful for wonderful friends to lend a hand (or muscle!) when needed.

The emotion of leaving our dear neighbors and the place where we had grown so many memories intensified as the house didn’t close when anticipated and was delayed several times (imagine that, hey!). The day finally came when we would meet the people who we had prayed specifically for over the last TWO years. Our family had prayed often and hard for the people who would buy our house–that they would know the exact time to come. All of us had decided that they needed to be pretty special too!

On April 5 we closed on the house and met the very pregnant and friendly new owners (although she went into labor right after we closed!). We had heard through our realtor that the couple had been searching for a house for quite a while. At one point, we asked them how long they had been looking for a home. Their reply? TWO years!! The tears streamed down our faces as we knew that God had answered our prayers and that He would continue to provide for all of our needs.

Now, for the rest of the story…

On April 7 we received a letter in the mail stating that we must “vacate the premises immediately as this house is in foreclosure.” What? This must be some joke! The landlord had told us that he was selling the house and that the closing would happen on April 1st. We would then be tenants to a new owner who wanted to use the house as rental property also and our lease would just be carried over. He took our money without looking back. We guess that in this economy, “desperate times call for desperate measures.”

After MANY hours on the phone with law offices, mortgage companies, and realtors, Travis learned that the lease we signed was “null and void” as it was signed after the house had gone into foreclosure and that we have 90 days before we are officially “evicted.” Ninety days will take us up to July 8. Maybe you remember that our departure date for Kenya is August 9. The silver lining in it all is that we get to live rent-free for the next three months–and possibly longer if the eviction process gets drawn out.

This journey of living by faith has been a roller coaster ride! It’s been an interesting few months. We cannot wait to see what God has next. We always say that the Nielsen house is NEVER boring! Pray with us for the remaining details to be worked out before August 9:

• That we will be able to stay in our rental unit until we leave if that’s God’s plan for us.

• That we will be able to sell our remaining furniture easily and quickly.

• That God would continue to prepare all of us for the next “leg” of our trip. God definitely knew what He was doing in this temporary transition. The kids have done so well adjusting to a new house and new neighborhood. The good-byes were difficult but we’re all ready to move on!

• That the remainder of our monthly support would come crashing in. We cling to Phil. 4:19, that God will meet all of our NEEDS according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. We don’t know how or when or who He will use, but we KNOW that He will.

We continue to give abundant thanks for you and your “partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in ‘us’ will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”