June 22, 2005

  • The last couple of days have been a bit of a challenge as the difficulties with our flat repairs continue. Our repairs began again about 10 days ago and we've been living out of our hallway kitchen since then ... and eating out a lot. It looked as if though we'd have our kitchen finished by week's end and would be on our way to repairs in the study very soon. It doesn't look like that is to be.


    Our landlord has a big building/remodel project going on right now, so the repairman who did our previous work was not available when we started up again. The fellow he sent has done a good job in repairing the wall and ceiling damage that was done by the water. Unfortunately, he apparently was not really skilled in 'decorating' type work. He's done an unsatisfactory job on the cabinet repairs and the job he's done on the wallpaper has been just ... bad. Because it was not done properly, he ended up without enough wallpaper so he began to piece it together mish-mash. There is really no way to save it so it will have to be removed and re-done. Since the paper came from the States, we've had to re-order a new pattern and begin again. It now looks like the cabinets may have to be removed to properly repair the damage on those. And ... there will be no repairman available until after July 10 to start repairs again. What this means is that only the kitchen will be repaired before the end of July. With those arriving for our summer campaigns, as well as others coming to investigate the work here, the additional repairs will most likely have to wait until after September 1. This is difficult for me as I so desire to get my 'home' in order and move on to the more important reasons for our being here.


    In my frustration and my weariness over this prolonged irritation, God reminds my heart that the home I should so strongly desire is not contained within 4 cement walls or built on a piece of earthly ground. My home is where His grace and mercy abound  ... and the wallpaper that it contains is truth and love.


    "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.


    My Father will love him, and we will come to him


    and make our home with him.'"      John 14:23


    pj