Beit Chadash Shelanu (Our New Home)

In the August of 2007 Stacie and I found ourselves back in W. Michigan again to participate in a few weddings of some great friends of mine. While we were here, we had a conversation about where we think we should live when we move back to the States in a year. We were both thinking the W. Michigan area, but where specifically? Stacie was having thoughts about living in Zeeland, a small quiet town (tired of the big city), close to church (Hudsonville), and close to Lake Michigan. (It's never a bad thing to live close to that piece of real estate). So one evening we decided to take a quick drive through the town and she pointed out a few houses of people she knows and the many great front porches that can be found in this town. The last house we drove past were friends of hers from church and she said, "I love their house, and their front porch, with the swing..."

The next day we went to church and after the service two people sitting directly behind us asked us if we were still in need of a vehicle to use for the last two weeks we were going to be in the States. We were borrowing a vehicle at the time, but needed to return it in a couple days. They said we could borrow their van as long as we could bring them to the airport in Chicago and then pick them up again in a couple weeks. Sure. It just so happens that we needed to fly OUT of Chicago the day after they needed to be picked up in Chicago, and we still weren't sure how we were getting to the airport!

Then they said, "hey do you guys know where you are going to live when you move back?"

"Not yet."

"Well we don't know this for sure, but we are thinking about moving to Hungary for two years, would you be interested in renting our house?"

Our mouths dropped. This is the VERY SAME house we had just driven by the night before that Stacie really loved, the one with the great front porch and swing.

End result? They are now in Hungary for two years teaching English as a Second Language through the ministry Teach Overseas. And Stacie and I are living in their house, with all their furniture, appliances, lawn mower, bikes, etc...including the van!

So we live here because God made it so clear.

Once we flew back to the States in June, we had about 5 weeks before we could move in to our new place. 5 weeks and about 10 beds later, we moved in. Although we are extremely grateful to those who were so hospitable to us while we were homeless, it was good to finally put the suitcases away and get settled in a little.

Here's just a few pictures of move in day...