Angels of Mercy

Sometimes when I think something is impossible, it just means God hasn't shown me how He's going to do it yet. It's still hard to believe that we moved this summer to a much better house in Marietta. It is so much better for raising kids. God has given Duk-Sun and I a heart for missions and a clear way to share the love of Christ with people--by bringing young international students over here to study and live with us. It's that simple. The plan is to share not only the gospel but our lives as well with them. (1 Thess. 2:8)

We tried to do that in Doraville, but it became apparent that we needed to move to Cobb County after we discovered that Cobb County was the place that was most welcoming to international students. It was there that we found good Christian schools that were willing to go through the trouble to be able to issue i-20s for student visas so kids could come legally to study.

But there was no way we could have moved this summer. Our house needed too much work to either rent it or sell it. Even if we had had money to do this, try renovating a kitchen and taking care of a baby and a toddler at the same time! It was a buyer's market and if buying depended on selling, we thought it couldn't be done. Then along came our angel of mercy in the form of our friend Radenka Maric.

We share a special bond with the Maric's for at least two reasons. Although they are originally from Bosnia and Serbia, they spent their early married years in Japan where they worked and studied and had children. We also spent our early married years in Japan. The other reason we are inseparable is because of God's gift of children. At a time when I had no children and lots of time, Charles and Radenka had 3 children and little time for them because of overly demanding careers and long commutes. They needed tutoring and after school care, and I was available for that. Spending time with their kids, Stephen, Alex and Max gave me such a thrill. We could relate to each other since we each had been in Japan and we each looked very unlike a Japanese person. Plus we had each encountered reverse culture shock upon reentry into Western society. Stephan, Alex and Max are great kids, and I will treasure the memories of spending time with them during their formative years. And Charles and Radenka were so kind to share their children with us at a time when we were longing for children of our own. A few years ago they moved to Vancouver, BC in Canada, but we still stay in touch.

The mold was broken after Radenka was made. There isn't another person like her. Look back in your own life. Count the few people who have really made a difference in your life--the people who God sent at just the right time when you were down, defeated, or up against a wall. Radenka suprised us with a short visit one day this summer and during that hour visit we casually mentioned that we were going to move somehow across town to get close enough to commute to the Christian schools here in Atlanta that issue i-20s. We had no idea what was going through her mind. Unbeknownst to us, she went home and she and Charles agreed to help us buy our next house, and let us buy it back from them when we are able! You see, they were about to downsize to a smaller house. They are in their 4th house now since we met them, and although real estate hasn't been good to them all the time, they have done well with their last two moves. Did I tell you how special they were! Even before God blessed Radenka and Charles, they were planning on how to bless us and our ministry of reaching out to children! The blessing they gave us is the chance to buy when the buying is good and they took the risk out of the transition. They are only charging us rent when we have no mortgage to pay on the other house! That's how they made it possible for us to move this summer.

Also, I'm very thankful that Radenka coached me during the house shopping process. I would have settled for a much less ideal house than the one we got without her coaching. She insisted I look until I find one that was fairly new. I don't know how many hours she spent online looking for us--offereing suggestions and checking our choices of houses to consider. I think she spent as much time helping me as my realtor did.

Let me tell you more about the house. It is only 7 years old. There's a park nearby, the yard is wooded so I have almost no yard work, although the square footage is only a little larger than our last house (about 2,200 sq. ft.), due to the better floor plan, we have more space everywhere we need it. The kitchen is 1.5 times bigger, the yard is 1/2 acre instead of 1/3 acre, we have a dining room that easily seats 12, and the whole house has 9 ft. ceilings and family room that is so inviting with a knotty pine cathedral ceiling and a stone fireplace. We have privacy outside because there is a private driveway and a church behind us. We also have much more quiet inside because of the construction and the floor plan. We had no deck at our other house. This one has two. It is really a kid-friendly house--just what we wanted for our ministry. We are so blessed! We praise and thank God for He truly owns the cattle on a thousand hills .

I began talking about doing the impossible. But what is impossible with God? The Bible says nothing. My prayer now is for special blessings on Radenka and Charles and their family, and also that we never forget how great and powerful and generous God is and that Duk-Sun and I can immitate Radenka and Charles' faith, because they are two people who have learned that you can't outgive God.

Above and below: At their old house in Tucker, GA in 2004.
Last week at our new house. Radenka brought her friend's kids' Yeana and Meleana (I have no idea how to spell their names) to play with Hannah and Baby S.