feeling tattered

This is a picture of a little new testament that I got during undergrad and has traveled with me to various places, even spending some time in my trunk. I think this picture describes Hillary and I today. You see "Hope" blazoned on the front but it is partly obscured by shadow and is clearly worn in different places. We are trying to hold to hope and asking God to anchor us but we are cetainly feeling tattered. Here's the situation:

In working on details for the mortgage to buy a house in CT (see previous post for details) we have hit a snag. One of the various documents we needed to process the mortgage is a letter from the church confirming our salary. In talking to the church they cannot legally give that letter until we are at 75% of our support. The mortgage process is time sensative and if we don't have the letter from the church by the 5th we will probably loose the house.
We just found this out yesterday and were surprised and upset. At first, loosing the house at first seemed almost certain. In getting this house we felt God's leading and blessing because it fit so well what we need and what we had hoped for. When it was thrown back in the realm of "uncertain" it was hard to trust God's hand in the process. As we have talked things over with the mortgage agent, Al (sr. pastor at our church in CT) and prayed we do have hope (and a plan).

We are working to see if we (and the church) can get to 75% by Sept 5h. We're at 41% right now but have individuals and churches who have committed to give but haven't sent in their information yet. We're going to talk to them and get potential commitments to see if we can get close to the 75%. I think the 75% can definately happen and even if we are a little short there is a way it can still work out.

What you can do is pray for us:
1. that we could trust God and love each other amidst difficult circumstances
2. that we could touch base with people who have committted to give
3. these folks would understand, not feel pressured, but respond in a timely manner
4. especially in our conversations with the churches, that God would move the decission process forward.


Here's some good news:

Hillary made yummy cookies (I had two for breakfast and need to learn to be more discreet if we have kids)

I got to go climbing outside yesterday. This is my pile of gear after I got home and dumped it in my study which is an increasing mess.