Aaron, his brother Cody, and their uncle, traveled to Boston together. (Cody also attends the Berklee School of Music) They left in a leap of faith, following the call of God and the promise of provisions - specifically that of a home and place to live. Well... the boys began their life out east sleeping in their suburban, living at campgrounds, and jumping in and out of hotels. For a short time, they were able to stay with their uncle at a military base. But they could not find a place to stay.
During this time, Aaron felt led by the Lord to get his real estate license, and a few months later got a job at a local firm.
After feeling somewhat jerked around and lost, they made an offer on a house (this was not the first pursued). Although the offer did not make it very far, the boys entered into an unusual agreement to rent the house, while it was on the market, for a very affordable rate - one that could not be matched anywhere else in Salem.
God put a roof over the boys' heads in an unpredicted way while they attended school that year, but they never had security and could have been booted out if anyone else wanted to purchase the home in which they lived in.
On Aaron's last day of school, in the beginning of May 2010, Aaron received an eviction notice because his landlord had gone into foreclosure. The boys had 90 days to figure out the next step. In the past few months, and growing ever closer to Aaron and I's wedding and my move to Salem, Aaron has looked at countless houses and apartments, all of which there has been something seriously wrong with or we have been denied for bizarre reasons.
Aaron and I booked his plane ticket to come to Mansfield until our wedding for July 6. Our time was running out. There were so many houses that we have tried to purchase and apartments that we have applied for that have been denied to us unexplainably. Our offers were simply not accepted, although they were made in full, we have good credit, etc...
There was nothing more we could do to secure a place to live. It was completely out of our control.
When Aaron and I get married, we have chosen to live in community. There will be five of us living together when I first get to Salem, which will grow to seven in January. This has added another challenge in finding a place to live that can accommodate all of us - especially an apartment. But that was becoming our only option because of how little time we had before the wedding... and before eviction.
And then something worked. After innumerable opportunities' doors blatantly being slammed shut over and over again, something worked. We were offered to rent month-to-month (rather than a long-term lease) a 3-bedroom apartment in the safe part of Salem for an affordable rate. I couldn't believe it! It was going to be cozy, and the slanted ceilings of the third-floor apartment made it a little more difficult to take advantage of all of the space, but nonetheless, a door was open. We decided to take it, although it was small, and a few days later were offered to move to the bigger apartment downstairs. I cannot tell you what it feels like not only to have something work after all this time, but then for something good to happen on top of it! We also will have basement space so that we do not have to rent a storage unit for our current refrigerator, washer and dryer, etc...
This is an extremely abbreviated story of the past year of our lives. But it is amazing for a number of reasons.
First, it's amazing that it is over. I cannot tell you the relief of knowing I have a place to live when I move in a few weeks, and that it is nice! And in a safe part of town, and big enough to house five of us comfortably.
Second, it's amazing how God works. God promised, when Aaron followed his call to Salem/Boston, that he would provide. Did it look anything like we thought? Of course not, and we probably should have known that. We thought God's provision was going to come in the form of buying a house - and maybe someday it will be - but the Lord got Aaron and his roommates into a CHEAP, strange, under-the-table renting agreement that kept them housed for exactly as long as they needed. God perfectly timed it so that Aaron could focus on school, and the day that phase was over, the housing search resumed full-force.
And God provided in other ways too. When Aaron decided to get his real estate's license, it seemed out of nowhere. Of course, it couldn't hurt- but that is never what Aaron had dreamed of doing one day. And look at how we have needed it! Not only is it a wonderful job now, but without Aaron's knowledge and work in real estate, I have no idea how we would have survived the past year of our lives.
Third, God's timing is perfect. Even during the school year, Aaron and his parents had continued looking and pursuing houses, but I am telling you- doors were closed for the strangest reasons! SO many times! Doors were closed so much and for so long, that recently we asked the Lord if we were even supposed to be in Salem, or if we were supposed to live in community- both things that we have felt strongly convicted in for quite some time.
But the Lord protected us from purchasing the wrong places, and kept us waiting just until the perfect apartment opened up for us. And he has continued to provide since in amazing ways.
This has been a very stressful year and I have learned even more that I can always trust the Lord, and that sometimes it can be a very scary thing. But his plan and provision is perfect! And this miracle of a house is just the beginning of an adventure-filled life with Aaron that I have a feeling will never get boring. And that's just the way I would have it.
Also, it is amazing to have watched my future husband follow the Lord so faithfully for so long, and through such a challenging time. He has worked harder than anyone else I know to secure a home for his wife and community, and I learn more and more everyday how blessed I am to have him.
