God leads - step by step

Many of you might be wondering what has become of us. Here are a few lines about the past few weeks. We left Frauchwil at the end of February. Until February 27, we didn't know where our next “interim residence” would be. At the beginning of February, we had visited a property that we thought might be a longer-term solution. However, when we enquired, the real estate agency told us that the person responsible was on vacation. And finally we were told that we couldn't move in there, at least not for the time being.

At short notice, we contacted a family of former fellow students who had once offered us a place to stay if all else failed. And so we are now in the Gantrisch region, beautifully situated, with the Maag family (sonnhalde-gantrisch.ch). We are very grateful to them. We will be moving on again at the beginning of May. They are expecting guests in May, and their guest rooms are generally better booked in summer. That's a good thing, as the low ceiling height affects Chris-toph's posture.

Our boys get on very well with Maag's children. They spend a lot of time together in the forest, playing soccer or doing other activities. It really is a place with a breathtaking panorama, surrounded by meadows and forests. Christoph is happy that he can use a workshop here and help out here and there on the small farm. Marlen's cousin lives 3 minutes away by car and so Marlen regularly goes to milk cows with him in the evenings - this is beneficial “work therapy”, especially when you spend several hours a day behind the computer (Marlen notices time and again that all the computer work is rather stressful for her).

And what next?

We looked at other properties/flats. One of them was an apartment that we thought would suit us (surrounded by greenery, garden available, close to the forest, relatively easy to reach, etc.). We agreed a “ think period” with the landlords, after which we would give feedback.

Should this really be our path? Should we give up the dream of farming anywhere, even on the smallest scale, and let go of the desire to be self-employed (at least as a secondary occupation)? What about our heartfelt desire for communal living? Can these things simply not be combined at the moment? Should we choose a completely different life concept? What is God's will and what are our own wishes?

In the end, the landlords declined, saying there were “internal” changes that they would give priority to. So we had a clear answer that this flat was not Gods plan for us. And yet, we still don't know what should come next. We continue to hold on to God and we are convinced that he will do it well. Always! Which does not mean that we understand everything. On the opposite, at times we understand very little and we hardly have any answers to the many questions. Sometimes we are optimistic and sometimes frustration catches up with us. There will be a way when we move on at the beginning of May.

We thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and friendships. They are infinitely precious!

P.S.: The property that we viewed at the beginning of February is still on our minds. We pray that God will show us the way.