GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT!!

Back in September, my wife and I put our house on the market. My wife had lost her job due to a bout with pneumonia and having been employed for less than a year she was not protected by the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). She had wanted to be a stay at home mother and so her heart was not in going back anyways.

We realized that because we didn't have her income any longer that we would not be able to afford the mortgage payments on our house any longer. So we borrowed some money from her parents and got our house fixed up to sell. We officially put our home on the market in September which is now 6 plus months ago. This was about the same time that the housing market went down.

We had many showings, but no one was buying. We didn't understand why God wasn't sending us a buyer. In October, our church had some guests from LCMS World Missions. The presentation on Missions was very compelling and we thought about and then applied to be career missionaries. We were excited about the prospect of living in another country and being God's instruments of the Word to those who need to hear it. LCMS World Missions told us that it would be after the beginning of the year before we would hear anything as the missions need to send in their budgetary needs before anyone would be placed. So we waited...

While we waited for a call I began considering other alternatives. I considered that when we got our call that we would do this for 5 years and then come back and I would be ready to go into the seminary. I didn't hear anything from LCMS World Missions that was pointing us in any direction so I began looking into the qualifications of getting into the Seminary. I filled out my application as did those who were my references. I set up my District interview and signed up for the Spring Invitational Campus visit at Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Here is where God's timing becomes clear. My wife had been talking with a real estate agent down in Fort Wayne to line up some showings of homes for us while we were there. We started out on Tuesday night from St. Paul, Minnesota and drove to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and stay overnight at my sister's place. The next morning we took off from her house and arrived in Fort Wayne at 5:00 EST. I went into the admissions office to register me and my family for the event and they said that we had a message to call our real estate agent. I thought they were talking about the one my wife had contacted in Fort Wayne, but they added the words "you have an offer on your house." Right then I knew that it was our real estate agent Elaine in Minnesota that had left the message.

We received the purchase agreement by fax and signed and initialed where needed and re-faxed back.

I saw this as God's perfect timing as this couldn't have been staged any better. We now have two-and-a-half weeks to have a Garage sale, pack and close on the house. My prayer now is that God gives me the strength.

This was an answer to prayer that my wife and I had looked for over six months to receive and he chose the time and place for it to happen. The rest of that week was just as fantastic and further confirmed the direction he has me traveling. Further proof that God answers prayers in the affirmative.

The Beginning of the Journey. . .

Tomorrow evening my family and I will begin our trek to Fort Wayne, IN for the Spring Invitational Campus Visitation. To say that I am excited about this is an understatement.

On the trip we will be visiting my Sister and her family in Milwaukee, WI. We have not seen them since Christmas and we miss seeing my nephews. The next morning we will depart Milwaukee for Fort Wayne and will be going through Chicago area and finally into Indiana. This trip will have us looking into housing, employment for my wife as well as taking part in the many activities that will be going on at the Seminary.

I am particularly looking forward to sitting in on a few classes and get a feel for what I am about to embark on during my stay. I look forward to sharing photos and insights upon my return next Sunday.

Pax Christi,
Scott Strohkirch

TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM THE SPRING INVITATIONAL

A few weeks ago I wrote here that I was considering going to Seminary at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I have taken the step of sending in my application and will be attending the Spring Invitational at the seminary in two-weeks. I am very excited about this as it will be a chance to meet some of those students that will be ahead of me in class and those that will be with me as well.

If accepted, I will be one of the older people in the classes at 45 years of age. I have not attended a college class since 1995 when I finished by studies for my Baccalaureate in Public Policy and Business Economics. I didn't think I would ever consider going back again, but God in his mercy has a sense of humor and is putting me through the paces.

Before I can go though there are some huge hurdles that must be jumped. Selling our house in Apple Valley, MN. We have lived here for almost 3-years. It is paramount that we sell the house within the next month and close almost as quickly. I must also apply for financial aids to be able to pay for school. We must find adequate and affordable housing in Fort Wayne and find good schools for our girls and last but not least my wife must find full-time employment to be able to support us through the next few years.

I ask all who read this to become prayer warriors over the next few weeks where my family is concerned. Pray that the trip to Fort Wayne is both safe and successful and that all the other hurdles have been cleared. It is a trying time, but I have faith that God will listen to our prayers.

I will keep you abreast of the situation as it progresses.
Pax Christi
Scott