July 18, 2024: Feeling peace despite losing the Auction!

 

407 Carlyle Rd in Zebulon was in foreclosure. It's a good 14.6-acre land, cleared and already have barns in them with a 1-bedroom house. The bid started at $293 403. Previously, we have prayed if it would be right for us to have this land, we felt it was a piece of land and on great location. 

I knew that if it was meant for us to have it, the Lord would make it so. I figured we could go up to $350k as our highest bid, that's the most we can afford. The auction proceeded and I got the first bid, two others bid after, one older gentleman proceeded to bid up to $325k, then I added a thousand, he went up to $350k and I added a thousand, but he added another 25k, ending up around $375k to which I knew, the lot was not for us. 

I was thankful for the peaceful feeling and the guidance I received through this process. I can walk away knowing that the Lord did not mean for us to have this land. I very much appreciate that I can partner with the Lord and feel at peace and our pursuit of investments and other ventures.  We wanted something that we can invest in, hoping that the Lord would multiply it for us so that we can be secure and able to go on a couple's mission sooner, rather than later. 

During this process, days before, I reached out to Daniela Teixeira, she filed a judgement against the owner of this property for some money owed to her and her husband. She recognized me at the auction and introduced herself to me. After the auction, I reconnected with her, and they came to view a couple of houses here at Lake Royale. They love the place. They are currently renting and paying $1700 a month. When I asked why they never bought a house before and was willing to pay that much in rent, she said her husband Tiago, did not want to have a mortgage, but want to pay cash on a house. Although I admire that conviction, paying a rent for that much and not having an equity does not make sense. So, hopefully they can think about the one house we looked at which Tiago really liked.

Since Tiago is a contractor/renovator, I asked him to view 3066 Sledge Road property hoping that he can give me a good quote on cabinetry. When we parted, Daniela was really thankful for some info I shared with her and showing her around. 

I believe events and people I meet along the way has a purpose. I just don't know it yet, but the Lord knows the end from the beginning, I just need to let my faith move me so that the Lord can direct me. 

Update

September 2024

We ended up hiring Daniela and Tiago to put the kitchen cabinetry and granite counter. They did a great job. I try to keep in contact with Daniela by helping her out with some referrals on cleaning business. I kind of like her. She's very genuine. We hope to hire them again in the future for something. I knew there was a reason that I met her at the acution and that this whole process led me to connecting with her and the Lord was simply orchestrating who we can work with as far as installing cabinetry and granite counter at the house. We were pretty happy with their work. So grateful that the Lord led us to them. I have seen the Lord's hand on this 3066 sledge rd property project. It was not an easy one for the family to take on, but I saw that it was the Lord's tender Mercy that He gave us this property as our first time as far as flipping houses. It was a lot of work, yet it was a blessing that it was so close to the house. This project in many ways became a spiritual journey for me as much as anything else. 

July 25, 2024: Elias locked out of the car, the Lord's tender Mercy helped us find the missing Key. Adam proved faithful.

 

The evening of Tuesday, July 25, 2024, around 9:30 pm, Adam, Audrey, Scott and I were gathered in the master's bedroom to read the come follow me study for the week. In the midst of our study, I got a text from a strange phone number which said, "Mom, this is Elias, I got locked out of the car."

Scott recently got a new to us commuter car, 2015 Chevy Sonic. We called it, the 007 (double O 7 car, like James Bond). It made noises like a machine gun is about to come up, and it will lock you out of the car as soon as the driver's door is opened and shut. Three weeks before, we ordered a spare key, and today, we could not find it. 

We spent half hour looking for the key. We checked my office, the garage, coat and pant pockets in the closet, backpack, purse, kitchen. We looked everywhere including the attic. Scott went into Adam's room and pleaded with him to pray that we might find the key. Afterwards, Scott left for Rocky Mount, it is half hour away. It would be almost an hour by the time he gets to Elias' location, and he did not want him to worry, it is now past 10 pm. 

When Scott left, I continued to look. I searched the same areas over and over, again even going to the attic and checking the coats that I recently put up in the attic even though I know that it was unlikely that Scott would have worn a coat in May in NC when the weather was already hot. 

I searched the garage again twice and looked everywhere. As I come up the garage steps, I said a prayer in my heart. "Heavenly Father, I have looked everywhere, where else would you have me look." Almost as if an auto reply was sent back. A thought came to me, "check the couch." As I came into the living room, I stood in one of our couch and thought to myself, there is going to be quite a bit of pop corn under there I am sure. I proceed to put my hand under the cushion to search and immediately I felt something hard, and oval shape, "Could it be?" I was so humbled when I pulled my hand out, and sure enough it was the missing key. 

My heart rejoiced and immediately called Scott to let him know, who by now would almost be at Rocky Mount. I proceed to get ready to drive up to Rocky Mount in my PJ's when Scott reminded me to go over to Adam's room and tell him what happened. I did. I told Adam how thankful I was for his faith. Because of his faith and doing our part to look, we found the missing spare key.

By the time we got home, it was almost midnight. My heart was full, once again the Lord showed us his tender mercies. We are so grateful. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost. President Bednar in his devotional talk on the Holy Ghost, he said that if you are trying to be a good boy, and a good girl, and you are living your covenants, the Lord will direct you and guide you through the Holy Ghost. It may seem like a prompting is just your own thought, know that the spirit speaks with our own spirit, just act on it, as you move, the Lord will not let you go far without letting you know it is not the right course. You will be guided. I truly believe that. 

June 17, 2024 Lord tender mercy: "check the fire"

 Today, Elias and Scott drove off the Camp Campbell in VA, just at near the border from NC. This was a stake YM camp and Scott was asked to teach with orienteering. Adam and Audrey had cooking camp at Bunn High School As soon as I dropped them off before 9 am that morning, I came back and straight away proceeded to do a control burn in the back yard. It's hot summer season and I know that snakes are out and about. Adam's job was to dump the compost at the back yard compost bin, and I wanted to make sure he was safe and can see where he was stepping.  It was probably in the 90s, I was hot. There were multiple times when I turned on the hose to drench some areas to prevent it from spreading and escalating into the woods. My long sleeve cool shirt got singe multiple times as I got closed to the fire at times, creating multiple holes. I couldn't leave the site, so I did not get the chance to eat breakfast nor lunch, just plenty of water. By the time 1:45 came along, I took the hose and drenched the site with water, and I left to pick up the kids. 

I invited the kids to the pool, but neither wanted to go. They wanted some downtime since they also had tennis lesson in just over two hours in Rocky Mount. So, I went to the pool by myself to cool off for about half hour, came back and worked in my office for an hour. I then realized how tired I was and thought that I needed a nap. As soon as I closed my eyes and my head touch my pillow, a clear voice spoke to me, "check the fire." To which I immediately replied to myself thinking I am too tired, I just need a quick power nap, the fire is fine because I already drenched it. The voice came again the second time, "check the fire, " to which I replied with urgency, "okay, okay." Sure enough, as I looked out the patio door, I see about 3 spots where smoke was coming up, and they could potentially catch fire again. I asked Audrey to go ahead and drench those spots which she gladly complied.

It may seem like it was just my own voice, but I know that it is the Holy Ghost giving me direction and protection. I am thankful for this miracle today where I felt the Lord's hand in my life. It seems mundane, but I know He cared for me.