The best days of my life...

The last 2 months undoubtedly rank as some of my best (if not the best) times of my life... I think the basis for this, is that i have probably never experienced the fulfillment of more of God's promises in my life, in such a short space of time. Just for context sake, when we moved at the end of March from our Sandton apartment, to a free-standing house on a farm in the south of Joburg, all we actually knew, was that we had a place to move to, some friends (Lorenzo & Joe) who lived in the area, and a vision for a life of greater impact and significance. 

Here's what we didn't have... I had no job, we had no tenants for our flat, no idea what it meant to live on a farm, or what life would actually be like in a 'foreign' place. We had some very mixed feelings from my family on the matter, knew of no schools in the area, no church supporting us (or to attend), no alarms, dogs or guns, and about half a months salary worth of savings. 

Some would say that takes faith, others pure stupidity! To be honest, i think it's a bit of both, but here's my point... 

What then has come of this faith and stupidity? What did fate or God (you decide) do with how we decided to play our cards?

Here's my rendition (please forgive the list;)

• I eventually got a job 3 weeks ago... with my previous employer (The Hope Factory) of all people. So, you can imagine my surprise, after having been given the most wonderful farewell by the company, that i should once again find myself in their employment, only this time in a part time capacity, doing what i really love (mentoring), all in the area i now live (the south), all on the terms i requested (So much for not having one's cake and eating it!) I've included a pic of what they gave me on my last day - A farmers hat and shoes (ha-ha), and a frame of our 'dream team' (very special). Also included here is a pic of me with an amazing woman (Busi Raphekwane) - only because i want people to know i was once her boss! - watch out for this lady South Africa!

• So i knew we were moving to a farm, but what i didn't realize was that the 600 hectares of green grass that we now call our 'backyard', would provide the most breathtaking sunrises to run in... Sunsets to ride in... And a beautiful backdrop to lunch in...

• Not having a dog couldn't have come to an end sooner, when by surprise we were given a Jack Russell (since named Jake) at the exact time i realized we didn't have enough money to install an alarm system, nor a nose to smell out rats and Rinkhals' (of which he's already found 2!). We've always wanted a dog for our family (and boys in particular), and much to Dannean's horror, i refer to my self as his daddy (he's that cute!)

• I should probably add, that earlier this week i managed to run Jake over (with my car) (these things happen on farms!). With tears in my eyes i raced him to the vet as the little thing proceeded to urinate blood uncontrollably. I couldn't help asking God what was the point in allowing us to get the dog in the 1st place? Well my cynicism quickly turned to absolute joy and relief, as Jake was discharged the very next day with only a bruised leg (what!!??) True. (ok fair, we did pray for him like one of our own children had been run over!)

• Our new home has a guest bedroom, which is something we had been looking forward to having for many years. And so having friends and family spend the night was suddenly an option - except that's all we had - a room. Money was simply too tight to mention for a bed... That was until our neighbours randomly informed us that their living arrangements required that their extra length double bed and base set, find a new home temporarily. Problem solved! (and a breakfast with the bed for anyone coming to visit...).

• The one irony of our move, was not factoring in how we thought we were going to meet people living on a farm! And so the fact that we have since come to befriend some amazing people, mostly through and including an old Grey Junior School mate of mine (Stephen Pohlmann), has been a great blessing! It also so happens that Steve is a pastor of a beautiful little church 10 minutes down the road from us, as well as being a really gifted teacher and preacher. A highlight for me in our short stint with the church to date, was definitely a trip into one of the poorer communities in the area this weekend, as well as watching Steve (being an ex-baptist pastor) actually getting a couple 'amens' for a change!

• My passion for entrepreneurship and desire to start another business (gulp), was again surprisingly met by the realization that the dirt garages in our backyard are in fact going to be the perfect workshop space for the motorized bicycle business i'm starting. In fact just last week we finished cementing the floors with Thembi (the world's most versatile nanny!) and her building crew (including the boys of course!)

• And on that note, to see these 2 boys playing in a garden that's too big for them, with a hose that's too long from them, and a dog that's too fast for them, gives me more joy than i can actually express... ps. getting the resident lawn mowing service in the other day was a highlight for them too, as was Connor watching and learning to weld (just kidding mom!)

• When May came around, with me still not having a job, and Dannean's part time work at Wits only going to cover half the months expenses, we were left doubting... That was until one of my best mates bridged our financial gap (totally unbeknownst to him), with an amazing financial donation. I think this was all the more humbling, given the fact that this friend of mine and i don't share the same faith, and yet he has chosen to support us in such a generous and gracious manner. Bob you beauty!

• Starting businesses cost money, and so you can imagine my jubilation (and shock) when another Grey Junior School friend of mine (now living in Hawaii) contacts me on face book out the blue, to inform me that God has spoken to him about the business i'm starting, and that he's got R50,000 (interest free) for me to get things going... What!!?? True. Greg Byron you biscuit!

The list does go on, but i'll leave the rest for next time.

In conclusion, and with hindsight (all be it only 10 weeks), making this move (in my small little world) was both the most difficult and the easiest decision i've ever made in my life. The most difficult in that, why would i (we) risk everything we already had, by quitting my job, uprooting my family, and moving on to a farm?? Yet at the same time, the easiest decision, because that's all we had to do... (Get to the farm). God / fate (you decide) has done everything else since then.

Jesus says "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." My great hope is that this promise might find its fulfillment in your life, as it has in ours. You get to day 1, He'll take it from there...
Ps. I've included a link here to our vision (as referred to at the beginning of the post) for anyone who's interested - https://www.evernote.com/shard/s443/sh/628f81ba-9591-45e8-b41a-3a832fe4690c/c0c63057f05884466e0cc19dcec74c6a)