We Might Just Be On To Something Good

Tony and I have talked about moving to Cleveland for a church planting opportunity through the North American Mission Board for quite some time. Finally in Spring 2013 we took the plunge and committed.

We did not do this without some hesitations or doubts though!

As we talked to various friends and family members, we received quite varied responses. Some people were ready for us to pack up and leave immediately while others were quite hesitant.

We had it made in Louisville. Why change things up? We had great jobs. We had great friends. We loved our little town home. We had a great church family. We were already serving within our church. Why change?

On top of that why go to Cleveland? Home of failing factories. Home of infamous criminals. Home of the Browns, Indians, and Cavs haha.

Right as we were getting quite discouraged about our move to Cleveland, a church that we have never met volunteered to donate monthly support to help in our hopes of a church plant. What a blessing! This church has a heart for urban areas in Ohio and wanted to help support us in our efforts. We weren’t searching for support. They simply volunteered. It came right at the time we needed some encouragement.

I knew God had something great in store!

Moving is also quite expensive! Gathering moving supplies, searching for a new home, and renting U Hauls…YIKES! We were running up quite the tab. Right as we were getting discouraged, we get an email letting us know the North American Mission Board will be reimbursing us for our moving expenses.

I knew God had something great in store!

I am a weirdo, but I despise driving on the interstate. I used to drive back and forth to Alabama (an 8 hour drive) by myself no biggie! Then one day on my way home, I hydroplaned into a ditch on the highway. By God’s great grace myself and my car lived to tell the story. However interstate driving has never been enjoyable since.

Well in order to get up to Cleveland, Tony had to drive a 14 foot U Haul and I had to drive my car. I was dreading this the whole time leading up to the move. And wouldn’t you know, it was supposed to rain on us the whole way between Louisville and Cleveland. Perfect hyrdro-planing weather! We drove through storm clouds the whole 7 hour trip (normally a 5 hour trip but everything is a bit slower with myself and the U haul) and we only ever got sprinkled on.

I knew God had something great in store!

Tony and I have officially been in Cleveland right at 2 weeks and have loved it so far.

It is quite Urban! Silly things throw my little southern self off.

Like how many houses I can see from my house! I’m used to being out in the boon docks where I can only see about 3 houses from my house. I can count 15 houses from our home in Cleveland!

Or like the grocery store. Woah baby there are way too many people packed into this place. Have the fire marshals seen this place!?

Or the word pop. Goodness gracious I hate that word. I lived in Illinois for 2 years and was made fun of in elementary school for not knowing that pop meant soda or as us southerners know everything as coke. So I now abhor the word pop. I will forgive/accept those that use it around me though:)

But I am falling in love with this place already and can’t wait to see the GREAT things God has in store!

I’m falling in love with all the small shops in our community filled with people that are so proud of their city.

I’m falling in love with the constant cool breeze from Lake Eerie even on the most humid of days.

I’m falling in love with the people that pack in the houses on our street and the pride they take in their hard work.  

God has blessed us so greatly thus far, He obviously has GREAT plans!