Estate Sale

Over the last few weeks Martha and I began the process of going through all of our belongings, separating out what we want to keep, want we want to take, and what goes to family. This has been much harder than I had imagined. I figured it would be, “Keep this. Pack that. Sell that. Give this away. Done!” But the reality of going through 35 years of life is not that easy. Thinking about leaving everything is one thing, but when you have to make the choice to physically (and emotionally) separate from each item it becomes more difficult. 

For us, the pinnacle of this process happened on December 14 with our “Estate Sale”! We’ve had the pleasure of working a few estate sales in the past but nothing prepares you for having complete strangers going through “your” things and offering ridiculously low prices. Yet, as we opened the door to our storage unit, garage, and apartment, the Lord was gracious. He supplied us with two amazing friends who stayed the night before and helped us set up, work, and take down our sale. He also brought just the right people to buy our things so that we only have a few of the “big” items left. While we did not get rid of everything, the Lord exceeded our expectations and our sale was a success. 

Throughout this process we have been taught, what we believe to be, some significant spiritual lessons. One of the most commonly asked questions at our sale was “who died?” This struck me as funny at first but after being asked a dozen or more times I really began to think about it. Who died? For many, estate sales signify a death in the family, or at least a major life change. The leading reasons for estate sales are death, foreclosure, divorce, and the elderly moving into assisted living. But what did this all mean for us? With each question I felt a growing significance. 

As I began to think about it, I could not help but make the connections between our sale and what people had come to expect from estates sales. Our sale was (and continues to be) a significant piece of closing up life in the Bay Area and in the States. In the extreme, it represents a kind of death, and at the least, a significant life change. We had to make a value call on that which we hold to be significant and what we do not. It was a process of letting go of worldly possessions to take hold of that which is of greater eternal significance. 

The Bible tells us that we are not to store up for ourselves treasures of this earth, those things which can be destroyed or stolen, but we are to look to the things of heaven that no man can take away  (Matthew 6:19-21). While we have never thought of ourselves as ones to store up worldly possessions, the meaning of Jesus’ words, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” became far more real as we let go of what we had stored up. It amazed us what things “held our hearts” but the Lord is good, and as we began to let go of things we felt more at peace and deeper ways, more ready to go. 

In preparing to leave the Bay Area (and eventually the States) we realize it is not the things we take with us that we value but the friendships and relationships. The “things” only serve to hold us to this earth, whereas our relationships propel us forward. A lifetime worth of things do not define who we are. It is our love for Jesus Christ and relationships that we value. 

Friends and family, thank you for your love and support. As we let go of our “stuff” and prepare to leave, please know that we love and value you. Selling our things and closing up our life here does not mean we desire to leave you. In many ways, by letting go of our worldly possessions we are more able to take you with us as we seek to serve the Lord. 

Please continue to keep us in your prays as we walk on this journey. 

Prayer Needs: 

• Family: As we move closer to a date of departure pray we are able to spend good quality time with our families. We know we are called to seek and serve the Lord as He calls us overseas but we also want to honor and respect of parents and family. Pray the Lord would help us prepare them for our absence and build excitement for them to be a part of what we’re going to be doing.
• Bay Area: The San Francisco Bay Area has been our home for more than ten years. It is where we met, got married, and became part of our church family. As our time here winds down pray that the Lord would allow us to spend time with people in such a way that we are able to communicate how much we love and value them as well as continue to build into relationship. 
• Ministry Partners: Continue to pray for those who would partner with us, both churches and individuals. The Lord brought us up in amazing churches with faithful people who desire to partner with us. Pray we are able to build into those relationship, communicate what God has called us to, and foster ways they can walk in that calling with us.
• Training/Education Debt Elimination: Praise the Lord for His faithful and abundant provision. Throughout the months of November and December He provided us with $5,700 to put towards our debt elimination. Currently we owe $11,500, but we know we serve a big God who provides. Through profits of our estate sale, work, and gifts, we hope to place another payment on the debt shortly. Please pray with us that we are able to leave for the mission field debt free. 
• Living and Transition: In the coming weeks Martha and I will be leaving our jobs, moving out of our apartment, and spending time with family. Pray for wisdom and peace as we leave the security of employment and spend the end of January, February, and the beginning of March without jobs or medical insurance. Pray for the Lords provision and safety in this time. 

Grace and Peace,

Donald and Martha