Living simply...

I appreciate folks who desire to live simply. They don't seem so be destracted by stuff or the constant need to accumulate. They just seem content. The other weekend Mikko and I took the kids to a flea market and found treasures full of things. I thought, "Wow, I could totally shop this way!"

Let me remind you, I am in Finland and my family is in the states. Many friends too. Alot of them are struggling to make ends. Money is tight with many in the states. It is somewhat affected here in Finland. Cutbacks, lay-offs, etc. But most my neighbors seem to be surving.

I think of my parents and pray that my father is able to get a good job. I think the economy is hurting them quite a bit. My dad sent an email wishing he could see us again this summer. His grandaughter turns 1 and my mom and dad just can't come.

I bummed, yes. But the other day I got this facebook message asking for personal prayer. A sweet friend she is and so I keep her nameless. Here is what she wrote:

As some of you may or may not know, my husband and I have decided to make some BIG life changes to get out of debt. Between the two of us, we have about $70,000 in student loan debt. And with the big expensive Honda and the nice bedroom ranch we are living in, we were going to pay those loans off by about....2050.

Tired of living check to check, tired of never getting anywhere on our student loans, tired of the anxiety associated having more month than money left, we decided to get RADICAL.

So, we are getting rid of the Odyssey. Instead, we paid cash for a used van that is safe and reliable.

We also recently accepted a property management position with a company in town. In lieu of rent and utilities, we are going to live-in manage an apartment building by the old campus. We get a sprawling two bedroom apartment to live in, and someone else pays our rent.

In the meantime, we are hiring a property manager for our house and are going to lease it - which means someone else pays our mortgage.

Between the house and van, we are freeing up about $1800 a month to put toward debt. Plus whatever I make with my freelance gig. It is truly amazing.

God has orchestrated everything - from getting us the position to finding us the right van. We surrendered everything to him and he guided us straight and true - it truly has been an amazing journey.

My request is that you pray for me to have the courage and the perserverance to stay right with God on this one. It is easy to get bogged down in the details or overwhelmed with the paperwork. It is easy to just do what is comfortable and stay in our house, forever worried about money and a slave to our debt. Pray for me to have supernatural strength to work through the moving and downsizing.

Will you do that for me? I would really, really appreciate it.

Blessings to all of you. I love you guys and miss many of you!!