Prayer updates

Well, we did it yesterday. After 2 weeks of research, and learning more about housing contracts, and condo-conversions, and condo contracts, and mortgages and points and rates and bumps and dips in the market, etc., etc., ad infinitum... we finally gave the "go ahead" to a mortgage broker at a local bank, focused just on the local region. Jokingly, I had mentioned that one of the reasons I like him is because I can look him in the eyes as opposed to looking up at his chin. (In other words, he is also vertically challenged.) But that was not the only reason: When I told the first lender why I was going with the other agency, it boiled down to this: In the several times I had spoken with Jeff (at the local bank), he had never said one negative thing about Bernie (yes that is his name at the Mortgage company, the "preferred lender"). In contrast, almost from the first, Bernie had said that nobody else could do what he could do. They would promise this and that. But they can't do it because he (Bernie) had already laid all the groundwork. Well, I told him that yesterday afternoon. And he got a little red in the face, but kept himself under control. Then he called me a little while ago this morning and cleared the air. He apologized that he had never meant to speak negatively about anyone else. Apparently, in his confidence he just got a little carried away. so I accepted his apology. and we are on good terms again. And like he said, if the other plan falls through or we need his services at some time in the future, he is definitely an option.

It takes a big man (and I don't mean physically) to admit something like that and apologize. So even though he is taller than I, I won't hold that against him. And he did gain some points in my book.

Anyway, so I told Jeff that yes, we will go with his offer. Unfortunately, in my 2 weeks of researching, etc., the rates dropped lower than originally quoted then jumped back up. But I feel okay about it because I learned volumes about the whole process and I feel confident in the process ahead.

Soooooooo, that is one thing you can clarify in your prayers for us: That as we approach closing date (October 19), that everything will go smoothly (which I guess there are almost always bumps along the way) and that the LORD will go before us to prepare the way!

The other thing to clarify/modify in your prayers concerns bw's dissertation proposal. It has safely arrived in the hands of her mentor in Manila. She has very high regard for him, Dr. Dayala, which is why she requested him for her mentor. He is demanding and sets high standards. And the university where she is getting her PhD has high standards as well (apparently, markedly higher standards than most US universities). Anyway, Dr. Danny as bw calls him is reviewing her proposal and is supposed to get back to her about it with additions, correction, etc. So in our prayer time last night, she admitted to the LORD (as if he did not already know it but it is good to confess it) that her stomach is in knots while she waits for Dr. Danny's response.

Sooooooooo, that is the other thing about praying for us: That she will relax about it and trust the LORD and trust Dr. Danny while she waits. Also--and maybe this is really the point--that her proposal will find favor in Dr. Danny's eyes. That he will see the merit and the seriousness of her efforts and that he will give her the encouragement she hopes to receive from him.

Okay that's it for today. Thank you!