I'm not confused anymore!

Well guys, I need to start off with an apology.  So many amazing things have happened since I’ve updated you all last.  Let me start off by saying that God is amazing.  He is unchanging, all knowing and always, always present.  Jesus promised to never leave us or forsake us.  He never fails.  Remember however, that this promise is not a license to “name it and claim it”.  God’s purpose for us is to bring Him glory, not make us happy, content or even fulfilled.  Here in America, many times we enjoy these things as by-products of a life that is surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, but it’s not a guarantee for blissful days here on this earth.

God is so good to me sometimes I feel guilty.  I guess because I know I don’t deserve these blessings, so I’d better make sure to thank Him publicly for them.  So here goes….

As you know, I lost my job.  My buddy Russ was quick to respond with some work on his house doing some carpentry and plumbing.  I jumped on that and was happily working away after one week off.  There was no way we could maintain our present rate of spending and pay off our credit card debt; much less survive, at what I make as a carpenter.  I was scratching my head trying to figure out how to make it and what I had to sell off first.  It was a bleak economic picture.  Then, I got a call from a member of my church who is also an engineer.  His wife told him of our “plight” so he looked me up on “LinkedIn” and tried to contact me via email.  It bounced, so we finally gave up and called each other on the phone (weird, I know).  We had a nice conversation, and he encouraged me to call one of my old bosses here in Scotts Valley who he thought was busy.  So that evening after fixing my bad LinkedIn email address, I emailed Dave Moriconi, President of IDE Inc. and told him that I was available for work again if he had any need for some extra help.  Fifteen minutes later, I received an email back from Dave telling me he could put me to work immediately.  He asked me to come down and talk with him ASAP so we could catch up.  Astounded, I confirmed an appointment and met with Dave a day later.  We shook hands and I showed up for work the following week.

Now for the icing on the cake….

As a contractor, I can make more per hour than as an employee.  We agreed to my old contracting rate and a four day work week.  So, working four days a week as a contractor (leaving one day per week to prepare for our departure) I can make more money than I did as a full time employee at my last job!  Isn’t that amazing!!  Now, who would have thought of that?  Honestly, I’m not creative enough to come up with stuff this good.  The God we serve is very gracious; and fun.  Being a Christian is exciting.

Please remember us in your prayers.  We are at about a 60% level of being fully funded.  More is coming in, but the project is going to need another big push to get us over the top.  Housing is also a priority now; on both ends.  We need to find some tenants for our home here as well as a house for us down there.  We leave next week for Mexico to do some house hunting and get some good housing budget numbers.  For those of you who have gotten back to us, Thank you!!  We’ll be sending you another update in the mail soon.  Something with a big picture on the front to put on your fridge so you’ll remember to pray for us!

Blessings,

The Hanson’s