At the beginning of May our basement flooded. Fortunately, we caught it early and none of Marcus and Kelsie's stuff was damaged. We've had to pull up the carpet, cut out some drywall and move all the stuff to our garage.
Bailing water is a 24 hour a day job, for a week after the rain stops. Before we could have a landscaper divert the water from the house, it flooded again. The landscaper came. He did the work. It flooded again.
Finally we had an structural engineer come. Soon, he'll dig up the floor in the basement, around the outer walls and put in a drain. He promises we'll be good for at least 25 years.
As a result I haven't been able to do my job. We've had to cancel two trips to see our missionaries and I've missed days in the office.
It's all left me a bit overwhelmed. The flood attacked my house but also my insecurities. If you need to sit down with someone, have a cup of coffee and work through life's struggles, I'm your guy. If you need someone to hang drywall, paint, carpet a basement and re-tile a shower, I'm lost.
For some reason, one of those skill sets seems more manly than the other.
I don't feel like I'm doing my job. I don't know what to do with my house. I don't feel very spiritual. So I don't write the people who provide my paycheck.
Missionaries don't write prayer letters for many reasons. Sometimes it's because they're crazy busy. Sometimes it's because life has overwhelmed them. It's hard to say that to people who send you money.
Family and friends at the office and church have helped with the cost and the labor. We have felt so loved and cared for. We really are in a good place. Still I have felt too stuck to write supporters and let them know what's going on.
There's just something about chaos and insecurity that drives withdrawal. I think that's true for all of us. If it's you, maybe we can meet for coffee and work through life's struggles.
Bailing water is a 24 hour a day job, for a week after the rain stops. Before we could have a landscaper divert the water from the house, it flooded again. The landscaper came. He did the work. It flooded again.
Finally we had an structural engineer come. Soon, he'll dig up the floor in the basement, around the outer walls and put in a drain. He promises we'll be good for at least 25 years.
As a result I haven't been able to do my job. We've had to cancel two trips to see our missionaries and I've missed days in the office.
It's all left me a bit overwhelmed. The flood attacked my house but also my insecurities. If you need to sit down with someone, have a cup of coffee and work through life's struggles, I'm your guy. If you need someone to hang drywall, paint, carpet a basement and re-tile a shower, I'm lost.
For some reason, one of those skill sets seems more manly than the other.
I don't feel like I'm doing my job. I don't know what to do with my house. I don't feel very spiritual. So I don't write the people who provide my paycheck.
Missionaries don't write prayer letters for many reasons. Sometimes it's because they're crazy busy. Sometimes it's because life has overwhelmed them. It's hard to say that to people who send you money.
Family and friends at the office and church have helped with the cost and the labor. We have felt so loved and cared for. We really are in a good place. Still I have felt too stuck to write supporters and let them know what's going on.
There's just something about chaos and insecurity that drives withdrawal. I think that's true for all of us. If it's you, maybe we can meet for coffee and work through life's struggles.
well i wrote a whole bunch then it said to sign in.. lol lost it all.. didnt' know that would happen! :-(
ReplyDeleteWow... Jeff that's what i like about you.. totally open & honest... We had the same prob with water coming in the basement & then we had the flower bed removed along the one side of the house & had a concrete driveway poured & it stopped the water coming in.. YAY... It was a pain every time it rained and a LOT of work to get it out...I love that Jim is a handyman and does a lot of work....it may take longer to get done, but he's able to do most anything & if he can't, he'll find someone that can help. It's awesome church & friends were able to help you also.. that's what God put us all on this earth for.. to help each other when we need the help. So happy nothing got damaged (cept for the carpet)....I'm glad you wrote so we better know how to pray for you now too....and if there's a little extra income that comes in, we'll know where it's needed most....:-)
Know you guys are loved & prayed for...... Jim & Cindy, IL
Thanks so much Cindy.
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