God's Provision

God’s guidance and provision have been unmistakable over the past five weeks; and it seems that I’ve been able to accomplish everything I had hoped in this trip to the states. As you know, I like to make lists, so here’s a summary of my original goals:

1. Housing — It took some time because the rental market is flooded right now in Pensacola, but I leased a little 2-bedroom house in a great location.
2. Employment — I have received a firm offer of employment with West Corporation, a huge corporation (1,100 employees in their Pensacola branch alone) that handles inbound customer service for AT&T and Comcast. I have up to six months to review the various training events, companies, and shift patterns before deciding where/if I fit into their company.
3. Health Care — A good friend suggested that I look into the Veterans Administration (VA) programs for health benefits, since I am a Vietnam veteran and earn under a certain income level. I applied to the VA upon arrival and I have been accepted for full coverage; in fact, I had my initial medical exam last week and they will be providing everything I need, including prescription drugs and access to a cardiologist (I’ve been a heart patient for the past two years).
4. Relocation of Daughter/Grandchildren — The trip from Little Rock to Pensacola with a UHaul truck went very smoothly, considering the fact that I haven’t done a cross-country self-move like this in fifteen years. Friends and family helped out with loading and unloading on both ends of the journey, so I didn’t have to do much except supervise. Two of my grandkids are settled into their new school and love it. My daughter has been able to gain access to the social service benefits that are available for single-parents with children, while I have played babysitter for my two-year-old grandson. And my oldest daughter has offered to care for him when I leave, so that the job hunting (and hopefully employment) can continue after I’m gone. Other details have fallen into place as well.

I must confess that I’ve been very skeptical about all these things, but I’m going back to Wales with a renewed sense that God’s hand has provided once again in our time of need. There are still mountains to climb, but we’ve successfully navigated the foothills, so to speak. More to come!