Possible

The "icing on the cake" the locks that Upendra and I put on our new building the day of the signing :)

Almost a year ago, Sari Bari received a grant from "Passion 2012" to buy a building. It was an incredible gift. We were excited, and overwhelmed and thankful.

At the same time we weren't quite sure how we were going to be able to actually buy a building (due to red-tape). There was a building we wanted, and we'd actually done a lot of work in terms of negotiations. and then we hit a wall.

Fast-forward to September. We finally found a way to be able to purchase the building. We contacted the owner...and found that that he'd sold the building to someone else. It was so disappointing.

So...we started looking again for a building to buy. It seemed impossible. The process of buying a building requires months of work, research, inspections.

And then, our friends at Freeset called us. You see, they were in the process of buying a building that was an ideal location for us (really...beyond our best case scenario)...and they offered us the building. They'd done all the preliminary work...they'd spent hours and hours...and done all the necessary leg-work so it was possible to buy the building quickly. again...we were humbled...and amazed. beyond our expectations.

then came a month and a half of meetings, negotiations, contracts, drafts, trips to the lawyer, more negotiations, disagreement, more meetings, more running around (Sarah did an incredible amount of work in the past 6 weeks to make this possible...and Upendra too). At many points throughout the process i thought it was over. Not possible. that we'd never reach an agreement that all the necessary parties agreed to.

And then we did.
miraculously (i'd say).

On Tuesday we signed the contract, made the payments, and transferred the deed. Here's what i wrote on Tuesday night...

The building is ours. Sari Bari owns a building in the middle of Sonegachi. I still can't quite believe it.

The signing went off nearly without a hitch (nearly!). And as I watched it unfold before my eyes I had a moment where I was taken aback by the enormity of what I was witnessing. And I thought to myself, "I am watching a miracle happen right before my eyes."

Later on in the day Upendra and I were over in the building (putting those locks on the doors) - and I stood in the middle of that building looking up...and was nearly knocked over by the potential. What will that space become? What is going to happen in that space? How is redemption and restoration and empowerment going to happen in that space. Oh...the endless possibilities! laughter, and singing, dancing and celebration...all to come. (not to mention learning and games, training, empowerment, salaries being earned). Freedom. that's what's going to happen in that space. Freedom.

And then, after the crazy day, we paused to share with the Sari Bari women how God had answered our prayers, we prayed together...to acknowledge that one more time, God acted on our behalf. One more time, the impossible became possible. One more event that I can point to and know that God is at work, and that God is faithful, and that He does hear our prayers and act.

I am humbled to get to be a part of this process.
I am thankful that I have been all the places I was today.
I am amazed that this happened. It actually happened.
I am reminded that God cares about this corner of the world.
I can believe that I get to be a part of the work He is doing at SB, and in the area.

...and I am exhausted. It has been a long day.