Topeka!

It only took us a record-breaking 4 1/2 day drive from North Pole, AK to Topeka, KS. Lots of folks doubted that we'd make it down before a week, but we really pushed it. We've been here for almost a week and a half now...still homeless...here's our story:

Before we left, we found (via craigslist.com) a cheap apartment to rent (with a 10 day notice to cancel the lease, which was good for us because we only needed temp housing until we found a permanent home to rent/buy), however, when talking with a few state troopers and actually seeing the apartment, we RAN AWAY. The house next door was boarded up, but you could see the flickering light of a TV and the neighbors looked like they were ready to "work the streets". The landlord said it was a nice place for a family - the floor was ripped up, there were holes in the doors and walls and it reeked. Lesson learned - don't make a deposit (which he kept) for anything sight unseen.

So we lived in the Country Inn & Suites for 3 days, then the Motel 6 for another couple days. Randy and Jeremy went out in search of a place to rent after seeing the real estate market first hand and talking with residents, we decided it wasn't a good time to buy (even though housing is cheap). Finally, after no real luck, we went to the church last Wednesday night as we knew people would be there for the mid-week activity. We met another Washburn law student (he's in his 3rd and final year) and he told us about where he lives - Fox Ridge Townhouses.

We were invited over for dinner, checked the place out and it's actually a great deal for us and after much prayer, we know this is where we should live. Here is our miracle: there's usually a 1 year waiting list to get in, but there was a 3 bedroom unit open. Perfect! Then it takes about 2 weeks for paperwork to process (this is a HUD residence) - the law student and his family are out of town for 2 weeks and are letting us crash at their house until we get in. Perfect! Our paperwork was turned in on Monday and was completed on Tuesday (13 days early!) so we're moving in on Friday! The manager was shocked that everything was completed in 1 day!!

So we've been living out of suitcases and boxes for a few weeks, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel...
We followed the prompting to come to law school here in Topeka and the Lord is providing so many blessings for listening to Him. It's definitely been a trial of our faith and patience, but here's our first of hopefully many miracles while here in mid-America :)

Pictures will be posted soon...our camera's card reader is still packed...