For the past four months we have been preparing to purchase a building for our African headquarters in Jos, Nigeria. The building we have rented for the last eight years is up for sale. It seems perfect for our needs. For well under $300,000 we get storage for 250,000 + books, offices for about 12 staff, a retail shop, a wholesale showroom, four apartments, a large classroom, a single family - four bedroom apartment, significant parking space and more. 27 people work here and up to 16 or so call the place home. We have seen millions of books and Bibles go out from this facility over the past years. Moving all this would be a huge task and we are comfortable and settled where we are at.
Asking God to show us the way, things seemed set. Our landlord agreed to sell to us, but things are not what they seemed. He is very sick, and verbal commitments have come and gone several times. There were more delays that we did not really understand. And our lease is running out, we need someplace to go.
On the other hand, a commitment of $300,000 has me worried - really concerned. Do we really have the money? Can our cash flow take the hit, how are we to find money to buy the books Africa needs if we spend this much on a building? Is this wisdom talking or just my lack of faith?
We are ready to buy, would have bought by now, but our landlord is delaying again.
Across town, we have heard about a property owned by a devout Nigerian Christian that he may be willing to sell. The location is better for our needs, the building can handle more business than we can now, and the land will allow for almost unlimited expansion. Our current place is full to overflowing, all the space well used. This property is half the price. That means more money to buy books that Africa desperately needs and this price seems much more prudent to me.
I do not know what God is doing, but it seems he may have had a purpose in all this waiting. Maybe he is overruling our perfect choice for something better. Four months of praying and waiting could be over soon. We will see what building God gives. We are looking for his best, not our choice. It has not been an easy road, but in the process our faith is being built. When we come out the other side, I am working on believing that God will use the wait, the frustration, and the building will be for our best.
For more on the Oasis building project visit the Oasis blog.
http://oasisinternational.typepad.com/oasis_international/2008/07/jos-hq-a-messag.html