These past couple of months have been the most scary, yet the most amazing so far in this whole process.
I’ve been looking for a job in Charleston. I posted an ad on Craigslist a while back, looking for a nanny job. I didn’t really think I’d hear back, but I just wanted to get my name out there. The first night, I received 3 e-mails. One was from a girl who needs a nanny for her newborn and her friend’s newborn. Two boys due around Nov/Dec. They needed someone to start in February, but we know we can’t be there until March so I kind of figured it wouldn’t work out. I sent back and e-mail, just responding to find out more details. What I forgot was that this blog is a part of my automatic signature. The next morning I had a REALLY long e-mail (we’ve discovered she’s as long winded as me) waiting for me all about both families and how they’re been praying for someone who loves Jesus to love and take care of their little boys. She had read my blog and felt like we were a perfect fit. The next week, the whole staff was in Charleston so we had the opportunity to go and meet the moms for an interview.
Before we went, Mark and I had been praying for some very specific things in a job for me. When we went and sat down with them, first of all, if was like we were hanging out with two of our old friends, and secondly, it was as if they had heard everything we had been praying. Some of the things they suggested themselves were amazing and such a answer to prayer. They are going to wait on us to get there. They’ve interviewed a ton of people and they’ve chosen to put their children in daycare until I can get there in March. WOW!! Also, they told us that they are totally cool with me taking the boys to meet Mark so that we can work in the community together and do ministry together. To make sure we didn’t just jump in excitement, we continued to pray through it for a couple more weeks. We were so excited when we got to tell them yes! I don’t know them super well yet, but I’m excited because I feel like I might be getting 2 friends out of this deal too. 
One of the little boys was born on Nov 3rd, and the other little guy should be here soon! My job is nailed down. Please be praying that God opens a door for Mark to find something on the side of working at the church. Please pray that with his full time job, part time job, and my full time job, we’ll always keep our relationship with Christ and each other first.
The next big thing is that we’ve officially launched the church website. We would really love for you to check it out…www.riverchurchcharleston.com. It’s actually more of a pre-website, to let people know how to pray, give, and be a part of the process. Some of you have asked us how you can give to support us. If you want to give to Mark and I in the supplemental support we’re needing to raise, you can send a check to River Church-P.O. Box 778 Hiram, GA 30141. Make sure to put “Mark and Lauren Estes” in the FOR place.
If you want to donate to the church budget, for equipment, you can go to the website and actually click on Join, Give, and pick one of the items there. Obviously both of these ways of giving are 100% tax dedutible. A cool thing about this is that my Uncle Chris, who owns a lighting and sound company (http://www.iveysound.com), is giving us an awesome deal on everything. When something is bought online, when it comes time to buy everything, he’ll be able to stretch the monies there to buy even more equipment for the church. This was SUCH a crazy, and unexpected thing.
It has been cool to see how God is working the financial side out. Mark and I have been a bit wary about this part, but God has used some of the most unsuspected people and avenues to remind us that HE is leading this whole process. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always heard people have those crazy miracle stories of how God provided in ridiculous ways. I told Mark…. I have a few of those stories now and I’m sure I’ll have many more before it’s all over. It’s really cool.
If you’re praying for us, supporting us financially, moving to C-town with us, or all three, thank you. It’s going to be so cool to see who God chooses to put on this team in all of these ways. We love you guys… I hope we do a good job of letting you know that.
