Northern Uganda Women and Children Support Initiative, Inc. (NUWOCSI)

On April 6 I signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement and the buyer was pressing for a closing date of April 16. This was only giving me 10 days to pack up and empty the house and I was really nervous that this would not be enough time. My last day at work was set for April 15 but in order to be ready for a April 16 closing I drastically cut back on my hours and days in the office. I had asked my attorney if he could talk to the buyers about extending the closing to at least April 20 but on April 9 the buyers were asking for an extension to the 20th. Not a problem! I really needed those extra 3 days.

I held an indoor “moving sale” on April 9 and 10 and was able to sell quite a bit of collectibles and household items.  I would have thought I’d be more emotional about seeing all my possessions go but with each sale I only thought of how much more money there would be for Uganda.  These two days were actually enjoyable as I met neighbors I hadn’t met before and met other nice people with whom I hope I can stay in contact. I also had opportunities to talk about Uganda.

Last weekend was nonstop with packing and moving furniture out of the house. Now it’s not like I have another house to move my things into so I have had to make some quick decisions on what to sell, what to give away and what to throw away. I didn’t mind selling my things or giving away items, especially when I knew the recipient needed them or could use them. It did hurt some though when come Monday, April 19 and I came down to my last few items that I didn’t think would sell in a yard sale nor could I find a home for them so I had no other choice but to throw them in the trash pile. These items were used but still useful and I hated throwing them out. This must be the Yankee in me as we’re known for being pack rats who are slow to throw anything out. After all, you never know when you might need it. However, a walk-though was taking place Tuesday morning at 9:00 and the house had to be completely empty. The closing would take place in the afternoon.

Well, it took until mid-night Monday but the house was pretty much empty. I would catch a few hours sleep and then get up at 6:00 to finish the job and be ready when the rubbish removal folks came to take away the pile in the drive way.

As the rubbish was being removed and I was doing a last sweeping and vacuuming I received a call from my real estate agent. The buyers were asking for an extension until the end of the month. WHAT! I was already both physically and emotionally exhausted and this bit of news almost got the best of me.

It had been a long 2 months with preparing and making repairs on the house for showings and then to deal with a basement that flooded 3 times in one month. I had to use the sump pump each time and I can’t even count the number of gallons of water I vacuumed up. In the 16 years I’ve owned the house I think I’ve only had to use the pump 3 other times. To have to use it 3 times in one month was unprecedented. Now, as I stand in an empty house with not even a chair to sit on I’m being asked for a two-week extension. I was advised that I could say no and the buyers could take their deposit and walk away but then where would that leave me. Well, in debt for one thing! I had cut back on my days at work; and paid to have an oil tank removed and had knob & tube wiring replaced as a condition of sale.  In addition, I can’t stay in my house because everything has either been placed in storage, sold, given away or thrown away. So, I’ll grant the extension and continue to pray that the house sells at the end of the month.

To say I wasn’t upset at the time would be an understatement but I will be patient and continue to wait on God’s timing in this matter as well as in all of my other preparations as I continue to prepare for my move to Uganda.

I am thankful for my son and his friends who came to help move my furniture and for all the friends that helped me that weekend.  I’m also very grateful to family members and friends who have offered to store my furniture while I’m in Uganda and who have helped in so many ways these past few weeks.