Timing Is Everything: The Unfinished Story of The Land Deed

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest,

if we do not give up.

"Follow me in case of snakes." A. Suradet

If there's anything I'm learning from my Thai family it's the capacity for an expanded relationship with time.  This is an 'event-oriented' culture, compared to our Western 'time-oriented' way of doing life, and it's likely one of the biggest differences this Type-A, first-born-female, administrative-maniac, efficiency-loving missionary-wannabe, excessive-user-of-hyphenated-words, has had to navigate.

This expansion of time thing has never been more evident as in our pursuit of a deed for a piece of property on which we hope to build a proper open concept home for the children. 

So many incredible flowers on the property.

The property itself is being donated (for a small transfer fee), and is ideal for our purposes.  Situated in between Hot Springs Church and both the elementary and high schools where our kids attend, it allows for Suradet and Yupa to continue their ministry as local pastors without disrupting the flow of life for the children.  It's on a quieter road than where we are now, this neighbourhood being significantly built up over the past ten years to the point where the children are not allowed to walk along the road due to traffic.  The new place is literally a five minute walk to a local community football (soccer) field.  And the layout of the land, and the view, are both quite captivating.  I for one would have loved to grow up here.

LOVE working this this Team!

But we need a deed.  The property is properly owned, but local municipal government has the right to control the use of land by providing or withholding the official documentation required to develop the land.   We've been asking, but the wait has lasted four years to now.


"At the proper time" takes on new meaning when considering these things.  Because, to be honest, a lot of things have needed to line up before we could do anything with the property anyways.  It wasn't until last year in November that New Family Foundation was officially approved as a charitable foundation in Thailand.  Up until May of 2018, I certainly would not have had the head space and focus to navigate the multi-layered, highly complex territory of Thai business and charitable law.  And, well, right now at least, we have no money.

That last little matter notwithstanding, we have persisted.  It's a matter of trust.  God's timing is perfect, after all.  We just keep taking the next steps forward to see what He's going to do.

And it seems that something's right about the timing of this trip, with Ken here especially, for the first two weeks of October.  Because after four years of trying and being told we just have to wait, something different has happened.  We've got some traction.

I night attribute this to three things that are different this time out than in all our previous attempts.

Suradet, Me, Yupa's Dad, Yupa, Ken, Pi Pooey

One - We went in person to the desk of the Land Deed officer.  Before this, all requests had been made by phone, which is normal and expected and normally considered more than sufficient in carrying out these matters.  But since Ken and I were here, Suradet had the idea that maybe a face to face was in order, just to get a bit more attention.

Bleached and Abandoned

Two - That face to face included white faces.  I'm sorry to say so, but the presence of 'farangs' (foreigners), who are usually associated with having resources, does make a difference in the social order of things around here.  The assumption is that if you have Western people backing you, then there's a greater possibility of whatever you're planning actually happening.  [Note: This can also backfire, like when the company arrives to pump out your septic tanks and charges you triple because there's a 'farang' (me!), sitting on the porch working.  But that's another (true) story.]  It seems that Ken and I were able to provide some leverage in this way.  [Another Note:  I am currently in the process of writing an academic paper about Paul's experience as a missionary that includes something called 'status inconsistency.  I'm eager to explore the delicacies of this more, especially in terms of how to balance out power inequities.  But that's another (long) piece of writing.]

Preferred location for main buildings.

Three - The Deed Officer apparently had not known we were interested in building a place for children in need.  She said most land deeds are requested so that properties can be developed for business and they are trying to keep that area more on the quiet side of things.  With this new understanding, the Officer, whose name is Pi Pooey (means sister of enrichment, more or less) said she would process things differently.  She herself is a supporter of under-resourced children in Thailand, and as such is more inclined to help us achieve our goals.

So, on Tuesday, October 15, she made good on this promise by actually coming out to the property itself in order to receive a site map, official documentation that we are a registered charity, and copies of the Thai citizenship of the current owners, all of which we had easily at hand.   I have to admit, since the process has hit so many snags up until now, I was surprised when she actually arrived.

So what's next? 

On Wednesday, October 17 there was a regional meeting where our request and documentation was presented.  We have been told we will hear an answer on Friday.

I'm writing this on Thursday.

Although I could save myself another posting, and/or even wrap up this post more 'tidily' by waiting until tomorrow for the outcome, it seems actually more appropriate to invite you to sit with me in this particular moment.  Because, we're still waiting.  And truth be told, even once we hear a yes from the regional council, we're still looking at a two month period of time before we have the paper in hand.

So we're waiting.  Still.  Waiting.  Waiting and being still in that ever-expanding dimension of time that is trusting God.  Might be a day or two, might be another month, might be who knows?

 But I do know it will be "at the proper time" because that's just how God works these things. 
And I'm learning more and more to just be still in that space. 
Like right now. 
Here, on the porch outside on an October day without knowing for sure. 

Explaining our vision again.