We have been having some major complications with our visitor papers. Since we gotten here we spent several hours a day trying to either get a credit card, a bank account, cell service, etc but we've had no luck. They just keep telling us we need a SIN number (the equivalent of a social security). When we tried to apply (this was Thursday) they told us our papers were incorrect. They suggested we go to the airport to figure it out. We went to immigration and they told us they were swamped with a flight but we could come back later. We went home for a few hours and came back around 5pm. They looked over it and said we had to go to the border to get it fixed.
So that evening we drove to Osoyoos which is the closest border crossing about 2 hours 20 mins away. We drove outside of Canada to the US back to Canada... It was weird but what They told us to do. They looked over all our paperwork again and told us they might not be able to fix it. It might be something that would have to be fixed in Alberta! He said last time he had to do something like that, that's what had to happen. We just prayed the whole time we were there that he could fix it. About an hour later we heard the glorious sound of a printer reprinting our papers! It was such a blessing! We were so grateful to the Lord and this man for that. He also fixed a few other papers for us since Elijah didn't have the right documentation. After 3 exhausting days in Canada, we finally felt like we accomplished something! We were starting to feel pretty discouraged and lonely, but so grateful the Lord encouraged us when we needed it most.
Friday we unloaded the Uhaul with the help of some friends to put in storage. After that, we looked at a home. We've had a hard time looking for houses because they were either really expensive, run down, interesting landlord, or just rented too quickly. I called this one and wasn't really too interested in it. It seemed okay, but a little higher than we wanted to spend, but we still wanted to visit it. We drove up and the location was really nice. Very near the lake. It's an older home, but not super old...maybe the early 90's? It has awesome pink carpet ;) but we started to fall in love with this little house, pink carpet and all (though we wouldn't mind if they decided to take it out! 😜) after realizing the lady showing us the home would also be our landlord we were super excited. She's so nice and lives nearby by herself. She's so sweet and helpful and would make a wonderful landlord. A landlord can make all the difference in living. Our housing in IL was pretty frustrating and we are ready to have a house where the landlord takes care of the tenant and doesn't just let gas leak everywhere! (I think our life expectancy has lessened about 10 years from the two years in IL!)
At any rate, if you couldn't tell, we decided to rent this little house :) it seems surreal, but will feel great when we are finally moved in next week :) this will be our first place not living with other people in an attached house. I finally feel like an official adult and it only took 27 years! I think James and I just just didn't things a little backwards with a baby before stable housing :) below are some pictures of the house.
After that we went to the Social Security office and applied for a SIN number. The computer had a glitch so we had to fill out a paper application which means a few more weeks before we can get it, which means still a few weeks without banks, Canadian credit cards and Canadian phone...but oh well, we will get there.
We also purchased our first bed today! I know, it's crazy, but we've never owned our own bed our whole marriage! We were given one in seminary to borrow, then we were given one in MI and so now we own our own bed! Haha. It's so random, but it's the simple things that make you excited like getting your own place for once and owning a bed :). We also got the keys to our house today and a free table and chairs from the previous owner :) our landlord said If we needed to borrow any furniture we could just borrow it from Her house! How amazing is that?! We aren't going to inconvenience her, but how loving is that? She also is getting us in contact with a lady moving out of the country that might give us or sell us some furniture for a good deal so we'll see :) we also can't put bills in our name yet since we aren't citizens with a SIN but our landlord said she would gladly put them in hers for now! So grateful.
Grateful for this home, our bed and our new landlord whom we can hopefully be a blessing to as well :)
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