Hey all!
I was hoping to write a bit more of an interesting post, but today we’ve reached the make-or-break point in business negotiations, which means we’re right in the balance between having another crap three or four months and actually seeing our problems solved.
Obviously, we’re hoping these negotiations swing in the latter direction, so please pray that they go well.
In the meantime, I’m in for the most stressful wait of my life.
Misha
Hey all. I can’t believe we’re past half way through the year already. But today’s the first Wednesday of the month, which means it’s time for my IWSG post.
For those of you unfamiliar with the idea, IWSG is a monthly bloghop where a lot of writers share their insecurities and encouragements. Which in the end makes everyone involved feel better. Don’t believe me? Join up and see.
You know… I’m starting to think 2014 is going to go down in my history is THE SUCKIEST YEAR EVER.
So why am I telling you this?
Well 1) because I need prayers, people, and this will be the shortest route to get a wide exposure. 2) because it actually does have to do with my big insecurity this month. So please bear with me.
As you may know, I spent four months this year grappling with my former publisher with regards to my rights to my War of Six Crowns books. So by end of April/Early May, it’s all over. And I finally get back into the groove where I can write and edit and just generally focus on getting stuff done.
But just when I think everything’s okay again, suddenly it isn’t.
See, my family business (in which I own a substantial share) is in the agricultural industry. The natural progression given the success we had for two years was to buy a farm.
We basically purchased on a delayed agreement, which means we pay rent on the farm for a few months. At which point we either give the farm up or buy it. The lovely thing is that we got the farm, which is valued and priced so we can get a loan on it.
The less than wonderful thing: We got the farm just as business dried up, thanks to European sanctions on our main export. But that was fine. Our records were good enough that we could still get financing, and income by producing and exporting products that are lower-risk, high income and sanction free. We were in the process of doing both. Things still looked good. (Well, except for the crap with my publisher.)
But last week, a new bomb dropped.
After hearing vague rumors, it has now been confirmed that our government is actively looking into passing a law, taking 50% of land owned by farmers and redistributing it to impoverished communities.
Let me say that again, before anyone has an “awe that’s so sweet” sort of reaction.
Which means that people might lose half their farms and the production of those farms when they are barely keeping head above water as it is. (No. We don’t get subsidized to farm. And no, seems like we won’t be in future, either.)
It means that people who have mortgages on farms they purchased, will have to pay full mortgages on half farms. I.E. $2mil when he/she only has $1mil of farm left. And which means they will have to do so on half their projected production levels.
Which in short, means that no one in his right mind will buy a farm now. (We also stopped the purchase until we can see what the law will really be in the end.) But it also means no one’s investing in agricultural businesses either. Farm or no farm.
And certainly no one will contract us in long term exporting arrangements now because no one knows what the output will be.
Which means that yes. My business is grinding to a complete halt.
Which means that, yes, this is probably as insecure as you’re ever going to see me. Because right now, as I’m writing this, everything I’ve worked for (including my plans to publish) are teetering on the brink of evaporation.
Because everything me and my family earned in our business went into the farm. And now everything we might earn has to go into keeping ourselves and the people we employ afloat. Which I still admit puts us in a much better place than a lot of other people. We are still solvent and functioning. But if this law is passed…
The ramifications of this is absolutely staggering. And that’s just on our farm. I’m not even getting into what this law will do to the economy as a whole.
Which means that yeah. I’m terrified. I’m worried.
I still stand firm in the belief that God hasn’t and won’t desert us. But sometimes standing firm is taking so much out of me that I can barely concentrate on anything else.
Lord God, Father,
Tonight, the night before Christmas, I want to thank You for giving us Your Son. The truth is that His short life on Earth was a game-changer. Your love for us goes so much deeper, so much further than we can even begin to imagine, and without that love, my life, everything I could possibly achieve… everything would have been meaningless.
Thank You, Lord, for the many blessings you’ve sent my way, and across the way of my loved ones. And thank You for the many opportunities You gave for us to bless others. I pray that next year, I’ll learn how to use those chances even better.
Tonight, I want to pray for my country, still settling into a new era now that President Mandela has joined You in heaven. I ask that those appointed to lead our nation do so to the best of their ability. I pray that You guide them, Lord, and guide each of us as members of the nation to find ways to build it into something even stronger, more united than it is today.
I also ask that you be with people who lost loved ones this year. Christmas is a difficult time when those we love are missing from the feast. Please wrap them in Your love, and be with them in noticeable ways as their wounds heal.
Lastly, I want to pray down Your blessing on my family, my friends and their families and friends, and theirs. And theirs. Lead us, strengthen us, and open our eyes to the amazing things You do for us.
I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.
The Five Year Project 