Pay Me Now, Or Pay Me Later

As our time winds down here in Skopje, a wrinkle has appeared. This is the kind of wrinkle that only money can iron out. Our landlord is paranoid that we will leave town owing large bills that he will be stuck paying. Of course that will NOT happen, but he is remembering other foreigners who rented from him and stiffed him in this way.

His solution is for us to pay the minimum monthly internet fee for four months after we leave in May. In addition, he wants us to leave around $230 for our May telephone bill.This would be around $550 altoether. Now you and I know that is not FAIR. However, he does not know that.

So, I am confronted with the moral and ethical challenge of hearing his concerns, but not caving into his demands. I believe he is actually upset that our utilities were included in the rent that we have been paying. This wrinkle has forced me into the language abyss. Consequently, I have enlisted the aid of our pastor here in Skopje. He does not want me to pay the landlord a dime, or a denar, actually. But, I believe I will pay him some money, as long as he understands that it is not for the internet or the telephone. It is a gift to a family that needs some extra cash.

It is likely that we will need to move the office earlier than we had anticipated. In part to escape from the landlord's unrealistic demands, and in part to open the next chapter for the Balkan field office.

Pray with us for this meeting to go well. I do want to sow him grace and mercy, but I also want to be a good steward of the Lord's resources.

They didn't teach me THIS in seminary!

Trent