A few days ago, after what seemed like endless trips back and forth and around the corner (165 steps, to be exact), Rebekah and I finally said “goodbye” to the lovely house we have been renting on East Saint James.

The original idea, when Rebekah signed her contract with the church at the end of November 2023, was to stay here for one year then move back to our home in Wake Forest. What happened instead, as I have explained before, is that we fell in love with this community and restored the Saint Patrick Street house that we finally moved into a week ago.

But we couldn’t – and this is a big thank you to our landlord, Liz – have had the particular experience we had here in the historic district without the advantage of living on East Saint James. This beautiful – and recently restored – home set the stage for our immersion into this community and we are grateful.

So I took these photographs after we removed the last of our stuff. The house is waiting, it turns out, for the next “somebody” who needs to fall in love with living here in Tarboro (the Crossroads of Western Civilization) and enjoy being neighbors with the wonderful family next door.

Apparently, and according to the owner, Rebekah and I have given this house “good vibes.” Well I can attest to the fact that it already had some – but our commitment to daily prayer and devotion here may well have helped. Regardless, it is a home steeped in love and you can’t do much better than that.

Enjoy the images (and Tarboro awaits) – DEREK