Dear Matthew & Miriam,
Wanted to share something the Lord did for me today. He granted me a boon...in more ways than one. I've been praying about the Toyota payments situation, and of course, getting a job is going to help me make payments, but whether I should even keep it. I'd surrendered the Toyota back to Him if that was how I needed to proceed to help my situation, but kept looking at ways to make it more affordable if it turns out I get a contract and need to be off on the road again. With my COSTCO membership, they have that auto loan program, so I went on-line one night on a whim, just to see if I could qualify for a loan from them to refinance the Toyota, hopefully at a lower finance rate.
Much to my surprise, within 30" my loan application was approved, and a few days later there was a blank check in the mail for me to use to pay off the Toyota loan at a finance rate of 8.6%, which was a whole point less than the loan which Summit Credit Union had given me. Upon investigation, however, I noticed that there was no GAP Insurance (which covers the discrepancy between the insured value of the vehicle and the replacement value should it be totaled in an accident), nor was there disability insurance (which makes my payments should I become disabled enough not to be able to work and make payments) included with their loan. So, after much prayer and consideration from a couple trusted folks, I decided to take the offer from COSTCO to Summit C/U and see if they would be willing to consider refinancing my loan closer to the terms on the COSTCO loan to keep the loan with them.
Today, I did just that, and they were completely open to the possibility, ran my credit rating again, and (here's the first boon from the Lord) learned that my credit rating had gone up since November when I took out my first re-fi loan w/them for the TS (Toyota Sequoia) from 630 to 675!!. Then they crunched some more numbers and after about 2 hours, I left with a new re-fi loan, the finance rate had been cut in half from my original finance rate of 13.99% (then 9.4%) to a new low finance rate of 7.4%!!! Payments are only $10 less/month, but the finance rate was lowered 2 whole percentage points from the first re-fi, and now is quite close to their lowest finance rate for top-qualified buyers, which is 5.9% (only 1.5% points from the lowest finance rates they offer their clients with perfect credit!
Of course, my new loan includes the GAP coverage and Disability Insurance, at no new cost, so I left their office feeling like the Lord had performed yet another miracle in the history of me finding, qualifying and buying this Toyota, to being able to refinance it twice for lower finance rates each time. How my credit rating went up since November is a mystery to me, because I've only been able to make minimum payments on my outstanding bills besides the ones that have the big tickets (due to being unemployed for 9 months now), but again, I feel that the Lord is doing marvelous things on my behalf in ways I can't dream of. Don't know if I had mentioned about the key system, but the owner of the auto dealership where I bought the TS has agreed to pay for any mechanical repairs needed for the first 20,000 miles I put on it since purchase, and also paid for the computer diagnostic tests that were done to determine what was wrong with the security/key system. He also paid to have a new security and keyless entry system installed in the TS, so now I have a way to get in using my new remote, and the security that was supposed to be part of my deal.
Now, I still need a job, and I'm confident that one is being prepared for me. I need to be ready, and there were some loose ends to gather up, my mental status had to be in the right place, and I needed to get some things cleared up. My church has been very gracious in deeming me to be in need of traditional Hebraic charity (it starts at home, and that includes your church family), and gave me a generous amount this week from VOB's Tzedakah (Charity Fund), to help with groceries. Richard and Donna (my pastor and his wife) came over last Thursday to discuss my situation with me, what I've been doing, how I've been handling things, and seemed to think that I was using my time effectively, could try to do a little more research into permanent positions, but that I should be open to what the Lord brought to my attention. They also told me at the end of our time that some of the church members had suggested my church family should consider me for Tzedaka this month, and there would be some assistance forthcoming.
Today I also got some staples and a few things to keep me going for most of the next 30 days with regard to food/meals, with the exception of fresh fruits/veggies, which I like to get weekly. Should I get a contract soon, this will also be my stash to take w/me to get started till my first paycheck gets deposited. With the room I have in the TS, I'll have plenty of space to take my coolers stocked with food along with me, and that's a great help when your paychecks don't get into the bank for a couple weeks after you're on the job again.
I'm very thankful tonight for some very generous friends at VOB; very thankful for the Lord enabling me to get the loan on my TS refinanced at a significantly lower finance rate; thereby saving me money in the long run, maybe making it possible to make extra payments at some point. Also very grateful for parents who have been more than generous in allowing me to stay at their home in Greensboro without any charge, and contributing toward bills as well as gas money for the TS. Hope you can rejoice with me on the positive turn of events that have come my way today, the Lord rewarding the persistence of my efforts to resolve some difficulties with bills, and the gracious charity of my church family at VOB, to help me not go hungry. God is Good!
Love,
Debbie
Love,
Debbie
