Ellen Chat Conversation

The acquisition of country property involves careful financial consideration, particularly regarding the risks of debt and the methods of payment. While there is a strong encouragement for families to secure small homes in the country with land for cultivation, there is also a stern warning against the dangers of the "land boom" and buying on credit. Many have faced financial ruin because they paid extravagant prices for land and then borrowed further funds to clear the land or build a house, only to have interest payments consume all their profits (12MR 89.3). When seeking to establish homes or institutions, it is often possible to find properties in rural districts offered at prices significantly below their original cost. This frequently occurs because current owners are seeking city advantages and are willing to sell their country holdings at a discount (LLM 162.3), (PH113 22). In such transactions, it is advised to seek the best possible terms of payment available (PC).

The ultimate goal of moving to the country is to provide a safer environment for families and a place for physical and spiritual restoration. Rural living allows parents to raise their own produce, which supports a healthful diet and provides necessary employment for children, shielding them from the temptations and "street education" found in cities (2MCP), (CD 400.2). This earthly transition to a rural environment serves as a preparation for the "country" promised in the Bible—the heavenly inheritance where the redeemed will finally find a permanent home beside living waters (GC 675.1), (4SP 490.1).

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