If I'm sued for breach of contract on a lease purchase agreement, do I continue to pay lease?

Asked in Eldon, MO - 9 months

We signed a 1 year lease/purchase agreement Feb 2012. Aug 20, we found out we are moving due to my husband's employment out of state effective Oct. 1. We notified our landlord that we would fulfill the lease but not the purchase agreement. He said he'd sue us if we didn't. We told him we would go ahead and try to purchase the house then at the end of the lease. He is now suing us for breach of contract. We have continued to pay the lease amount. I understand he believes we have intent to not fulfill the contract. What can we do now? We've tried to be reasonable and work this out. We will not be able to get financing at the end of the lease now. Do we continue to pay the monthly rent or wait until a judgement is ordered? How can we do this living out of state?