Quite unexpectedly I am getting to experience the other side of the picture from what I have in the past. Instead of being an American visiting Europe, I am about to be someone from Europe visiting America, and I am discovering that the difference between the two is greater than I would have imagined.
We hit a sudden problem with our visa application process and were informed that we needed to make a trip to America to appear in the embassy in person for the purpose of getting a stamp put on one of our pieces of paper. Furthermore, our application process took long enough that our criminal record searches expired, and we now have to reapply for them. So, after a week of exploring options, intense decision making, and faith stretching experiences, we bought plane tickets last evening and are preparing to leave for Bulgaria within the hour where we will take a flight back to Washington DC. We will be home for three and a half weeks.
From my human perspective it looks like this is the worst possible time for us to leave Macedonia, many things are coming to a crisis point here, and I don't want to leave the people that I care about. But I am choosing to trust that God has a plan and that He will take care of everything here while we are gone.
Please pray with us for several things; for favor everywhere we go, for financial provision, for health (I got sick the same day we bought the plane ticket and have not fully recovered), for God to order our steps everywhere we go.
If anyone would like me to come share at their home group, church etc. while I am home about what I am doing here, let me know, and I can try to make it work. Contact me by e-mail at mylilyofthevalley@gmail.com .
Showing posts with label visa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label visa. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Miracle Opportunities
I believe that obstacles in my life are opportunities for God to display His miracle working power. I also believe that it is critical that these obstacles be covered in prayer. Please join me in praying as we are currently facing a great number of serious obstacles.
Standing on the platform at the train station waiting for the train that would take my parents on their way back home to America I received a phone call. It was to inform me that the visa we have been applying for, which we believed we would be receiving here, was not working out the way we had expected. We have been told that we need to return to America and appear at the embassy in person to get a stamp put on one of our pieces of paper. This would not be as much of an issue if it were not for the fact that due to our financial situation, making this trip will require a miracle. Opportunity number one, either for provision of money, or favor with the government that will make a government official speak up on our behalf and let us get the necessary paperwork through the mail.
One of the situations I can't go into detail about, but suffice it to say that someone we work with here was recently diagnosed with a life threatening condition.
I have also been having recurring symptoms of previous health problems and am working on deciding where to go for medical care to get to the bottom of things. This poses further financial issues.
But in the middle of all this we see the beauty of God's provision, he keeps reminding me He hasn't forgotten my needs, and will provide everything we need when we need it, even if I can't always see it in advance. Furthermore, I have experienced a new growth of vision for God's purpose for my time here, which has given a new level of focus to everything I do, and helped me not miss home as much. And then my parents recent visit was a tremendous blessing. Please join me in praying and believing for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done. Please pray for wisdom for us, for healing, and for provision.
Standing on the platform at the train station waiting for the train that would take my parents on their way back home to America I received a phone call. It was to inform me that the visa we have been applying for, which we believed we would be receiving here, was not working out the way we had expected. We have been told that we need to return to America and appear at the embassy in person to get a stamp put on one of our pieces of paper. This would not be as much of an issue if it were not for the fact that due to our financial situation, making this trip will require a miracle. Opportunity number one, either for provision of money, or favor with the government that will make a government official speak up on our behalf and let us get the necessary paperwork through the mail.
One of the situations I can't go into detail about, but suffice it to say that someone we work with here was recently diagnosed with a life threatening condition.
I have also been having recurring symptoms of previous health problems and am working on deciding where to go for medical care to get to the bottom of things. This poses further financial issues.
But in the middle of all this we see the beauty of God's provision, he keeps reminding me He hasn't forgotten my needs, and will provide everything we need when we need it, even if I can't always see it in advance. Furthermore, I have experienced a new growth of vision for God's purpose for my time here, which has given a new level of focus to everything I do, and helped me not miss home as much. And then my parents recent visit was a tremendous blessing. Please join me in praying and believing for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done. Please pray for wisdom for us, for healing, and for provision.
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