The Waiting Place

Hey everybody!

It’s been a while since my last post. I finally have news regarding my departure date. I will be leaving on January 8 and I received my flight information today. This isn’t what I was expecting and it’s a little disappointing; however, I can now plan my life with the knowledge of when I will be in what country. Just having a date makes everything seem more under control. With Hurricane Sandy backing everything up on Global Ministry’s side, it won’t be possible to get Rebekah and me to South Africa before everyone in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa’s office goes on holiday. (Their summer’s are in December. It’s a crazy other-side-of-the-world phenomenon! ;) P.S. “Going on holiday” sounds way cooler than “going on vacation”. I plan to switch my vocabulary immediately!) Their office will reopen January 7 and I will arrive with Rebekah on the 9th. It all makes logistical sense, but it is still frustrating.

Before this news, I always thought it was possible to get my visa tomorrow and have to leave the country within 5 days, so I didn’t want to commit to any projects. Now that I have a more definite timeline, I’m hoping to solidify a more consistent volunteering regimen over the Holiday season. I’m still searching for opportunities and have agreed to help out at the North Texas Conference Center for Missional Outreach in December. I love making connections with people and so this opportunity sounds wonderful!

My prayer right now is that God may use me wherever I am to help bring forth the Kin-dom of Heaven here on earth. Part of my frustration in this situation is that I have felt a strong God-given calling to international mission work. God has gifted us all with different strengths and callings. They work together and all are important in their different, complementary roles. I have felt a calling to go overseas and that’s what makes the waiting hard. I don’t necessarily believe that God willed me to stay in the States longer. I believe that the laws surrounding immigration are faulty in our own country as well as others. People have built up walls that make international Kin-dom building more difficult. I also believe in a really big God who transcends all difficulties. God can bring good out of any situation and that is the good that I am in search of. I have seen God moving during this waiting period and I will continue to keep my eyes open! Please be in prayer for all of the mission interns who are still waiting for visas. It has been a challenging time for many of us and we value all of your support. God bless.