Latest on My Visa Situation

Well, another year has come and gone since I left South Africa and my sweet little home on the farm full of babies. Two years, and still I wait. But, and this is the truth from my deepest parts, I am okay with the waiting. It took God nine years to get me to a place in our healing journey where He could call me oversees. It took another 2 years to connect me with the people who could get me in the country He knew I needed to be in. It took Him another 5+ years to help me realize that Abba's House needed to be a thing. And then another almost 2 years to get us to a place where we could accept our first baby. That was almost four years ago now. Waiting is a part of my story. I'm almost familiar with it now.

I am not without updates for you few people who look for them. I have finally been able to confirm with Home Affairs that my visa is correct and there's nothing wrong with it. I have also confirmed with the powers at be that my new passport is correct and there's nothing wrong with that. The problem seems to still lie in the hands of the Overstays office, who have failed to communicate with me since I first reached out to them from the Cape Town airport in October of 2023 - even after many more attempts to contact them.

For anyone who has lived outside of America or the UK, you'll understand how governments work so much differently in other countries. So, waiting for one person in one office to catch up with paperwork that was held up during Covid lockdowns for over 18 months, seems almost the norm. To be fair, it took them over two years to send me the visa I'm trying to use now because they were so backed up. And that office most likely has many more employees than the Overstays office. All that to say, I'm still waiting.

Just like Joseph had to wait, over and over again, for the dreams God gave him to come to reality. Just like Noah had to keep working and keep waiting for that first rain drop. Just like Job had to watch and wait and deepen his faith and understanding of our Creator. Just like so many, many more people. Waiting is a classroom that any good Teacher would want their students to learn in. And our God is the best Teacher I have ever seen!

Don't hear me wrong, though. I'm waiting but I'm not idle. If you know me in person, then you know that sitting still is not my go-to. I still work for the baby house every single day of the week, 52 weeks a year, for the past 2 years. As my mom likes to say, "She works 40-50 hours a week" and I'm paid back in videos, photos, and so many stories of absolute life change that I know God alone has done! I get to see His kingdom come on earth month after month in the lives of little children, in the lives of our sweet, strong, willing, housemothers, and in the lives of those who follow all of our journeys - supporting us spiritually, financially, and emotionally supporting us as they can. And I am learning. I am absorbing so much of my Teacher's love and attention. I am hearing His voice every single day! And I am understanding His unfailing presence in new and wonderful ways every day! The amount of Biblical resources at my hands these days is nothing short of amazing! And He has graciously put a fire in my heart since I moved to this beautiful small town of ours to crave more and more of His Word. What He plans to do next, I don't know. But I know He is preparing me, as He has done time and time again in my life.

So, that's the latest. Nothing much appears to have changed from the surface. But so much is changing - in the deepest parts of this story He is writing. I know He knows what He's doing. And I believe that He is not done with me, with Abba's House, or with the calling He has placed on my life to go back to His feet one day, "bringing more with you." I am just in awe that He would continue to use me. Thank You, Lord God! Have Your way even now! Amen.