F.A.Q. #23 “How’s your Visa situation?”

Hey.  So we just took these pictures 15 minutes ago so you could all have a visual to go with what we’re talking about.  And because pictures are more interesting that words a lot of the time.  But the best is when there’s some of both (pictures brought to you by Brian, and words by Jocelyn :)

And the topic of tonight is:  Paperwork, or more specifically, Visas.  Glorified Paperwork.  Woohoo, right?   

We both worked out at the rock house today, and are pretty wiped.  I’m going to sleep well tonight and be sore tomorrow!  But that doesn’t have anything to do with Visas.  Just thought I’d include an explanation as to why we look so wiped out in the pictures. 

Back to the Visa business.

To make a long story short (or at least to put it in a bullet-point list) we spent many hours

• researching different possibilities
• praying
• meeting with a lawyer
• going to a government office
• standing in line at the airport
• phone calls
• etc…

And, on Monday, we were able to renew our Visas!!!  They are valid thru July 19th!  All that list of work was actually not so much for the renewal, but thinking ahead for the next step when they expire in 3 months.

So what was the outcome of all that work?  What’s the next step in 3 months when our visas expire again?  Well… 

We are going to have to go back to the U.S. to re-apply for a new Visa from home.

Bitter.  We’ve been here just 3 months now, and we’ll be coming home in 2 months (it only cost $200 to change our plane tickets to a date in June instead of $1000 + to come home in July, so we definitely picked June).  We’re just getting started, and we have to go home soon?!  

And Sweet.  We’ll totally enjoy being home and seeing family and friends and going to WEDDINGS (Kyle & Mary, Shrift & Danielle!!!) and sharing about our ministry here…     

But….  Grrrr.  We don’t WANT to come home just yet.  Especially for something as exciting as filing a bunch of paperwork.  NOT exactly what we were planning on…  it’s always been in the “possibility” category of Visa business, but one of those possibilities we hoped wouldn’t materialize as fact.

Back to Proverbs 16:9, a very familiar verse for us  “A man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps.”  And 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you….”  Encouraging stuff man….

We’re thankful for the amazing deal changing our plane tickets…. but a little sad that we’ll be using them.

But, also excited to see you again, maybe this summer sometime!?!!

So anyway.  That’s what we know for now.  We don’t know how long re-applying will take, or when we can come back to Brasil, or how much this Visa application will cost, or if we’ll get part-time jobs while waiting.  All good stuff to pray about.  One day at a time.  And today is almost over for us.  And it’s time for some sleep…

Trustingly,

Jocelyn (& Brian) <><