Visas: Holding our ground in this battle

Last week, I 'bumped into' an old friend from quite a few years ago. He jokingly said "
(you’re going to Australia) boy that sounds rough." I have to tell you. Despite the time since we last spoke, I know he was totally joking, but it’s a pretty common impression that I get. Because Australia isn’t a 3rd-world country a lot of people don’t see it as a mission field or see past the 'mission base' part. Being based somewhere to be sent out. It bugs me, but it’s part of the territory right now I guess…especially since we are just getting started.


That being said, my point is - It is not easy, and the benefits at times outweigh the struggles only if one has the right perspective or a good attitude. We gotta focus on something bigger than ourselves, and know that God has called us to this despite opposition from the uh,…warfare or temporary misunderstanding.


Case in point: Our visa.
For those of you that do not know, a visa is a stamp or sticker that functions as a permission-slip to be in a country for any time over 30 days-ish (depending on the country). A passport, the book it’s placed in, is only good for basic short term trips if used alone.


We paid the fee to apply for our visa(s) to Australia about 2 1/2 weeks ago, so the file will be open for about 30 days. Enough time to get our flights and whatnot… no biggie. The Australian embassy, who received it, has periodically asked us, via email, for different information along the way. Sometimes I think they are looking for your great, great aunt twice-removed, it ends up being so much trouble finding the info they need. Oh yeah, and they ask in extremely legal-jargon type code that only an experienced mission vet can understand. Obviously they do this to cover their butts.


Anyway…This past Thursday they said "we don't currently have a record of your medical exams, in order to continue expediting your file." We asked around (YWAM), and realized that this is a special exam, including a chest X-ray, only performed at about 25 places nationwide. Don't ask me what they need all that for. We haven’t flown any planes illegally lately. Either way what they ask for you provide or you don’t go.


Friday, the next morning, also my day off, I look up those 25 places and call em one at a time. One is only about an hour away drive without the massive winter snow we've been getting. Still a long distance phone call, but only an hour away to drive. I’m feeling good,…Ill have this settled before the morning is up.
Nope. I spend more than several hours on the phone calling locations 6+ hours away.. Before I know it- my day-off is gone. I find out that the special 'exams' are gonna be an unexpected 420$ each. Gulp. I remind myself that I’ve seen miracles happen before. Finances come from absolute strangers, and other completely unexpected places. God I know you are calling us to this, and you are more than able to make it happen. Then she tells me that once the exam is done it will take 2 weeks or more to process,...oh and by the way "we won’t be able to get you in for an appointment until April 12." I couldda swor she said March 12. . .Nope. She said April. I was in shock. It took me a min to let the ramifications of that date, the only date available, set in. This means the current Visa case we were applying for would be closed , and the chances of someone canceling were 10,000 to one. I had to wait till Matt got home from work to make a decision like this. "Thank you for your help, Ma’m have a nice day." I shed a few solid tears, called out to God, and then called a good friend of mine because I was home alone and just couldn’t stand to be alone with my-now racing thoughts.
Beyond the fact that this current visa processing closing, we were set to be in Perth all ready a month by the time the visa would even be granted. It just doesn’t work that way. Training starts every three months.


So that night (Saturday morning Perth time) I spoke over Skype with someone from the Admissions office in Perth. Thank God for the people that have been doing this for much longer than us.
She said that this is an extremely unusual case for someone from the States. And both Matt and I have been in the country before with no problems like this. . . .Yep. . . . This is 'not so fun part'.
Nevertheless. Pray for us. We are still working out our options.

Above Photo:    Charissa Booher  http://www.booher.wordpress.com/

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Post Featured Christian Artist: Marcia Furman.
Paintings.Whimsical, fun, and enlightning.
And a proud Pennsylvanian may I add!!  blog: http://marciafurman.blogspot.com/ 

Also recently featured on the back cover of Heavy Metal (HM) Magazine.... AGAIN! I would say "not fair" but she works very hard for it.

For more information for why I am featuring Christian Artists .