1 year, 4 months, 2 weeks and 2 days!

As you can see from the ticker on the side, that is how long it took from our first paperwork to the word, "Approved." That doesn't count the prep, or the other visa tries.

Wow. I don't even know what to say. It's still sinking in. I woke up at 2:30 this morning and prayed and prayed until I finally heard from G a few hours later. His time at the embassy took longer than it should have (more than 3 hours, 2+ was just waiting to be seen). All of the 'what ifs' starting running through my head. I began to calculate how many months I would need to work, what I would need to sell, and how long it would take to move me and all of my remaining belongings to Ghana. There were so many things going through my head and I didn't even know what/how to pray. The minutes seemed to pass slower than normal as I pondered the unknown.

Then I got the call....

"Hello MY LOVE!"

...I knew it, we were okay.

I could breathe again....mostly. It's not really over until he's here (sorry, it had to be said).

My head is still spinning, this has been quite the journey. I can't believe my man will be here soon....for real.

Thank you, Lord....I don't know what else to say, just thank you so, so much!

APPROVED!!!! APPROVED!!!!! APPROVED!!!!

YAY!!!!

George will pick up his visa on January 15th.

Post-Christmas Slump

Normally there is this bizarre post-Christmas slump of sorts. The anticipation and excitement for all things Christmas has abruptly stopped and now all that's left is the mess, which isn't festive anymore, and thoughts of what the past year held (which can be hard). Ugh.

Not this year, I am excited about life and the things to come!

No doubt, 2009 has NOT been easy! It's been my most difficult year and while I could never truly explain what happened in my circumstances, relationships or in my heart, somehow, I feel like a recap would be appropriate.

I began the year sad and anxious as our immigration case had not moved at all in the 4 months it had been processing. I saw my future slipping away and no amount of success, family time, or festivities could change how I felt. My one glimmer of hope was the airline ticket I had for a very short visit...I had to wait 3 months though.

I trudged on in my job and my faith and things started to move. There were many looong weeks of waiting, followed by looong nights of filling out paperwork and paying fees, we were finally on our way!

Before I knew it, I was off to Ghana to be with my man! It was the sweetest two weeks of my life. We made more progress in the immigration department and I left Ghana with no tears, "I'll see you in a couple of months." Ghana gave me a malaria parting gift (again!) and the recovery took a bit longer than I had hoped, but soon enough I was back to myself.

Then came April 3rd. The high of the year so far: CASE COMPLETE! Soon this whole mess would be over, all we needed was an interview. My faith was renewed, God had moved. We rejoiced in this progress and rested easy in the knowledge that G would be in the States very soon.

Friends and family rejoiced with us and we were showered with wonderful things for our home and life together. Wedding plans were in the works. Then, 2 weeks became 4, became 6, became 8. The promised 8 week maximum wait had come and gone and slowly, agonizingly, we waited for that interview. Week after week our hopes were dashed. We were crushed. We continually cried out to our Father. Where was God?

In the midst of this, my parents sold our home of 12 years and we ended up (all 5 of us) living in a pretty small apartment. Soon, we all moved to our more permanent places. I was in my own apartment, waiting for my man to come any time and make it our home....7 months have passed and I'm still waiting. My haven was gone and it was time for me to truly grow up.

I trudged on, seeking God like I had never done and hoping for the best. He seemed silent.

I had everything most people would ever want and none of the stuff mattered.

My sister soon announced on the eve of a "big news" day, that her 6 month relationship was now an engagement. She would be getting married shortly, my wedding was her only roadblock. I was shocked by my strength....and then by my anger. I was inexplicably hurt beyond words. I didn't know how to pray, but I prayed anyway. Where was God?

Week after week continued to pass, our promised hope did not arrive. At least I had my work, 45+ hours a week sure did help. My church, on the other hand, didn't. They hurt me more than I knew. I wondered, where was God? And I didn't want the god they were touting...

My beloved job soon ended, I didn't know what to do. I had faith for a while, but it began to waiver. I had been calling out to God for so, so long and He did not answer me. I withdrew.

I cried a lot. I begged God to show us what to do-staying apart was killing me. What hurt more was the silence I felt so strongly from my God and the pain from "His people"- I wasn't sure what my faith had become or who I would be when all of this ended. I endured many, many hurtful comments, relationships and suggestions. Some friendships ended, but others grew.

I continued in my daze, picking up work here and there, still praying to a God I hoped actually cared. I needed more.

Our situation continued to change and become more stressful, I can't share all of it, but it wasn't easy. I wanted to give up and say goodbye to this American life forever, but I couldn't even afford to do that. The waiting continued...

I started church again and the different churches I went to started to help me. I began to find strength in the Word again and hope where I had none. I started to understand better who God is and where I fit in. My spiritual life was starting to change and mature and I was becoming me again. My anger was being stripped away. I had no assurance of what would come, but I began to believe that whatever it was, we would make it work.

George and I had a plan to be together, that got smashed too. While we were so very disappointed, we waited and tried to figure out what was next. We prayed, again. And waited some more.

October 30th, things changed. We got the long awaited interview appointment!! Words cannot describe the joy we felt...we could hardly believe it. The next 5 weeks were filled with hope, excitement, and preparation for the big arrival. It looked like God finally heard our prayers. We had faith again, we were our old selves again.

We KNEW G would be coming. All his paperwork was in order and wedding plans were being made. The interview came. It was not good. For some unknown reason, we needed more paperwork. We begged God and everyone else we knew to change the return date and bring G here for Christmas and the wedding. It didn't work. G did not make Christmas. The wedding was canceled. Our hearts were broken, again.

We felt like God had strung us along. For years we had been waiting, for months we had been waiting for that very moment. We had false hope all along, God knew, but we didn't. Then there was an attitude adjustment. We weren't going to let this small setback ruin our holidays, for us or our families. So we moved on, we mustered up some more faith and found many things to be thankful for.

Here we are again. Hoping for things to change. Anxious. Bruised. Praying. Yet we are different. We have grown and learned so much this year. God is bigger and more mysterious than He ever has been. He does great things, and allows some not so great things. He doesn't owe us an explanation.

This has been a year of growing, pain, waiting, silence and trusting. We are hoping and believing that 2010 will be a year of healing, living and learning, together. That God will continue to show Himself in our lives and that we will experience peace. We are hoping for wonderful things and mindful that much of that is in the perspective we have.

I am SO ready to close 2009 and start 2010...we'll see what happens this final and first week.

Party-tude!!

Merry Christmas y'all!

I have surprised myself with how ready I am for Christmas and how much joy I have for this holiday. My 2nd oldest brother told me to put my party-tude on for Christmas, and especially for the festivities at his house tonight. Well said, brother. So I have. I am choosing to see the joy and positive this year and to delight in what I do have going for me.

God has been so good to us and I'm not gonna grouse around on His holiday. :) I am not sad because George isn't here (again), I am hopeful, because he's almost here. I'm not angry that we are still waiting, I'm excited that the waiting will be over very soon and that I have a Love who is worth the wait. I'm not grieved for the loss of the wedding, I'm thankful for flexible vendors and loving family and friends who have rallied around us. I do miss George terribly, but I'm so glad for a big and awesome family who help to pass the time and fill up the silence. Isn't it great that God put us in families?

I'm a happy girl and ready to party!

Everybody needs an Ellen.

I have a really great friend, her name is Ellen. Ellen and I met in the Heathrow airport almost 3 years ago on our way to Ghana to volunteer. I never would have imagined that I would be blessed with such an amazing friend.

We were roommates for a couple of months in Ghana and experienced many new and sometimes hard things together. At times we were the only Christian volunteers and the only ones from THE South. We laughed and grew and challenged one another and cried our eyes out when it was time to part. She is also one of my few friends who actually knows George and that is so special to me.

Our friendship continued when were back in the states-she in South Carolina and me, in Texas. She loves my family and my family loves her, we would adopt her if we could.

Ellen has taught me so much and been so supportive through everything. There is so much to say about Ellen, but I'll condense. She ALWAYS tells me how strong I am, especially when I feel the opposite. She is honest and loving, but never makes me feel bad. She knows when to call me and make sure I'm not isolating myself from the world, and when to give me space. She can make me laugh and is quick to call or text something funny-this is vitally important to my well being. Ellen is always on my side. I hope I can be a friend like her and I am so, so thankful for her! I think everybody needs an "Ellen" in their life.

Ellen may flip out about this picture, because it is not flattering (AT ALL) for either of us, but I die laughing every time I see it. We were being awesome by taking newbies to a traditional chop house and eating real Ghanaian food. The pic was snapped as someone announced that they found tongue too big and intestines too small for the meat we were supposedly eating. Hahahaha!! How I love Ghana...

Namesake...

I'm big on name meanings. It matters to me what a name means and I'm glad it mattered to my parents too. When I was young, I dreaded my grown-up uber Christian name, I just wanted to have a cool name, like Ashley or Stephanie. I'm glad now that I am Bethany instead.

Do you know what your name means? Sorry if you have a made up or trendy name that means "soap opera-ish". I'm learning more about my namesake recently and it all comes from my favorite story in the Bible. The raising of Lazarus. I figure most of my readership is Christian or educated, so you're all probably familiar with this story. If not, you can find it here.

The whole bringing a man back to life thing is not really the important part of this story for me. It's the trust and sorrow and faith part.

Lazarus was sick, so his sisters sent word to Jesus and He told them that this sickness would not end in death. I'm sure that was a great comfort them, they knew Jesus would show up. Except for one thing, Lazarus DIED!!! Can you imagine? This friend you have, who loves you and you love back happens to be God incarnate and he seemingly lied to you? I don't know what sorrow was greater, that their brother died or that GOD, their beloved friend, didn't show up for them. My money is on the latter.

Four days into their heart broken grief fest, Jesus showed up. Martha came to meet Jesus and said two things (which I love). First, she let Jesus know that had He been there, this would NOT have happened. Second, she showed faith and said she knew God would give Jesus whatever He asked for (I can only imagine what was going through her head: pleasebringmybrotherbackfromthedead x1,000 ). Then, my favorite, Jesus told her her brother would rise and she over spiritualized it. Ha! She over spiritualized a conversation with GOD! I think Christians do that a lot-sometimes, it really is what it is. Anywho-then they reiterated that she believed he was indeed God and they got Mary in on everything. Mary had similar sentiments to Martha. Jesus had compassion on them and then the famous, "Jesus wept." happened.

Before they knew it, Lazarus had been raised from the dead. Pretty awesome. But you know, I don't think that un-did the days of sorrow and heartache they went through. I don't think it all of the sudden clicked why He did that-Jesus could have showed his glory in healing Lazarus just as well as raising him from the dead, and it would have been a lot easier on his family. Jesus did show up for them, but it wasn't without pain or sorrow, it wasn't without doubt, and there was some hard waiting involved.

So what on earth does this have to do with my name? Bethany is where all of this went down (as well as the perfume and hair thing). Bethany is where Jesus loved to be. Bethany has meant 'Dwelling place of God' all of my life, but now I also see it meaning other things. Bethany-trust, sorrow, waiting, joy...the place where God showed up.

More sadness...

It's official, the return interview date will not be moved up. No George for Christmas and the wedding has been canceled. Sad, sad day.

How to be a good dad...

My dad is pretty great. We don't have heart-to-hearts very often, because he always makes me cry. He makes me cry because he says (and almost always validates) the things I am suppressing, in order that I won't cry. But sometimes, it has to be done. Yesterday, was one of those times. My dad is in the trenches with me, he doesn't understand this crap either and he believes in George and Me and knows we have a wonderful future ahead. Good to hear, but lots of tears were included.

He has been great at trying to distract me and keep me busy during this terrible time of waiting and hoping. It's usually something simple, like going to a cool mall and getting some treat. Last night topped it though. My parents don't have a TV. They used to, but what started as a 'we spend entirely too much money on entertainment and watch too much' type of thing, morphed into 'we don't need a TV at all'...this is being reconsidered. Anyway, it's hard to watch mind numbing, time passing things, when you have to look it up on Fancast and watch it alone on a laptop. So my dad did something about this. He mysteriously left and returned with a borrowed TV from my bro (who has a few extras), movie treats, The Muppet Christmas Carol and a cheeseburger Happy Meal for dinner. While obviously nothing will actually make George not being here better, this did help. The movie choice was great; we have outlawed It's A Wonderful Life this year. I used to love it, but the crappier and more depressing my life gets the more challenging my life gets, the harder it is to watch that movie. So not this year, not when I'm right there on that bridge with George Bailey. I'll take Gonzo instead, thank you. I'm glad I have a dad who gets it. Maybe Elf will be on the agenda tonight.

honesty

I truly do not know how much more or how much longer I can handle this immigration game. I'm crushed. We haven't heard anything about pushing up the return interview and if something doesn't happen this week, the wedding that I finally let myself get excited about will be cancelled. My heart hurts. I am crying out to God to make a way where there is no way. My need for George and heartache over the death of this dream grows each day. In addition to the wedding possibly getting cancelled, I cannot imagine Christmas without George-just don't know how I'll get through it. I didn't go to Ghana (for the holidays) because G got an interview and would be coming here. That may not be the case anymore, it somehow feels like a sick joke. I would love nothing more than to be proved wrong. I am so, so weary of this.

Thank you Lord that we didn't get AP.

Thank you Lord for parents who have been so, so helpful.

Thank you Lord for giving me such an amazing man.

PLEASE LORD, don't stop there-bring George home now!!!!

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13

The documents made it to Ghana! Still no known progress in getting George into the consulate early. PLEASE KEEP PRAYING!!!

A new day, a new week.

Today was another great church morning (I really had no idea what I was missing out on). I am encouraged and looking forward to what this week may hold.

I have come to grips with the new airfare price, but am still praying for God to somehow work that out. As if I would say, "Sorry Babe, it's too much money, wait 'til it goes down." That's just silly and not even a possibility, so I guess I shouldn't really make that big of a deal out of it.

Praying, praying, praying that God will make a way where there is no way. That the right people will see our quick compliance (to the changing rules) and our desire to be together and look on that with favor. We're praying George will be called back in immediately and that he will be granted and printed a visa-on the spot. Please join us!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143: 7-8

You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you!I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. -Psalm 40:5

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Psalm 39:12

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. -Romans 8:26

The good, the bad, the vomitous and the DOUBLE vomitous!

GOOD:

• An organized mom who had ALL the info needed to co-sponsor...made things super fast.
• Getting all the needed forms notarized, for free, at 8pm!
• The sweet lady at the bank who wrote a letter on behalf of the co-sponsor.
• Nice wedding gifts on my doorstep-2 nights in a row!
• Supportive family and friends who are lifting us up in prayer.
• An AMAZING man who is worth all this "trouble"
• Lots of work this week.
• Friends with connections.
• 12 hours of sleep and a fresh outlook.
• Brownie a la mode for lunch.
• I'm gonna be an Aunt.

BAD:

• No one informing us until now that we even needed a co-sponsor.
• My man not coming this weekend.
• Squashed dreams.
• The first mail place not being able to express mail to Ghana.

VOMITOUS:

• The post office express mailing our documents to Ghana. The total: $106.00!

DOUBLE VOMITOUS:

• Thanks to the delay, airfare has doubled...ugh.

More prayers...

I have a friend who has some connections, she's trying to speed up the 2nd interview. I don't even care about them asking for extra paperwork anymore, whatever it takes! We have filled out the needed co-sponsorship and I'm about to go get a title loan on my car so I can mail it to Ghana in no time...ok, I'm kidding about the title loan. Please pray that this does something. I think the mountain is trembling...

Say to this mountain...

It's with a heavy heart that I am writing that George did not get approved today. He didn't get denied either though.

The (expletive) consulate is requiring that we have a co-sponsor, thus another form is needed. The kicker? He has to go back on the 30th to present this form!! I'm really upset by this for a couple of reasons. 1. I am his sponsor and I make enough money to "support" him by the guidelines given to us by the government. I submitted the correct form and paid $70 for someone to look at it and OK us to move forward. Now, the embassy is saying it's not enough and we need a co-sponsor. That is so wrong. On the other hand, my parents don't mind co-sponsoring at all and we could have the paperwork finished and notarized in less than hour. 2. The 30th?!? Give me a break!! I want my man for Christmas!!!

I have already sent 2 e-mails to the consulate and will try as hard as I can to call (during the tiny window of time which I'm permitted to bother them with my voice) and talk to someone. *I just got an auto-response from the consulate saying that they no longer take immigrant visa inquiries over the phone, but they'll get back to me in 5-7 days. I'm calling anyway. **45 minutes, 42 tries and about $8 later, I finally got through. The operator was no help at all, said I should send an e-mail and a supervisor should look at it. Praying someone reads at least one of my 3 e-mails soon...

Please pray that we can either get this new requirement reversed or that they will except a faxed copy right away and there will be no need to wait until the 30th. My God is big...I'm tryin' not to be freaked right now.

"...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

Pumped and ready to go!!

I hardly slept last night. I kept waking up and praying for tomorrow! George and I are so excited. We just spoke and he is VERY prepared. I didn't realize how sentimental he was- he has saved everything I have sent him for our entire relationship! We went over some prep questions and reviewed everything he'll be taking with him. I think he has more than enough evidence and we both feel very confident about the interview. We are still praying constantly for God's favor and FAST visa printing. Please join us!!

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143: 7-8

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. -Proverbs 13:12

Texas is smelling...

Today I was reminiscing some of the funnier stories from George and my relationship with my family, they got a kick out of them, so I thought I would share. I love laughing while I wait!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ George's mom had a dog. This was most certainly not the kind of dog that "co-habitates" the way we crazy Americans have dogs. This was an outside dog, who ate scraps and scared chickens out of the garden. No one pet this dog, played with this dog, or named this dog! I was often gently chastised for petting and playing with this dog.

"Oh BETA!" George's mom would exclaim! "Ao," she would say (meaning 'no') and continue on in Ewe that this dog was dirty, and I should NOT be touching IT! However, the dog soon came to love me and follow me around and protect me. It was pretty cute.

After years of having this dog, no one had named here, so naturally, I did. Texas was her name and it stuck. Shortly before I arrived last summer, Texas died. :( George was in school so his sister and cousin ended up burying Texas in the backyard.

Fast forward to me being in Ghana and at George's mom's place. George and I were happily lounging in the tropical backyard. It was a gorgeous evening (I was probably getting malaria, but that's beside the point) the weather was perfect, the day had been great, it was, dare I say, romantic. The roosters had settled down, there was a nice breeze and we were blissfully together....ahhhhh.

Then, the moment was smashed.

"Something is smelling," George said, twisting his face in disgust and acting personally offended by this odor.

"OH!" I said, "Something does stink! ....I think....it's Texas," Whispering the last part.

"No," George said, " Surely not. Let's go inside"

Buzz kill.

This happened on a few more occasions of trying to enjoy the backyard. The same conversation and the same outcome-going inside.

A few nights later, it was gorgeous again. So we went back out, enjoying all the wonderfulness that Ghana has to offer.

Again, in disgust and personal offense that something dare to smell around him and ruin our moment, George exclaimed, "Something is somehow smelling! What is that?!"

"It's Texas," I said. I was sure of it, slightly regretting my name choice and grossed out all at once. Roadkill is shockingly not as common in Ghana as it is here, so that smell is not familiar.

George still thought this was unlikely....

"Where is Texas buried?" I insisted.

George pointed. So we got up and walked towards the grave of my canine friend.

Before we even got there, the smell was strong enough to knock us down.

"It IS Texas!" George exclaimed in shock. "We gotta get outa here!"

So we went inside and stopped hanging out in the backyard on warm breezy nights. Bummer.

The moral of the story? Don't let skinny girls bury a dog...they dig a grave too shallow. Also, don't name an animal after your home, if they die and stink, it leaves a bad impression. That, and don't take life too seriously, laugh! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lost in translation.

Most of the time, George and I perfectly understand what the other is saying. But every now and then, his English is different from my English. Case in point...

We were going to visit friends or family members I hadn't met yet, something like that. So we wanted to look good.

"What are you going to wear?" He asked.

"I'm not sure, but not pants!" I said.

"WHAT?!?" He choked out.

"I'm not wearing pants, it's too hot."

"So...you're gonna wear a skirt or dress and NO pants?!"

"Yes, that's how it usually works. I don't know how you wear pants all the time, I don't want to wear them."

"You have to," George said, "I'm not taking you without pants on."

"What?" I said, I was totally confused. "I didn't wear pants yesterday."

"You didn't?" the puzzled look on his face was quite comical and frankly, shocked me. We went around and around a little while longer before one of us finally asked, "What exactly are we talking about here?"

"Um, me not wanting to wear jeans...right?" I asked...way confused.

"That's what you're talking about?"

"Yes, what did you think?"

George burst out laughing! A deep belly laugh that took a while to recover from. Somehow he managed to find a way to tell me that 'pants' in Ghana means underwear, he thought I was going to wear a skirt and go commando! Geez, what kind of a girl did he think I was? The story loses something being typed, but I still think it's funny. The question now is, "Pants with legs, or without?" I'm, still learning to call pants trousers and shorts knickers (or trousah and neeekah). Hee hee.

The moral of this story- know what your significant other calls underwear? I don't know, it just makes me laugh.

PLEASE keep PRAYING!!! Just a little while longer!!

Psalm 39:12

1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the Lord, who is my refuge— then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91

Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:5-13

This morning's sermon was about persistence in prayer. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!!!

...starting this week with more prayer, prayer and prayer!!!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Psalm 39:12

ONE week!!!

Just one week until the interview!! Actually, by this time next week, the interview will already be over!! I just got off the phone with G (terrible connection) but it sounds like he got everything he needs from the clinic and they told him, "When you get your approval on the 10th, come back for this final injection." That's a very positive statement-the stuff I like to hear!

Today I am praying for the interviewer. I'm praying that he/she will be for us and not against us, that they will be kind, that their eyes would be open to see our relationship is real and that they would grant the visa immediately-no delays!

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. -Romans 8:26

December already!

Time is just flying by! I can't believe it's December already! Today I dropped off my last rent check until George comes....awesome!

I also did my final Skype load-up for our remaining cross continental phone calls! It feels so good and so weird! I'm mostly excited and a little nervous.

Tomorrow, George should get the actual hard copy medical results to take to his interview. However, they (people at the clinic, I'm not sure who exactly) say he needs more immunizations! This is puzzling to me since they already said everything was finished. I think it's all part of the plan. They wait 'til it's almost interview time and then spring another important immunization requirement- people have no choice. We obviously have no choice. A shot and $150 are NOT keeping me from my man...even though I think it's a silly rip-off. Hopefully G can sort everything out.

Please keep praying that everything will go smoothly with the interview and that George will get a visa quickly!