Unexpected...

This may be boring to those of you who aren't immigration paperwork geeks like I am, but I'm going to share anyway.

Much to my surprise (and I think delight) I was able to move forward on paperwork last night. It took many hours, a ton of reading and rereading, a small forest or two in actual paper, writing my name and SSN enough for my entire life and lots of chocolate. I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but this is all a very confusing process! I don't even think that the NVC/CIS really understands how it all works.

So, to make the story short, I was told/I understood that I would have to wait at least another week to six weeks before I could submit my final documentation to the NVC and then have everything sent Ghana for George's part. Well, I actually got to do the paperwork last night and will be mailing it today or tomorrow! How cool is that? I don't know how long it will take for the next step, but so far so good...I never thought I'd actually get to this point. Yay!

P.S. It's freezing cold! I can't wait to be in Ghana, dusty Harmattan and all!

Moving right along!

I honestly don't think I imagined being able to write positive post after positive post, but here I am! I don't think I'll get tired of good things continuing!

The NVC (National Visa Center) packet yesterday was fairly straightforward, so I'm happy for that. I was able to pay the fee for our next step online (nice!) and will print and send the receipt as soon as the payment clears. Then, I wait for further instructions. My understanding though, is that this is my last step. Once I do the paperwork I just paid for everything goes to Ghana.

Now that things are moving forward, I decided to look ahead a little bit and see exactly what is required of George. I was too bummed/cynical/freaked/mad to do so before now. I'm glad I did, because it gives me time to really understand what's going to happen, but more importantly, to PRAY! George will have to have a physical, blood work, immunizations and a chest x-ray before his interview. There is a small list of approved clinics where George can go for these things and not one can do all 4. He'll have to go to 3 different clinics and none of them are right next door to another. It's also my understanding that he'll only have about a month to do it before his interview. Now this freaks me out just a tad because of the way appointments, schedules and time management in general work in Ghana. Mixing an American timeline (the consulate gives him an interview date) with Ghana time is kind of like trying to Waltz to a Techno remix. So we'll see, maybe the Dr. appointments will happen while I'm there. For now, I'll add it to my prayer list and try not to worry.

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

Mail!!

Never in my life did I think that the mail would be this important! It is hands down the single most terrifying and thrilling thing in my life (at the moment of course, and that better end soon:).

Today the paperwork/information from the National Visa Center came! I am so excited! Paperwork means I have something to DO, not just wait around. I can't wait to get home tonight and work on it.

I also got my other W2- tax return here I come!

Busy in my head

Interesting tid-bit of the day:

All I do is plan. No matter the specifics of what I'm doing outwardly, I'm planning in my head all the time. The planning is mostly about George and my future, but sometimes other things get thrown in there. I used to laugh at my mom and tell her she was even busy in her mind because she was/is always working on something...now I'm the exact same. :)

What this includes-fortunately or unfortunately depending on your perspective-is lots of shopping! I'm a shopper through and through, thankfully for my bank account I am a bargain shopper at that! When things are going poorly for us, I buy "needed" items for our future home and it gives me hope that we really do have a future (that's how I got most of the stuff I have). When things are going well for us, I celebrate by purchasing other "needed" items for our future, usually the bigger stuff. So far, I have a complete bedroom set collected at various times on various sales from World Market, our dining room furniture, dinnerware for 12 (which won't be nearly enough considering my family), paintings, decorative accents, beautiful lamps (1/2 off at Pier 1), 3 sets of sheets, pretty pillows, polka-dot coffee cups-for when I have girls over for coffee, gorgeous champagne flutes for future celebrating, a couple of green and brown rugs, and some other things. I'm thinking my tax return will coincide with other good news and I'll get to buy our living room couch. By the time George comes, I'll have everything ready to go! I'm so excited for our future!

I want to get these for the living room as well, I've been watching them for a while but I'm waiting...

That's all.

It's a beautiful day!

Yes, I am thinking of the U2 song, but that's not all...

More importantly, I'm thinking of how truly beautiful this day is- not just because the weather is amazing in January and I will be outside for hours on end without a sweater (bliss!). It's beautiful because I am full of hope, I am so in love, I am blessed beyond words, and I am still floating from the progress of immigration. Wow.

It's still hard to be so far away from George and not really know what's next, but it's much easier when we can see God working. I feel like such a baby when I think about my attitude (and my blog posts) when I don't see God working, how I throw scripture back at Him and ask him "why?", how I'm angry because nothing seems to work for me, how I wish I could be less responsible and run away, how extremely cynical I become. It's silly when I write it down like this, but it doesn't seem that way when I feel alone. I'm so glad that God keeps giving us His love and concern even when I don't do the same. The Psalmist was pretty upy-downy too, and I like that, I think it's God's way of showing us that people are people and He is still God.

...wondrous deeds...

It just keeps gettin' better! God is working even when we don't see it and we are finding out after the fact. It makes me so excited to see how things are working together for our good and how obviously God is involved. George got a call today about immigration and it has given us even more hope for the future processing and gratitude for what has already happened. Truly this is the providence of God.

KEEP PRAYING!

The update!

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

I've been encouraged to update this thing...apparently someone/people read it. Anyway, it's not 2008 anymore and there is so much to say...

2008 was a trying year and I am glad to look back and see that it's over! But more importantly to see that God showed up big for us and that even though we struggled, and struggled and there were times that we/I felt alone in this big world (and that EVERYONE but me was getting married!) God has worked all things to the good. At the lowest of this past year I was without a job thanks to a creepy stalker boss and had heard that G's non-immigrant visa was denied and that he would not be coming and our plan would not work. At the height, I had spent time with my man, we had another plan, immigration papers had been sent, and God had provided me with a wonderful new job in record time (I still love this job and am so thankful for it!).

Then there was Christmas. I'm not gonna lie, holidays without George and watching my adorable, happily married siblings was tough. I had to try hard to be nice...and happy. Then December 27th happened. We got immigration news! After 4 months of absolutely nothing happening the envelope that makes your heart stop was in the mail. We found out that our application had been sent to another (faster) processing center. I was not sure what to think at first, but then I was elated- this meant someone actually looked at our paperwork!

My dad always says that things can change "in a day" and he reminds me of this a lot. I don't exactly appreciate it when I hear "in a day" for more than a hundred days...but it's true nonetheless. My entire perspective changed "in a day" as well. Three days later we found out our case was being processed. Two weeks after that we found out that it was approved! So now we are waiting again, but I have faith. It's not over yet though. The National Visa Center has our application so now we wait on them and we can't get the same status updates as before. But God has been good and I'm becoming more and more patient. I go back to Ghana in March and Lord willing, it's my last visit alone.

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

Way too long!

Yes, it has been way too long and there is almost too much to say. A lot has happened in the last 3 months and things- much to my amazement, are going well.

As you can see from the pictures, I went back to Ghana and had the time of my life enjoying every second with my man. God was so evident in so much of what happened while I was there and we feel confident and at peace about the path we are taking.

Coming back has been a whirlwind and I have been very, very busy- which helps to distract me a bit, but can be hard to juggle. I must admit that at times I still feel like a visitor in my own life and would much rather be in Ghana. I know though, that being here is working towards George and my future and that in light of the rest of our lives, this time won't be long at all.

So that's it- as condensed as I can make it. Our resolve is strong and our God is with us.

What the?!?

I'm not sure if anyone even reads this anymore because of my lack of updating and the turn our story has taken from amazing, uplifting and entertaining....to heartbreaking, hopeless and not quite so entertaining (thus, the lack of updates).

So, we've just been truckin' along trying to keep the faith and figure out what to do next. We're waiting on the Lord and seeking Him for guidance and hope.

George and I were both feeling pretty sad and upset today and then we got a glimmer of hope. It turns out that George has a cousin that lives basically down the road from me! How crazy is that? So I spoke to her on the phone (wonderful and hilarious all at the same time) and tomorrow I'm going to have lunch with her. It was so encouraging to talk to her and it doesn't feel like George is so dreadfully far away since I have one of his family members near by. So that's cool, I've been praying for some sort of encouragement and I was not expecting this, but it's great nonetheless and I'll take what I can get. Until later....

I waited patiently for the Lord: and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3

We're still here!

We're still here and we're still in love.

There have been many mixed reactions from people about George not getting the visa. Some people think that because it's not easy, we should just quit; some people think the visa thing was some sort of a fleece or test as to whether or not we should be together; some people think we should blow off everyone and run away together, among other things...

So this is what I think. Just because things aren't easy doesn't mean they're not meant to be- if that were the case where would any of us be? Besides that, that thought process is definitely NOT modeled in scripture and I am SO NOT a quitter. Also, the visa was not a fleece or a test in any way. We know we are meant to be together, we're pretty sure that means getting married sooner, rather than later and we hoped that my family and friends would get to meet George here before we were married- the only thing that has changed is the last. And as completely appealing as running away sounds, it's pretty juvenile....can we say "Disney"?

So then, what's next? I still haven't got a clue (well, maybe a clue, but only a tiny one). I've been thinking a lot about the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and it's been encouraging... and frustrating. When Lazarus' sisters sent word to Jesus about his illness Jesus said he wouldn't die, but he did-!- to human eyes anyway. And then look what happened, Jesus brought him back! I'm not implying that the visa is our Lazarus and that God's going to turn it around, what I am saying is that things happen that we don't get and God uses bad things and turns them around to the good of those who love Him and to His glory. I look at the story of Lazarus and even knowing the outcome can still think of half a dozen ways that God could have been obviously glorified without Lazarus' friends and family going through all that heartache. It's a good thing I'm not in charge though, huh?

So we keep praying. Praying for direction, praying for finances, praying for greater faith, praying for miracles, praying for peace and wisdom, and just praying. This is all a tremendous walk of faith, one that sometimes lends way to tears and anxiety, but mostly, a walk of faith.

'I waited patiently for the Lord.....'

Visa news...

"This changes nothing, I am still George and you are still Bethany, my wife [to be]."

George sweetly reminded me of that fact today after he was denied a visa.

We have had time to cry, we have had time to be really mad at my government and we have had a little bit of time to chill out. At the end of the day, God is still God and He is still in control, even though it looks like this totally sucks.

We're not sure what steps to take from here and are thinking about several possibilities. Please continue to pray for us as we walk through this disappointment and move forward...

Gye Nyame

This is my favorite West African Adinkra symbol "Gye Nyame" which means "Except for God", a symbol of the supremacy of God. You can find it plastered all across Ghana as a constant reminder of the need for God and His supremacy in ALL things. It's particularly fitting right now, because that's where we are. We have exhausted all of our resources and are beyond being able to do things ourselves or with the help of any man.....Except for God.

More bumps in the road!

Things as of this moment aren't exactly going smoothly, we really need your prayers.

George tried to get the paper from the UNHCR and he did, only it's not really from the UNHCR. Even though he went to the UNHCR building everyday, rode in their vehicles, answered to their bosses and was "hired" by a UNHCR person, technically, his internship was with WISE (Women Initiative for Self Empowerment). The two organizations were working with one another and for some reason his internship fell under WISE. The problem here is that the whole point of the letter is to confirm the truth of what I said about George, and now it won't. Ahhhh! Also, the man George worked for is now in Iraq and can't be reached, so we can't get him to write a personal letter either.

As for the transcript, the school is saying that will take a month, which judging by their track record, it really means 6-8 weeks. We aren't sure what to do at this point, but we're praying and trying to be resourceful.

Didn't see that one coming!

Today was the day....and we don't have an answer.

I'll try not to be too cynical here, but there really aren't words to express my disgust with this whole process or the people we have been dealing with. On the flip side, there also aren't words to express how amazing George is, he's handling all of this so well while maintaining excellent grades and a good attitude. Yay George!

George went to the consulate compound in Accra today and had a very long interview. However, his passport size photos weren't quite what they wanted so he had to fix that first. He was taken to a specific passport picture place by a consulate security guard and payed through the nose to get pictures that looked VERY similar to what he already had (this is not the first time this has happened and is quite suspicious to me!).

Once that was finished he actually had his interview. To quote George, the woman who interviewed him was "younger than you [Bethany]", she was "disturbing me [George]" and "made me [George] very hot [irritated]". George had to convince her to read my letter-which she didn't, and basically argued with her the whole time about who he was and who I am. In the end, she didn't say yes and she didn't say no. She wants a school transcript and a letter from the UNHCR about his past internship with them. So he will return next week on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. Hopefully she'll actually see him.

George has already spoken to the UNHCR and they will get him his letter quickly. The University of Cape Coast however, is quite another issue! They have been nothing but difficult and S-L-O-W!! So my prayer is that they would be nice for once and have a sense of urgency (I know, obviously the prayers of a Westerner, but the consulate's not going to wait!) So please be in prayer with me. Lord willing, next week we will have some real news!

One week...

George's interview with the consulate is a week from today at 1:30pm Ghana time. It hardly seems real that in just one week there will be an end to all of this waiting and anxiety. So PLEASE PRAY!!

Pray that the interview will not be rescheduled.

Pray that the heart of the interviewer would be turned towards George to grant him a visa.

Pray that George would be at peace and have confidence and know exactly how to answer the questions.

Pray for peace for me waiting over here for the news.

Pray that God would be glorified in our lives and in the lives of the people George interacts with.

Not long now...

Nothing new on the visa front, just waiting for the interview....

In other news, my mom and I registered for gifts this week and it was so much fun! I got to dream about all the wonderful aspects of our life when we're married. It was difficult at times to figure what to register for to take with and use in Ghana (meaning light weight, not expensive, and something we may or may not bring home) and what do I register for to use for years and years and years! But it was a blast and made me very optimistic for our future. I enjoyed telling George about it, but he won't truly understand until he comes. He told me, "This is NOT something we do in Ghana!"

Also, I am losing my mind and memory! My mind is so encompassed with immigration/visa stuff, planning a wedding, and figuring out how to move 6,000 miles away that I'm forgetting other things. Such as, but not limited to, not sending George two very important papers about his interview with the consulate- I just forgot to scan them and send them to him! That is totally not like me! George was extremely understanding and reminded me about it before it was too late, so at least I haven;t done too much damage. Hopefully as soon as we have a visa that will free up space in my brain and I can function like I used to! I guess we'll just have to wait on that one too....

Anxious for nothing...

Yeah, I'm working on that! Sometimes I feel like I'm anxious for everything.

I was thinking today about my favorite verse and the one I keep remembering through all of my worry about immigration and at times the uncertainty of our future and my desire to make everything work out, all on my own.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Through God's providence, this verse stood out to me in a different way about the time I met George and has helped to guide me through the travails and triumphs of dealing with immigration, navigating cultures and a bi-continental relationship and everything in between. It reminds me how big God is and how much He cares. It also reminds me that I should chill out and be thankful for all things, even when they don't go my way. :) The 3am post may have seemed a bit whiney and I was not very happy. However, I am so thankful and I need to bring that back to the forefront. I'm thankful for George and our future, thankful for wonderful and supportive family and friends, thankful for a good Internet connection in the middle of the night, thankful that we finally have an interview date and are moving forward in the visa process and so much more! God is so good and I am very fortunate.

The things you do for love.

It's 3am which is when normal employed people should be sleeping, but I've been up for more than an hour trying to get an interview time for George. The consulate told him the website typically works between about 7 and 8 in the morning...Ghana time. Well, we all know how reliable Ghana Internet has been, so my alarm went off at 2, so I could give it a shot! The first 50 minutes or so are a frustrating daze of trying to stay awake and pressing refresh a zillion times, but all of the sudden, it worked! So after trying to contact George to figure out which date was best (his preferences weren't available) and losing all the close dates while waiting for a response (I only waited for about 15 minutes!) we ended up on April 15th. I'm not exactly ecstatic with how late the date is, but at least we have one....maybe some sleep will make this seem like a bigger victory, right now I'm kind of bummed.

One more step in the right direction!

We still don't have an appointment, but George was able to print the much needed papers and contact the consulate today. Hopefully more news soon!