A little bit of progress!

Don't fall out of your chair with that title. I know the word 'progress' is shocking, but we knew it would come sooner or later.

George was oh so proud to use my saying of "Guess what?!" yesterday and told me that the Immigrant fee bill letter has arrived in Ho! This is great, but George is on the other side of the country....you had to know it couldn't be that simple! :) So, next week George will travel 7 hours across Ghana to get the letter in Ho and then 3-4 hours back to Accra to get me at the airport (YAY!!!!) and then we'll both trek another 2-3 hours to Cape Coast. Simple enough, right?

I'm excited, any movement at all is good in my book, we'll figure out what to do next once I'm there. More importantly, I leave in 8 days, I'm SO HAPPY!

I'm learning...

I'm learning that love is so much more than I ever thought it would be. It's bigger, deeper, more wonderful than I could have imagined and grows everyday...even long distance.

I'm learning to get involved when things don't work well for me, instead of just trying to find something else.

I'm learning to be optimistic even when it's easier to be a pessimist, funnier too. Why is it that optimism isn't funny?

I'm learning that Christians make Christianity complicated...and I think that's silly.

I'm learning that I'm not like other people my age and that I'd rather be lonely than a sell out.

I'm learning that following God is so easy and so hard.

I'm learning to be happy about really small things- if the weather is nice enough not to have to wear a sweater or a jacket, I'm a happy girl!

I'm learning to be content with where I am; even though I fondly dream of the days when I woke up under a net and walked through orange dirt in flip flops to get work, passing a dozen people I could call friends. I wonder if that will ever be my life again.

I'm learning to be still and know that He is God. Some days it's harder than it sounds.

I'm learning that if I walk 6-8 miles a day I can eat chocolate and not feel guilty....I like that.

...we rise and stand upright!

I'm in a defiant mood. Those of you who know me well probably think I'm in a defiant mood most of the time, but I'm not. There's is still no word from immigration. By the time it's been long enough to do something about it, I'll be thousands of miles away, so we'll probably not know anything for a while. We are still waiting-this is a common theme in our lives if you haven't noticed....it actually feels pretty normal. Even though this is a huge deal and there are times that being away from George is enough to just crush me; I don't want to allow immigration to lord over me. God is my strength and hope, no one else. I refuse to be toyed with by a silly government! I will 'rise and stand upright' and I will remember God's faithfulness and promises.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. Psalm 20:7

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:3-5

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

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

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10

No title

I'm still waiting for the letter. Apparently the NVC/CIS doesn't use the Pony Express...they use something slower. Maybe a Longhorn? I'm not talking a pissed off, pent up Bevo before a game (besides, that sprint totally takes it out of him). I'm talking those huge lazy things who chill in the field and hardly move 10yards all day- they are completely surrounded by their own dung and won't even move away from it! On second thought.....a Longhorn would be too cool. I bet they use a duck. Ducks are ugly, SLOW, and sassy- they make you stop your car so they can cross the road (well, I stop, because what if the duck's posse came after me?). Makes perfect sense to me.

I'll move on to a slightly more serious and slightly more random note now. There is an insanely popular song out (I think it's new, but not sure) by The Fray and I think about it a lot, maybe even too much. Here are some of the lyrics:

I found God

On the corner of First and Amistad

Where the west

Was all but won

All alone

Smoking his last cigarette

I said, “Where you been?”

He said, “Ask anything.”

Where were you

When everything was falling apart?

All my days

Were spent by the telephone

That never rang

And all I needed was a call

It never came

To the corner of

First and Amistad

Lost and insecure

You found me, you found me

Lying on the floor

Surrounded, surrounded

Why’d you have to wait?

Where were you, where were you?

Just a little late

You found me, You found me

First, I love this song, and I love hearing what people think of God. It makes me kind of sad though, I feel for the guy who wrote it and I remember times in my life where I have felt like God was not hearing me and finally showed up too late. But most importantly I like this song because it gives me hope and makes me thankful. I am so thankful that I don't feel this way. I know where my God is and He isn't ignoring me. With that being said, He's not exactly telling me what he's doing. However, I know He is there and at work and that he most definitely will not show up too late. Also, I think there is a reason why we can't know everything.

Waiting.

So immigration has reunited me with my good ol' pal Patience (his middle names are Suffer, Perpetually and Friedrich but that's just btw). Yep, that's the one constant with immigration- we wait, a LOT. I still haven't received the letter detailing the ramifications of my dorkhood and what else they want (the deed to my right arm?). So we shall see. I'll update when I know.

Isn't it funny how most things can be mailed anywhere in the US and arrive in a day or two? Not with immigration. I think they still use the Pony Express...

I stopped the freight train...

So the last time I called the NVC they told me they received my packet of information (the affidavit of support stuff) and that something is missing or incomplete. Poop. I should receive a letter this week with further details/instructions. Poop.

Let the confusion ensue...

I just finished my morning ritual of calling the nice 24 hour man at the NVC- I had to call twice because I hung up and realized I had no clue what was going on. And that's where the fun stopped. Even though he's a nice man, with a nice voice and he's short and wear glasses, cuffed and pleated khaki pants and Hush Puppies; he told me something that I'm a little confused about. He said that the Immigrant fee bill letter had been prepared and would be sent to the agent in the next few weeks. First off, I didn't think they were going to be able to squeeze more money out of this. Second, George is his own agent, so God only knows when that letter will get to him! Which means this process could be drawn out longer, as usual. Hopefully I'll get a copy too and can do something about it quickly. Money has to be sent to St. Louis, surely they realize that can't happen from Ghana. Seriously people, they act like they've never dealt with people from other countries.

So I think I finally have this whole Immigrant Visa game figured out. Obviously they start with making sure we're dealing with the person you want to be with the most. Then, they make you wait and wait and wait so that you are so tense and anxious about everything that simply the thought of a letter or call from CIS is enough to throw you in the nut house. Yes, that's exactly where they want you. Then, when you've grown accustomed to waiting so long you're five minutes from booking a one way ticket out of here....they give you hope. So now that you're high on optimism they bombard you with more paperwork and more fees so that you feel like you're running a marathon of amazingness and that you're actually getting somewhere. Yep, still exactly where they want you. Then things subside a bit and you get to actually think about everything that just happened. You realize that the light of this horribly long and painful tunnel is growing nearer! You know exactly what's going on now and exactly what will happen next, you can dare to think about your future, and yes, it's a happy thought. Then, BOOM! That wasn't the light at the end of the tunnel, that was an NVC lightning bug.....it's dead now. You are not finished, you do not know what's going on, you should not think about good things and you are most definitely NOT in charge. Please wait for a letter, if you don't get it in about 6 weeks or so....good luck. That's how the game goes, that's how they like it. But I think I have decided I'm not going to play. Yes, I'm not going to play this game. I don't like that they can toy with my life and emotions this way. No sir, Mr. nice 24 hour NVC man, you do not win. My hope is not in you or your Hush Puppy clad self, nor any of your less cheery minions. Things aren't as bad or confusing as they look right now, my hope is in someone else (and no, Barack Obama doesn't own the word hope and I am not talking about him).

Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. Psalm 20:7-8

Waiting, waiting, waiting....

Nothing new is happening. January was a blur of progress and now it's time to wait again. The National Visa Center has a 24 hour automated phone system to check on the status of things. I call it everyday. They still haven't "received" my affidavit of support, so I keep calling. The guy who does the announcements sounds so nice, so I don't mind. I feel like we're friends. I think he's probably short and wear glasses, and I bet he truly is a nice guy.

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...