Last Wednesday we flew over to London for our visa interviews at the American Embassy on Thursday morning. It is long and not very interesting story why we had to go to London but our appointment was for 8:30am so we joined the commuters traveling across London in the morning rush.
This being our first time applying for a visa we had no idea what to expect. In our mind we both presumed our interview would be at the time allocated and we would arrive, register and maybe have to wait a few minutes like you do at a doctors surgery. However when we arrived at the embassy we quickly realised the jokes our family had made the day before were actually true, there was a long queue snaking out of the security gates and we realised we were one of many who had appointments at 8:30.
After queuing for sometime our documents were checked and we were allowed through the security gate, that was when the real fun began. We were given a number by reception and took a seat while many administrators processed peoples documents at a long row of cubicles. Eventually it was our turn and we handed our documents through the little window only to find out there was a problem. Because London was a flight away originally Beccy had put the embassy in Belfast down as the preferred option for an interview, but unfortunately because mine had been set up to London they were unable to process hers and the boys in Belfast so she had ended up booking an interview in London with me anyway. However, because it had originally been connected with Belfast London couldn’t get into her application. So they advised us to leave the embassy and reapply quickly via a passport and visa photographer down the road using the London address. Finding the shop we filled out the relevant forms and as we came to printing them so they could be scanned, the owner informed us it was going to be £20 per printout (we needed 4 sheets) if we had not been in such a rush and needing to get it sorted there and then there is no way I would have paid that x4 for 4 A4 pages, but needs must so we reluctantly parted with the cash and made our way back to the embassy.
Once back in the embassy we learned there was actually a worldwide problem with their system and they were still unable to scan our documents to process our application. So they suggested we could wait to see if the problem could be fixed or there was a possibility we would have to come back another day. We of course opted to wait.
The embassy was scheduled to shut at 12:30pm and the system came back online around 12pm so thankfully our forms were able to be processed in the end. However as we completed the interview we were informed that there was still a part of our application that had not been uploaded in the USA and therefore our visa could not be approved until that is completed. So after 6 hours of queuing and waiting we still didn’t receive a final answer. The embassy have kept our passports and documents (which we think is a good sign) and advised us they will email us as soon as they are able to give us an answer and return our documents.
So still we wait.
I don’t particularly like waiting, I find long journey’s a bit tedious for that reason. I always really admire people who more than simply having the patience to tolerate long journeys seem to enjoy them. Until recently (when someone pointed out that apparently it is actually really dangerous) when we would take a long road trip Bec would make herself comfy and often put her feet up, enjoy the view or conversation, trusting completely we would arrive at our destination in due time. The challenge I find in unexpected moments like this is to find moments to enjoy and to take the journey as it comes. After we finished in the embassy we found something to eat and took a wonder to Covent Gardens. Bec remembered some boutique shops she had once found and wanted to take a look again. We actually never quite made it, because we got a bit lost, but as we stopped to find our bearings we found somewhere that jogged a happy memory. Almost 14 years ago we went to see the Lion King on our honeymoon in London, so we celebrated a wonderful moment of our history as we headed back to catch our train. I guess the art of waiting is finding moments to enjoy on the journey and trusting all will be resolved in due time.
I think in my experience there is often an underlying myth that whenever God is on our side everything will be easy. We quote snippets of scripture like “If God is for us, then who can be against us?” However there can be an unsettling reality at times like this that sometimes life just isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes things have to be persevered for. As I read the story of Esther today it served as a timely reminder that pushing through adversity often is a pathway to enormous favour.
So as we wait, please join with us as we trust God is in control as we persevere with our plans to relocate to be with the global team in Arlington and develop the training for the Pais teams around the world. And as our wait resonates with many who persevere, long may courage and hope fill our hearts as we as family far and wide pursue His invitations.
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