Well friends what a crazy past few days it has been.

Yesterday I called the consulate to confirm that they had received my security clearance and were going to put my visa in the mail. I included in my money order $18.30 for the to overnight it back to me via USPS. The woman that I talked to said they had received my security clearance and would accept the electronic copy. She said that my visa has been approved and is in my passport, but wanted to rehash my repatriation form. She had the nerve to ask for the $1,055! That was taken care of in the original package, then reaffirmed in a second letter from my sending church on Tuesday. By this point I knew she was just powertrippin’. That’s all it could be. Well, that and ‘red tape’.

I told her that since my visa had been approved that I needed it in the mail that day (Friday) so that it could be overnighted back to me. She said that it wouldn’t be get here because FedEx doesn’t deliver. I reaffirmed that I wanted it sent USPS overnight, which is one of the two options they list on their website. She didn’t like the questions that I was asking, so she said to call back at 2:30. So I called her back at 2:31 and every two minutes after that but no one ever answered. This is just icing on the cake you know? So at 3:15 I called my travel agent and delayed my ticket.

I did everything I could possibly do to avoid that, but there was no other way. Unfortunately, the penalty for delaying said ticket is a whopping $300. I guess the consulate assumed I own a money tree or something. So as it stands now, I am flying out the following Monday the 24th of January. Although I had to spend a fourth of February’s budget on that ticket at least I know where I stand. The lady at the consulate said that I will have my visa by next Friday in time to fly out next Monday.

Obviously I wasn’t planning on staying in Denver for more than a week, but this will give me more time to spend with family and friends. I won’t be spending all my time visiting as everyone will be working during the day. I’m not one to sit around and twiddle my thumbs, so I’ve already picked out a few projects to complete around the house to help out dad.

My next update will hopefully be from South Africa. Until then please be in prayer for sweet time with family and friends. Also for my financial support. I have had to spend so much extra money that wasn’t worked into my budget on this last minute visa stuff. (Ex: another set of fingerprints, even though I already had those done in November.) Please pray that the Lord will provide for my monthly financial needs and for opportunities to share with folks what the Lord is doing through Samaria Mission, so that they too can be involved through financial partnerships.

If you’re in the area, let’s grab lunch or coffee. Yall know I can’t live without my coffee!

See you on the other side!