Update on my travels to New Zealand: four changed flights, one long wait for a highly anticipated visa, and a whole lot of patience, faith and prayers.
First off I wanted to thank everyone who has come to check out my blog in the last two weeks. It has been a work of love and I am so encouraged by the response I have had since opening up my site. I will continue to let people know when I update/create a new post through Instagram, Facebook, and the Community page.
The part that you really want to hear about...
In my last update your read that I was waiting on a visa to travel to New Zealand with the intention of joining Marine Reach (NZ YWAM base). Well, I have some exciting news, MY VISA WAS APPROVED!
Anticipation (HOPE)
I know in the big scheme of things that my waiting period was really not long at all. Let me tell you though it felt very very long. The full story? Here it is
While I was in Papua New Guinea (PNG) last year I had been praying and thinking about what I'd like to do next. I had the idea of going back to NZ but not a solid plan of what I'd do while I was there. I thought about going back to PNG for another year of medical outreach or joining the Madang YWAM base and helping to staff DTS there. {Remember there are YWAM bases all around the world that have different ministries like medical ships and programs that include Discipleship Training Schools} Logistically, those options would not have been the best choice for a full year. In September I applied to the Marine Reach base to see if I would be accepted as staff there. During the fall I was in communication with the base but it was very slow and not fruitful. It was not until I arrived back to Canada in mid-December that I heard from the base that I had been accepted as staff. This was the catalyst for the next couple months scramble to join the Marine Reach base in the new year. In this time I applied for a visa, arranged travel plans and insurance, and I started to pack my suitcase once again. I was able to see all of my family over the holidays which, I am so so thankful for. I also got to see a lot of my friends over the Dec-Jan period while I was home. Also I was able to speak with the Marine Reach DTS coordinator and found out there was a need for a Medical Compassion DTS leader which I then agreed to lead. Everything was falling into place at this time!
Frustration (FAITH)
Once I had everything in place it was all dependent on when my visa approval came so that I could travel to NZ. A lot of you have spoken to me in this period of waiting and know that it has been a stressful waiting period especially in the last three weeks. I know looking at the big picture from the time I applied for my visa until now, the length of time waiting was not long. However, I had flights booked and needed to change them multiple times. I had my suitcase pretty much fully packed but with no certain date to leave. If you know me then you know that I like to be prepared and on time for things. The start date for the staff training was scheduled for January 30 and that date came and went. I was disappointed and my stress levels went up. I told myself to keep faith and trust that God had opened these doors for me for a reason. I also freaked myself out by Googling the length of time for a visa process and it came up with six months. At that point I was wondering if I was meant to be delayed and not lead the DTS. It turned out that the second date that I had booked my flight was during the time that Auckland was experiencing heavy rains and flooding and the airport was shut down. Had I flown out of Canada then who knows what would've happened. The other times I changed my flight weren't as obvious as to why I had to keep waiting but maybe similar delays or worse could've happened.
The time I've been waiting for my visa, about six weeks, has been a growing period. Especially in the last three weeks I have faced many times of disappointment, stress, and even doubt (about timing). I was in contact with the Marine Reach staff and the lawyer. I also was considering nursing jobs if my waiting period was going to be months. In this period I have been living with my parents and it has been challenging to move back with them. Don't get me wrong they have been welcoming and loving but kind of "parenty". It has been a blessing to spend this time with them before I leave for a year. Although I was dealing several unknowns I still felt that Marine Reach was the next place God was calling me to.
Celebration (LOVE)
My visa came late on Feb 2nd and I had to read, reread and repeat the email that told me my visa had been approved. I could hardly believe that it had finally come after many long days of waiting but also that it hadn't taken six months like I thought it might! It is definitely a praise God situation and I think that it couldn't have come at a better time. The timing is perfect, I know now. Even as I am writing to share the news with you I have to keep reminding myself that I am going to NZ very soon!
I will be arriving in NZ with about two days of staff training to spare and then the DTS students will arrive and the school will start on Feb 13th. The next blog post you read will be typed out in NZ! I apologize in advance if it takes a bit of time until I am able to sit down and write another blog post because I'm afraid when I arrive I will have much to learn and prepare for in very little time since I'm getting there late. Some things I anticipate I will have to do when I get there are to blitz through the staff training I missed, prepare Medical Compassion DTS lessons and welcome new students. I will also meet all the staff and hopefully get over jet lag quickly.
I am going to update the Community tab (group) as I am traveling/settling into the Marine Reach base because my updates will be shorter, more frequent and less artfully put together. If you sign up with email you can follow along there otherwise if you are curious you can reach out to me in the next few days to find out what my WhatsApp number is so you can keep in touch as I travel. Thank you for following along so far.
"Now these three remain: faith, hope and love..."
1 Corinthians 13: 13
If you have a further question feel free to connect with me by using the chat button in the lower right corner of my website, you can connect with me over social media or even in the Community tab on my site. Keep in touch and I will too!
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