August '21 - All Aboard...Almost

And away I went...

In His Timing

After several weeks of gathering the necessary paperwork and documentation needed to apply for my Religious Visa, I turned it all in and was left to simply wait. I was told I could not check on the status of my application for four weeks. In all honesty, these were the easiest four weeks of waiting I have ever experienced because I knew the exact end date of my wait. I simply had to not think about it for four weeks, and then the time would be up. However, I could not have anticipated the words I would hear when I emailed for the status update - "We cannot seem to find your application."

To say that I momentarily panicked would be an understatement. However, the Lord quickly addressed my fear and lovingly called me to trust in Him. Thanks to my strong mother, and a therapy lunch from Boxcar Betty's, the Lord was able to work peace into my heart no matter what the outcome. I had to remind myself continually that it is God's plan and His timing that I am living for, not my plan in my timing. It is so easy to think that if we are stepping out in faith into what God is calling us to do, He will open every door and smoothly pave the way. It is also easy to attribute every obstacle to "the enemy interfering." However, we have to remember that life is more complicated than this.

God often lets us face challenges along the way to reveal to us how much we are or are not trusting in Him. Sometimes, He asks us to wait on a plan He has said yes to because there is more He is working on than we can see or are privileged to understand. Are we willing to follow Him no matter how confusing the path seems within the scope of our limited sight? I will never come close to a consistently perfect response of trust when surprises and challenges arise, but I pray daily that God would continue to slowly work His patience into my very virtue and character so that I can more naturally raise my hands in faith and surrender from the first moment when obstacles arise. I want my life to be defined by a calm trust in Him that points to His sovereignty and brings glory to Him. May He never cease to challenge my fleshly responses of unbelief so that I can continue to be drawn deeper into unshakable confidence in Him.

He Must Be Teaching Me Something...

Within a few hours (really, Arin, there was no need to panic so soon), the consulate had found my application, and, within the next few days, I received my passport with my visa affixed! Two Covid-19 tests, 16+ hours of travel, and no hours of sleep later, I arrived back in Italy. It was such a joy to be back and to catch up with people here. The very next day I jumped straight into all the paperwork and appointments I have to accomplish on this end to be able to receive my permesso di sogiorno. This is the documentation that will officially grant me to stay in Italy for one or two years, depending on what the government decides.

However, as other staff members began to return, we quickly found out that one individual's family back home was getting sick and testing positive for Covid-19. Despite many precautions, Sarah, this missionary, contracted it, and a few days later I took a molecular test since we had been living in close quarters. I tested positive as well. So, the beginning of our fall semester has changed drastically. Our students arrived over the weekend and will be starting their classes this week, but quarantine it is for the two of us. I find myself waiting yet again. In the midst of the waiting also came some difficult news from home.

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good to hose who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:21-26)

It only seems fitting that the Lord is bringing great comfort to my heart from the weeping prophet. These words ring in my ears morning and night - "Great is thy faithfulness." This scripture is a beautiful reminder of God's love for us, His children. Not only does He simply not consume us for our sinfulness, but in His great compassion and tender mercy He goes far beyond - extending grace and showering us with His love, comforting us in our sorrows. He does not leave us in our sufferings or challenging circumstances to wade through it alone. Rather, He reaches down and sustains us, allowing us to hold onto Him as He carries us through.

What better time to learn thoroughly the concept of the Lord being our portion than in quarantine? In sickness, isolation, and grief the soul needs nothing less than the hope of Jesus. As we diligently seek Him and wait upon His loving presence, His word promises the overflow of His goodness. I thoroughly enjoy the fact that it says to "wait quietly." There are many ways in which we can wait. Reluctantly, with arms crossed, ice cream in hand, and Disney+ constantly on in the background. This is such a waste of our "wait training." No, my desire is to learn and grow from this forced time of waiting, this delay to the long awaited start of my ministry here in Montebelluna. I want to wait quietly, peacefully, and expectantly before the Lord. He deserves my full attention and my firm trust in His timing.

I do not know what the rest of this semester will bring - but the Lord does. If I am willing to put in the effort now, I can be significantly better prepared for the unexpected things that are to come. It is only natural that they will. God has honestly gifted me with a beautiful gift - a few extra weeks to spend devoted to prayer, to the study of His Word, and to silence, waiting upon His presence. Our being before God is so important and sustains what we do for Him. Thus, these next few weeks can be spent resting and abiding in Him so that He can more effectively use me to minister to those around me in the weeks to come.

Prayers Requests

• Please be praying for Sarah and I to continue to have mild symptoms and to recover quickly from our cases of Covid-19.

• Please pray for our students to adjust smoothly, despite all the changes, to the beginning of the semester. Pray that Sarah and I can minister to the girls effectively, even from a distance for now.

• Please pray for my documentation process that is now delayed due to having Covid-19. Pray for favor in the eyes of the Italian government, since these appointments and documents are supposed to be turned in within the first week of being in Italy. Also, please pray that once I can turn everything in that they will grant me a 2-year stay instead of the 1-year stay.

• There are many opportunities occurring to share the gospel with people here in Italy (even due to our quarantine!), so please pray for those who we have shared Christ with that the seed planted would grow. Also, pray for continued opportunities - that God would be glorified through any and every circumstance we face and people would be drawn to Him.