A little life update

I’ve waited to write this post, to make sure that it wasn’t just an indelible reflection of the shock and disappointment I felt on Monday, but a more balanced and accurate account of the reasons why I won’t be getting on a plane to Johannesburg this Friday. 

I wrote previously about the challenges of the next year of my life, but I never, ever saw this as one of the possible outcomes. I now know that I’ll be home for Christmas, as I’m unlikely to be able to leave for South Africa until February 2015. Even as I’m writing this, it’s occurring to me again that so many things have changed. I’ve got to rearrange all of my travel plans, and postpone visits to friends I haven’t seen in a year, as well as work out how exactly to spend six months in a country that I’d been preparing to leave. It’s incredible what hinges a visa- or lack of. 

So whilst this is not how I thought 2014 would finish off for me, I know that God’s timing is perfect; He is bigger than this situation and He will turn it to my good, even though I don’t know what to do next. I know that He will guide my path, and these next six months are not wasted time, but rather another opportunity to trust that God’s plans are always best.

I’m fully prepared for a lot of awkward ‘what are you still doing here?’ conversations, and I’m more than happy to answer those questions because I know that this isn’t a journey that I’m on by myself; so many of you have been faithfully partnering with me in this. Bear with me though, and I’m hoping that as I continue along this path, some of the reasons behind this visa decision might come to light. Until then, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone that’s praying; God will make a way in His time. 

Hi everyone, welcome to my very first post! Just over a fortnight to go before the big move, and preparations are well under way. For now, this blog is going to be my main port of call for updates, prayer points and general musings about what's going on in my world. Apologies in advance for any rambling, but I hope you stick with it and find something interesting/ worth reading!

I was up in London recently and had the opportunity to do a walking tour with Alternative London, looking at some of the beautiful, vibrant street art of the East End. Just off of Brick Lane, there's a huge crane by Roa. Art is all about communication, and part of the significance of the crane is that it's native to the part of Bangladesh a large proportion of the local community originates from. The crane is about creating a home from home, a journey that I'm about to undertake as I move across to South Africa. It's not going to be easy; no adventure ever is! But I know that I'm not going alone, God goes with me and that's all the home I need. 

The next few months are going to be amazing and challenging, probably in equal measure, so I would really value your prayers and support- for safety in travelling, adjusting into a new culture and all the challenges that it may bring, but also for my family, staying in England. 

It's still a little hard to fathom that this moment I've waited so long for is almost here, that I'm no longer counting down months or seasons, but days. If you've talked to me since I returned from a short term trip out with Hands at Work and Family Church last September, then you'll know that I left part of my heart out in Southern Africa, with the families and care workers that I had the privilege to serve alongside. I'm so thrilled that I get to go back and share life with them, to hear their stories. Because these stories matter, and each one of their lives is so incredibly precious. 

In all honesty, I have no idea what the next year of my life is going to look like; what I'll be doing, or whether I'll be home for Christmas, but that's ok. God has a plan, and I know that it's going to be far bigger and better than anything I could have come up with on my own. So for now, I'm stepping out in faith, knowing that He will never lead me into the great unknown alone.