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.
