I'm going to try and explain this detailed, confusing process as simply as I can. Last Friday (August 6) our I-800 approval was cabled to the US Consulate in Guangzhou. To submit our paperwork for the Article 5, our agency's representative in China needs a letter from the government division that sent the cable. This letter generally comes in about week after the cable via postal mail. The paperwork for the Article 5 can only be submitted on Thursday. If we did not make this past Thursday's drop off there would be no way we could travel in September. AMAZINGLY the cable confirmation was emailed to me on Monday and then forwarded to the China rep on Tuesday (early Wednesday morning in China). Equally amazing is that we missed the Thursday drop by just 45 minutes. Couriers are involved and the physical paperwork does travel quite a distance so it is understandable but still incredibly disappointing. We were now waiting until the very end of November to travel. Its a bigger picture than we can see and we have no other option than to trust. It is a place of peace but all to easy to wander away from.
We made our list of pros for traveling later - Most likely have the immunization "catch up" waived due to a law change, more opportunities for introducing ourselves to Anna and putting more transitions in place, travel with two other wonderful and local couples, get projects finished... And then on Friday Matt got a call. The China rep felt terrible about us missing the Thursday drop and wants to try and expedite our case. It is a long shot but she is willing to try if we want her to. We will know on September 7th if she is successful in doing so. If she is successful we would leave on September 10th. (Yes, two entire days from travel approval until travel.) Do we want her to try? Yes. Go for it.
The countdown is on and my list is made. If anyone has any verses to keep us at that place of peace we would greatly appreciate them. You can post them in the comments below.
3 comments:
Wow Tana, I can feel your stress and excitement all at the same time. Psalm 29:11- The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.
Praying that He will give you a restful heart!
Love,
Amy
What a ride this is for all of you! Claiming this prayer for you from Ephesians 3:14-19:
For this reason Dad and I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. We pray that out of his glorious riches he may strenthen Matt and Tana with power through his Spirit in their inner beings, so that Christ may dwell in Matt and Tana's hearts through faith. And we pray that Matt and Tana, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that Matt and Tana may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
May the fullness of God help you to remain at peace, knowing that His timing and plans are PERFECT.
We love you all. Mom and Dad
Ps.34:8
"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him!" (NLT)
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