We Have Visas. Now What?

Today, after working at it for 676 days, we have visas!

Now is not the time to talk about all of our adventures over that 1 year, 10 months, and 6 days.  If you want to hear some of the gory details, you can always check out some of these gems:

• Fun with visa documents… (1 June 2012)
• Visa adventures (and other adventures) continue! (23 November 2012) When everything took a turn for the worse!
• The Joy of Visas (podcast) (5 January 2013) This is the best summary of our visa misadventures, even though a lot has happened since.
• Visas: Another Update (25 February 2013)
• Visa Update: After 568 days, “One Down”! (4 June 2013)

Ah, the memories.

This sign is in the immigration office – ‘To give a “thank you” is enough.’  In other words, don’t try to bribe anyone.  I’m not sure I was in a gift-giving mood after 676 days! 🙂

Today, things went a lot better than I expected (thanks for your prayers!).  In spite of the traffic, we made it (barely!) in time to get the pictures taken (although the picture-taking-place was closed, but we went to another place (the more expensive one!)), pay the fees, and get to our appointment in time.  We did have a lot of help from our lawyer.

Of course the printer wasn’t working at the immigration office.  So the repair crew worked on it while we waited.

And can you believe it?  They fixed it and managed to get our cards to us after only about a couple of hours (we were expecting a few more).  (Thanks for your prayers!)

We still have one issue that we’re trying to get resolved (we wouldn’t want life to be dull), but our visas at least are in our hands.

The next step?  We had hoped to get them for four years, but were only able to get one.  So the next step will be to start getting things renewed, starting early next year.  But thankfully, due to the dates we got on these visas, that will be somewhat less complicated than I thought it would be.  (Or will it?)

This adventure has, unfortunately, cost us thousands of dollars – literally (ouch).  But hopefully it taught us a little patience – a little trust – maybe – … (the kids were asking today – “What are we doing now?”  The answer was always the same – “Waiting, of course!” 😉 )

We’re thankful that God has allowed us to be here in Mexico.  We’re thankful for the person that Shari was able to share the Gospel with this week at her baking class.  We’re thankful for the laughs I could have with a family that just came to a service for the first time.  We’re thankful for the chance I’ll have to preach the Gospel this Sunday.  And sometimes God reminds us that all these things are really in His hands.  Always.