The Visa Saga Continues

I never guessed before starting the visa process that it would absorb so much of my time and be such an ordeal. I even considered just going and seeing what could be accomplished once I was in South Africa. But a friend of mine who left for the mission field about a year ago tried this strategy. He left for a country where its pretty easy to get a visa and planned on sorting it out once he was there. Then discovered that it has to get done in your home country. So he ended up having to fly back home after a few months and work out the visa. This is a great story for me. Helps me remember why its better to just deal with all of this now rather than later.
So the next episode in my visa saga is actually a testimony to how great God is....
The RSA embassy called my parents' house on friday of last week. I gave the embassy their info for a permanent address, etc. My mom calls to say there is a message but she simply cannot understand the accent, but she did manage to get the phone number. By this time it is after work hours friday so there was nothing I could do over the weekend. But during the weekend I had two opportunities to share with groups about everything in South Africa. Both groups were a small gathering of people that friends of mine know. In the first group there were 17 of us in total but out of this small group people gave $885 towards the work in South Africa while we were all together that day. The second group was another round of blessings...but the finances given so generously by the first group is the key to my story here :) Anyway, when monday rolled around I called the embassy to see what was happening with my visa. Through the whole application process there was this one requirement for certain types of visas but it was not required for other visas but it never was completely clear when it was required and when not. I thought I had made a correct assessment that it was not a requirement for me. I was wrong. I did need this one requirement...I needed to send the embassy $800 immediately before they could process my application. Apparently they return it when you return home. If I get the opportunity to stay in RSA for many years to come and continue renewing my visa each time, then there is a chance I may never see this money again. So at the end of the day, this may be a donation to the South African government. But, this does not change the fact that it is a requirment or there will be no visa for me. So....as I stated before, the first group this weekend gave more than enough so that this money could be sent. I had no idea what the embassy was calling about friday but God did. Even before I knew the money needed to be sent, God provided. Wow. He's so good! What a blessing. I was genuinely amazed by the large amount of money that came in from people who had never even met me before during the gatherings this weekend. Amazing!! But now I know God had a very specific purpose for providing so generously this weekend.
I've been reading about the life of David lately. When David sinned by killing Bathsheba's husband and taking her as his own wife, God asked David if He had not already provided enough for David that he would take more from another man. Then, God tells David that if it was not enough, then all David needed to do was ask and God would have given him even more. Isn't that amazing. Someone as well taken care of as David only needed to ask the Father and God would have given him even more than he already had. I am so amazed at how God has provided for everything in Africa so far. God has provided enough people committed to monthly gifts that the monthly expenses of living in RSA will be covered now. He has provided enough to purchase a safe, dependable car. It seems like more than I could ever ask for already. But you know what. There is more I would like to do and if I ask He will provide. Even though I feel like He has already done more than I could ever think or image....He will still provide more. And He demonstrated that to me by providing for this visa expense before I even knew to ask! That is how great our God is. He guides us and protects us. He heals us and makes a way for us to succeed at everything we put our hands to....and He gives us every good gift on top of all of this. So, now I'm asking God.....for money to be able to pay income taxes, for money to buy furniture for the house I'll rent, for money to cover the expenses of traveling into other parts of Africa a few times per year to do leadership trainings, for money to help with the costs of programs and outreaches in Cape Town, for South African friends to laugh with, for supernatural opportunities to touch people's lives that I normally would not get the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with, for the opportunity to partner with Him in order to see people all over Africa rise up into the destiny He has for them.....and I may ask Him for even more :) That Psalm 67 is fulfilled "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us that His ways may be know upon the earth, His salvation amoung the nations." Amen!