Spring has certainly sprung in the British Isles. It's been lovely to watch all the flowers stretch from their earthy beds and branches and greet the sunshine we've been so blessed to have so much of lately. Although spring brings allergies along with it, I'm enjoying it the best way I can - with camera in hand. So when the clouds return, and when flowers fade, I'll have them captured forever...minus the sneezing.
This is a picture of my empty keychain. I've always had keys to something since grade school. House keys, car keys, office keys, church keys, my parent's house keys...I could go on. But since my first set of house keys at 10 or 11 years old I have never had an empty keychain.
Along with everything else in my life right now, this seems symbolic and significant. I am between homes, between jobs and between worlds. The incredible excitement I feel about this next phase of my life has only been matched by the deep sadness I feel about having said goodbye to the people and city that is so integral to who I am and what I chose to do.
That being said, I’ve had an amazing welcome from everyone here. “Open arms” doesn’t begin to describe the greeting and hospitality I have received from the moment I left the airport. It still feels a bit early to really establish a sense of routine, and I’m not sure that I’ll truly have one in the sense that I’m used to. But I’m really enjoying the things that make this place uniquely itself, and I’m finding myself feeling quite familiar and comfortable in this lovely country.
Aside from the obvious things like sorting out my work visa and getting familiar with 24-7 and the things that (once my visa is in hand) will be my job, I feel this transition time I need to reconsider some of my paradigms. One of the things I did at my last church service was to take vows of ordination. In my humble opinion that was a very weighty thing, and I want to take time to really consider the ramifications of those vows, and how this new commitment must affect my paradigm and my future actions. I see the community I’m now connecting to as one that nurtures and fosters an atmosphere conducive to this kind of contemplation and soul-searching, and there are many that I think will be a good sounding board for me in this season.
So overall I’m happy, healthy and settling in nicely. Thanks to everyone that has been praying for me, and that continue to do so. I definitely feel it and appreciate it more than I can articulate.
Getting ready to move to another continent in four weeks was rather intense. Lots of late nights and a whirlwind of activity made a small window of time feel even smaller. In the end I made it to the airport with 2 carry-on bags and 2 bags to check, with a small stack of boxes left with my friend/housemate Kathleen to ship later. Unfortunately one of the bags was so far over the weight limit that the airline was going to charge me a $470 fee, but the attendant told me that I could use a box she would provide and the 3rd piece of luggage would only be subject to a $150 fee - which honestly didn't sound so bad at that point.
So we did it, and Dad offered to pay the fee, which the man who checked me in graciously changed to only $50, as well as upgrading me (without my knowledge) to economy plus on the long-haul flight from San Francisco to London. Since there were nearly 70 empty seats on the long flight, and many were in economy plus, I had my own 2-seat row, as well as empty seats in the rows in front and back of me. I put my chair and my feet where I wanted and was the most comfortable I have ever been on a flight. I even slept about 5 of the 9 hours we flew - something I had never done!
Then I arrived at Heathrow. I knew customs would be tricky, but I had no idea how tricky! Since I had a one-way ticket with no set return date, I figured it would go badly for me if I was vague, so I purposed in my heart to be honest and prayed that God would give me the answers that would only say what was needed and no more. Americans are allowed in the UK as a visitor for up to 6 months as long as they don't look for employment or try to draw on public funds while they are there as a visitor. I was counting on this time to work out my visa so I could become a bonafide employee of 24-7 Prayer when the visa came through.
When the questions started I said that I was coming in as a visitor but would be working on getting a minister of religion visa once I was here. He told me that I could not do that from the UK, and that I had to go back to the US to do that. He wanted to know for whom I would be working when I got the visa, and in what capacity. Needless to say, every answer led to more questions. I explained that I had researched on the UK Border Agency website (their INS) as well as sending email inquiries to the contact addresses listed on their site, and the information I found and replies I received were generic but all said that as an American I could be in the country for up to 6 months as a visitor, but if my status was to change I should go to a specific address in London to address it. And of course the man in customs said that was wrong, and ended up calling Pete (the friend picking me up, and someone I will also be working with at 24-7 Prayer) and pretty much getting the same story...because it is true! :o)
After more than an hour I was told I could come through as a visitor for the normal 6 months, but I would absolutely need to go back to the States at some point soon to apply for the visa. He said it really all came down to whether or not he believed me, and he said he did, but under no circumstances was I to do any work for 24-7 as anything but strictly a volunteer basis, and that the issue was that he did not want me working for them illegally, and if I did it would go very badly for me and anyone else involved. I assured him I want to do everything above board and that I was incredibly thankful for his concession.
So as you gather, I now face a new set of challenges. Any expense stipend that would normally be okay to be given to a volunteer will possibly be construed as breaking the rules in my case, so even expenses cannot be covered by 24-7 until my visa is worked out. I'm in the process of verifying that I really do need to go back to the US to get a visa, but fortunately I have a good window of time to sort it out. Unfortunately that means that the small amount of monthly support I have raised will now have to cover expenses that were going to be covered by 24-7's stipend.
I know that this didn't take God by surprise, so I continue to trust Him, and I have a remarkable sense of peace about it all. I'm also incredibly grateful and humbled by the generosity of friends and family who put money in cards and letters. Your words of encouragement, love and support touched my heart, but now your gifts mean that much more to me as well.
Being here is really wonderful. I don't start work (for now as a volunteer!) until Monday, so I've had the past couple days to take it easy, get over jet lag and hang out with my friends. Shirley (with whom I am staying) and Pete have been so good to me, making sure I'm comfortable and have everything I need. Their care and friendship are a huge encouragement as Pete and I both try to work out this visa mess. It feels very normal to be here, and I find I have to make myself notice things like the cars on the other side of the road, or the fact that my vocabulary is slipping back into Brit-English more than US-English. Last night I took the train to meet Pete and spent the evening with him and his friends at their favorite pub. Tomorrow is church at Greyfriars in Reading and Monday I hit the ground running. It is proving to be an adventure getting settled, but all things considered I'm feeling very exited and blessed to be doing this.
The specific things I could use prayer for are:
• Wisdom for myself and 24-7 in understanding the process of their getting licensed to sponsor me and for me getting my visa
• Favor with all government officials involved
• Protection from misunderstanding or undue scrutiny for myself and 24-7 from the Border Agency
• Stretching and multiplication of the funds I currently have so that I'll have enough to live on and still be able to pay for my visa
That's about all there is to tell right now. I'm off to see what's on UK TV on a Saturday night.
It doesn't feel like I'm actually leaving. I have only had moments of feeling how distant I will soon be from the community that has made me who I am. I love Portland so much that it seems funny to me that I'm so excited to leave it. But I am.
I have been so focused on the disposing and dispersing of my earthly goods that I haven't actually tackled the business of packing. So here I am with one day left and I'm really not sure how I'm going to get it all done. I will, I just don't know how right now.
Okay. No time for blogging. Back to work. More soon...
