VEE Day 2 - Has the Day of Miracles Ceased?

 When we received our mission call to the England London Mission, it was early 2019.  We were excited and grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord again, but now with Dave and Deb.  However, it wasn't long before we noticed that our visas, which someone in the church had applied for, expired on October 2, 2020.  We called it to the attention of the travel office, and were told that there was no way to rectify it, until three months before it expired,  Since that was a loooong way off, we put our worries on hold.  

On September 9, 2019 we entered the MTC, and on September 21, we touched down in London.  By the end of the month we were comfortably settled in Oxford, and by the end of the year, we were more than delighted to be here.  We fell in love with Oxford, with the marvelous young adults, with the ward(s) members, and with the young missionaries.  We counted our blessings daily....and they were many.

By January and February, we were hearing rumblings about a virus, that seemed only vaguely troubling.  By March, there was talk of sending home the missionaries who might have health challenges.  On March 11, 2020 one of young Oxford missionaries came to our flat with her companion.  She was in tears and so very distraught that she had to return to her home in Utah by week's end.

But early the next morning, we got the fateful call from Dave, "Brace yourselves....you are going home.  Please be into our London flat by tomorrow night." 

We got there in time for dinner with most of the other senior couples, and flew out of Heathrow Airport very very early the next morning aboard a packed airplane.  We arrive home, feeling like we had been thrown off a ride at an amusement park, slightly dizzy and confused.

Our daughters looked after us like the tender souls they are and we settled in for what - we didn't know.

We prayed and prayed and prayed and did whatever we could to be ready if the Lord saw fit to send us back.  I have written this before.  Our prayers were always "Please let us return and finish our mission."  Finally, sometime in late July or early August, we began praying, "IF it by thy will, can we go back...and we will accept whatever that is."  By September, we were back here in Oxford.

We immediately set to work on submitting the application for extension papers (which can only be submitted from inside the UK), knowing we had limited time.  Once they were in, the government considered us legal until a judgment was reached.

So we have been praying with undaunted fervor, until these last few weeks.  Our church travel person, Anna, who lives in Manchester has been in contact with us throughout.  She told us from the outset that it would be a miracle if we were allowed to stay, much less stay another 6 to 8 months.  She said she has never known anyone who received an extension, especially with all that has been going on with COVID.

She contacted us last week, saying that it was not a good sign that we hadn't heard from visa department.  Within a couple of days of hearing from her, we heard from the visa office that they needed a new document which our friend Anna got off to us immediately.

In the last month, once again, we have changed our prayers to "We trust in thy will."

Last Tuesday, SK received the notice saying his visa had been extended until September 13, and I received mine today saying that I can stay til September 5.  

Anna was incredulous and so excited when I called.  She even sounded a little emotional as she congratulated us....telling us that this was truly a miracle.



We opened our bubbly apple pear juice and toasted to the blessing that came today.  SK was all broken up.  Our hearts are full.  We are more grateful than we can express.  Not only do we have more time to serve in this beautiful place, but it seems to us like a reinforcement from Heavenly Father that we can be useful here.

We will order in Five Guys Hamburgers tomorrow to further celebrate.  Tonight we had some delicious ham and potato soup - thanks to Lia for the recipe.




Comments

Lia said…
Ah! I'm thrilled!
February 8, 2021 at 8:06 PM
Erin said…
I am thrilled as well! Your post got me “broken up.”
February 8, 2021 at 9:45 PM
melissa said…
I think we will break out some Martinelli’s tonight, too!
February 9, 2021 at 3:54 AM
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