I Found an Ally

Well, here I am. Still in Kansas City. Bored out of my mind!!!!
I cannot apply for a visitor's visa. The reason is because HTB ran this whole internship program by the British Government and they were told the appropriate visa to apply for was the TWES Permit. Even if there is no payment involved it is the visa I have to have. If I try to enter the UK another way it could compromise my ability to enter the country in the future. It could also compromise HTB's ability to have visas granted in the future. So......I just have to wait and see if the second attempt is successful.
One of the other interns who was denied a visa is a guy from the United States. I don't know how he knew I was the other person, but somehow he figured it out and emailed me. I was so excited to get the email so that I could talk to someone else who was going through the exact same thing. His name is Kegan and he lives in Lexington Kentucky. He has a facebook page and I checked it out and all I can say is that WE SHOULD BOTH BE IN LONDON RIGHT NOW!!!! And, if everybody over there is as cool as he is, I'm totally missing out.

From Ottis Schoenberger

Sara, well I admire your choice and hard work in doing a big task for the lord. I do believe he wants you to go but who knows maybe where you are now is the place he wants or needs you to be. I remember reading your (family blog/website) some time ago and reading a story of you and a little boy (Andrew) if I can remember correctly when you just happen to miss a flight or wasn't granted a seat or something and there he was scared and lonely flying alone and you where there to help him out. Always keep in mind that you are in a place where our lord wants and needs you. Look around and I bet you can find something that he is needing you to do before you leave. It is great to read the stories already adn it will happen I know it. Love you and be safe the Schoenberger family in Minnesota

Not Good News.

This morning when I woke up I ran to my computer just like I have every single day for the past two weeks to see if there was any news about my visa and guess what......today there was news. Very disappointing news. They received word from the British Government that my request for a TWES Permit was unsuccessful. Mainly because of my qualifications and experience. What? Isn't that why you get TRAINING? To gain qualifications and experience??? Anyway, seven out of ten permits were granted. Three were not. Funny, seven and three are my lucky numbers. Not anymore, I guess. So, they are going to resubmit the paperwork and try again but informed me not to get my hopes up because it is unlikely that the second attempt will be any more successful than the first. I believe that I must have gotten the meanest, nastiest, most evil jerk to process my application and am hoping this time I get a very pretty, friendly, sweet angel.

But, we aren't giving up so easily. Kirk and I are going to see if there is any other way for me to enter the UK and participate in the program. We're exploring a visitor visa instead of a training visa. I have come too far and overcome too many obstacles to give up now. I didn't think there was any way Southwest Airlines would grant me a leave of absence....but they did. I didn't think I could raise enough money.....but I did.

I am feeling a lot of different emotions right now. Mostly I'm confused as to what the message is supposed to be in all of this. I have felt very strongly from the beginning of this journey that God wants me to go to London and participate in this program. Why else would He clear my schedule the way He has and make it possible? But, we don't always understand His plan and I'm trying really hard to just accept that. I still believe that if He wants me to go, He'll get me there.

Ding! A Light Just Went On.

Ok, so I've been sitting here for about a week/week and a half praying, hoping, and believing that my "work visa" would come through. I even asked Dane Butler if I could come without it because I was SURE the only reason I needed it was because HTB would be paying me a very small stipend for the internship. He informed me that the "TWES Permit" was not quite that straight forward and encouraged me to keep waiting. So, as I'm waiting and stewing and hoping and wondering why I can't just waive the stipend and get my arse to the UK without it, it finally occurred to me to find out exactly what the "TWES Permit" is. So I googled it. And, it's not a "work permit." It's a TRAINING permit!!!!!! So, that is why I can't just waive the stipend and get my arse over there. Even if I go and don't get paid for it, I'll still be receiving TRAINING!!!!! Well, it doesn't make me any happier about not being there, but it does clear up a few questions in my mind. Google.....who knew?

All Packed up with No Place to Go!

I think I might just go insane. I have never felt like I have less control of a situation in my entire life. Gee, I wonder who could be trying to teach me a lesson like that. Anyway, I still haven't received the Visa and it's driving me crazy. Today was the start date for the Internship and all I can think about is that I'm missing out on something. But, I'm trying to stay positive and realize that I'll get there when I am supposed to. I just don't wanna miss the "Punting Trip" a.k.a. Alpha Weekend. That won't happen until sometime in October.

Also, I am a HUGE sports fan and my favorite sport is College Football. Since I will be out of the Country for almost the entire football season, someone who would send me updates of scores from around the nation would probably become my new BFF. (Best Friend Forever)

Loveyameanit,
Sarah

Where's the Visa???!!!!

You know....like "Where's the Beef?"

Ok. So, this is the blog I have set up to keep you all informed about how things are going in London. I will do my best to keep it updated. I also have Skype on my computer so if you have that you should "Skype" me!!

So, where's the Visa?? I don't know. I was all set to leave this Wednesday, Sept 3. I was going to fly to Chicago and spend the night there and fly to London out of O'Hare on Thursday, Sept 4th at 8:25 pm. But, I got an email from Dane Butler, the person in charge of the Interns at Holy Trinity Brompton, saying that they haven't received the TWES Work Permits (work Visa) for some of us yet. So, they can't book the flights until they receive the permits. So, I'm waiting...... No, it isn't ideal and I would much rather have everything in place to go, but I trust that it will all work out. Even if I have to arrive later than I wanted to. As my sister keeps reminding me, "Has anybody died?" No. "Then quit worrying about it. You have no control over it." Thank you, Carrie (Larry).

So, if you are a praying person, please pray for a speedy arrival of my work permit. Otherwise just send me as much positive energy as you have to spare!!

I love you all and thank you so much for all of your support, prayers, and positive words!