and so it begins

Part of my prayer in coming to London was that i would be challenged and uprooted from my confort zone. When you think of London you dont really think that it would be a challenge like that... But it is and I am so glad.

Its not like moving to a third world country of course but it has already challenged my materialism and my sense of what I am entitled to.

When we arrived in London we arrived at our house and through no fault of anyone our lights did not work and neither did the hot water and our house was small. I knew it was going to be but i was still shocked.

Due to being over tired and overwhelmed I cried over these things. And i was a little irritated.

Then the Lord gently chastised me for my hypocrisy. Did you not sign up for this? Why are you caught up in trivial things? You have a beautiful house and its your problem that you bought to many things to fill it.

God said to me on Day one...this journey will be a blessing but I will strip you of things in your life that hold you back from truly serving me.

So it begins and I praise God for that.

PS Here is the thing, it is the most beautiful house...i love it so much. We have been so blessed and so well taken care of. I am so deeply ashamed of how "things and where I was going to put them" took center stage that first day.

We also got to spend two weeks with Ashishs parents which was amazing. In my irritation I could have missed that blessing.

We have nothing at all to complain about.

So it begins....the stripping away...Lord have your way.

taking flight

Our flight over to London was one big blessing and answer to prayer.

First up the international airport in Atlanta is wonderful. It is big and spacious and not at all crowded.

Our amazing,friends Matt and Daynes and their girls dropped us off and that was just a true gift to our family. Brittaney, Priya's teacher came and also said goodbye and that meant so much to us. Check was so easy and they did not,charge us for our extra bags and were very kind to us.

Security check in also went smoothly. I was amazed at how smooth. Big relief for me as luggage check in and security give me anxiety.

The actual flight was great and went rather quickly even with Alina on my lap the whole time.

Alina and Priya did so well on the flight and Priya was so excited to finally be going to London.

When we arrived in London going through customs was quick and they were so friendly to us (total shock) and it was a very painless process.

I was pretty numb the whole flight really. I was amazed at this dream coming true but also overwhelmed. I had not really allowed myself to get emotional saying goodbye to people because i knew if I started I would not stop. So on the plane I was trying to process that and also just shocked we were actually on our way.
I was in awe God but also allowing myself to grieve for the amazing friends we were leaving behind. It had also been such a long wait and so on the plane I felt like I could breathe as we had finally made it.

I felt the favor of the Lord was truly on us for our departure and arrival and I know that is because people were praying for us. Thank you friends!!

Next up is our arrival day and well it was a doozy.....so stay tuned.

Fond Farewells

So its been while...but we are finally in London. Wow dream come true, but before we talk about London I need to backtrack for a few blog entries and talk about getting here.

We ended up staying in Atlanta for about 9 weeks so we were ready to finally leave when we did but it was still not easy to say goodbye to wonderful friends.

We have truly been blessed with wonderful friends in our life and the last two weeks there provided precious opportunities to spend quality time with friends.

First a week at bible conference and then a week in Atlanta. Dinners, brunch dates, day trips, birthday celebrations and just special times.

So hard to say goodbye to people that have truly blessed and enriched my life and that of family but i am so thankful to God for each person and know that distance wont change the impact or blessing they are.

Just incredibly grateful to God for those extra days with friends, gave me strength to leave.

It's really happening

We got news this week that our VISA's were approved! Wow! Praise God indeed.
I was so excited I jumped up and down in the elevator and did a little dance.

There has never been a time that God hasn't eventually answered all my prayers. Seriously The Lord has always answered and given me my deepest desires and every time he does I am challenged by the fact that I always let doubt creep in when there is a delay in the answer.

I have testimony after testimony of his answers... So I need to stop doubting that he hears me. I really need to just learn to fully trust...to trust even in the delay.

So here we are...visa in hand, ready to go!

Thank you Lord for answered prayers, thank you for your grace even in the doubt and fear that creeps in. Thank you for your favor!!!

Fear and Anxiety

So I have been very anxious the last few days and today was the worst of it.

I am a bit of a control freak. I like to be in control and I like to know the outcome of things.  I like order and feeling settled.

Right now I have no control over anything and it freaks me out completely.

I need something to control and to be able to know the outcome.

There are two things that really really freak me out and I panic.

One is filling out ViSA and other immigration paperwork and the other is going through customs at the airport.

Immigration stuff freaks me out . It is so serious and going to immigration offices makes me feel like a criminal. My anxiety level is always a 10.

Today I had to go to immigration and I needed a certain paper before we could get in. I did not have it and had to leave and get it and then come back. It was an easy fix but as soon I got in the car I cried. I had been on edge about this visit for days and I just felt like I messed up.

We came back and got our bio metrics done and we were told to send our papers in within 2
Weeks.

This created  even more anxiety because I would have to send them by myself and what if I made a mistake etc etc .

I just wanted it all out of my hands.

This fear and anxiety I have is not of God. It is the enemy and he is trying to destroy what should be joyful and exciting times . He comes and steals my joy, causes me to try and control things (which never works out) and causes my anxiety level to sky rocket.

I am working hard to find peace in The Lord. To release control of this whole situation. Trying to memorize scripture that will sink deep into my heart.

I think it is about surrender too. By holding onto tightly we don't let The Lord take over and it kind of becomes an idol to us.

I try to think ... So that's the worst that can happen if this does not work out... And usually the worst is not as bad as I think.

I also think that these situations are teaching me to trust in The Lord more...complete trust. When I think I can control any of these things that is pride.  When I begin to think any of it is about me , then that is when I begin to feel fear and anxiety .

This opportunity, this appointment comes from The Lord. He will have HIS way. I do not need to fear the outcome.


What are the things you are fearful and anxious about? Maybe it's time to release them to The Lord.

So Pray....

As we are sitting here in our temporary apartment at the EBC, another week has gone by and I wonder what the next week will hold.

Hopefully there will be some forward movement in regards to our visa and departure date. I am getting a little restless here.

The Lord though has been speaking to me and challenging me to use this time wisely. At first I did not know what that looks like, and how to make it happen when I have two little girls ( one of them stuck to me like glue) but I hear him say ... SO PrAY.

I know he is calling me to pray about many things...
1) my grief over leaving my corps and things  happening there... SO Pray
2) my future appointment and my anxiety over that... SO pray
3) my concern over  our visa application .. SO pray
4) tensions and war in Israel and Gazza .... SO pray
5) horrific situation against Christians in Iraq ... SO pray

So many things to pray for...and I have time... SO I will pray...

I hope you will join me ... Maybe the only bring we can do is PRAY

The wait

I read on a blog recently that "if moving overseas was easy, everyone would be doing it"... So true.

Moving overseas is not super easy and not for the faint of heart. There is a lot sitting around and waiting, coupled with spurts of super busy running around and then more sitting around and waiting.

We had hoped to be in London by now, alas it is not to be. In fact we probably have another month to go. It is at times frustrating, funny and a blessing.

It's frustrating because we really could have been in London by now if people just communicated with each other and if instructions were clear. The reasons we are not in London right now is because some times the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing or what they should be doing or who should be doing it.

It is funny because sometimes the left hand does not know what the left hand is doing or what the left hand has done. Kind of like a comedy of errors. When the  last thing happened I was able to laugh because the night before The Lord had spoke some scripture into my life.. That prepared my heart for the craziness of the next day. :)

It's a blessing because we get to spend time with friends and we get to spend time with each other. We get to read and rest.

I am ready though... I am ready to be settled in my home. I am ready for my kids to be able to have a routine and meet new friends and have their toys back.

I am ready for a ministry and something to do.

But here we are .... Waiting... But I have no doubt in a few days we will be rushing around trying to get paperwork done and then we will wait some more!

That's just the way it is. If it was easy... Everyone would do it