Dancing the VISA Dance

50% was our first goal and we made it and started the VISA process.  It seemed all so simple - gather a few pieces of paper, turn them in to the embassy, and get the VISA back - then when we reach 100% get on an airplane.  Sounded easy.... but our coach at SEND called it a dance and I didn't really know what she meant -until last week.

There are two parts to dancing - 1)  knowing the steps and 2) timing.  I can figure out the steps and keep them in order, but I have no control over the timing.  Of course, this process is another lesson in faith!

Here is the process ahead of us -

• Supervisor in Spain request letters of invitation - once they are received we have 30 days to present our completed application to the Spanish consulate in Washington, DC
• Be fingerprinted and complete a FBI criminal background check
• Gather the following paperwork:
• New copies of birth certificates and marriage certificates for everyone - they must be hand signed and issued within the last 90 days - of course I was born in Florida, Scott in Cairo, and the kids were at least both here in Greensboro
• New passports for the kids because they had less than 12 months left on their passports (thank goodness Scott and I were good)
• Letters from the doctors that say we have no communicable diseases, addictions, and mental health issues - of course we all have different doctors with different processes for this
• Letter from SEND saying we have international health insurance
• Send all the official documents off to the Secretary of State in the state they were issued to receive an Apostille Letter (stating they are official and legal documents)
• Take all the documents to a certified Spanish translator
• Finish all this within the 30 days of the letter of invitation being received and make an appointment with the Spanish Consulate in Washington DC and all four of us go apply in person
• Wait.....Pray... Wait... Pray
• When the consulate's office calls and says the VISAs are ready we have 30 days to pick them up and 30 days to register an address in Spain

So we know the steps of this dance, but have to trust God for the timing.  We cannot leave for Spain until we are at 100% of our monthly support and have sold the house and etc.  This is where the dance gets fun and could involve you.  If you are praying about joining our financial team, now is the time.  We have no control over the timing with the embassy - they could be fast or they could be slow.  All our paperwork has been requested and we hope to start sending things off to the Secretary of States this coming week.  Our fingerprints are sent off.  Now we just wait and "dance."

I've never been a good dancer - I have no rhythm - so this will definitely be a dance controlled by God!