How plans change...

Well I really don’t know how to begin this update but as I alluded to in the previous post I discovered for a fact that September is a crazy month.  For those of you who don’t know I am actually currently in Vancouver, Canada and I get to be here until December 27^th.  To hear how this occurred just read on…

Since June 2012 I have been receiving verbal confirmations from MA-35 (Vienna’s Visa Authorities) of a temporary residential permit for Austria. But I have been waiting since June to receive physical confirmation of this permit such as a letter and an ID Card.  Due to the lack of staff in the summer I was told my letter was to come in the mail but it never came.  I diligently returned to the MA-35 office every month asking about the letter and the officials would tell me it was coming.  I went back in to the MA-35 on Monday September 17^th asking about my case; unfortunately that day I was informed that I actually did not received the permit I was waiting for.  I was informed that I was misinformed all summer while I was waiting for my physical confirmations of the permit. 

After seeking advice of officials and others who have been in similar situations as this one it was made clear to me that I need to get out of the EU as quickly as possible and return to Canada. I left for Vancouver, Canada September 26^th and I am returning back to Vienna on December 27^th to reapply for another residency permit in Austria.  I have to stay out of the EU for three months to in a sense “wipe my slate clean” and then be clear to reapply.

After making my decision to leave the EU I had a week until my homeward bound flight.  There was a large amount of things I had to get done but the Lord provided the strength and the time for all of it to happen.  Also reflecting back these three months will be the longest amount of time I have been at home in about 5 years.  It will be time well spent especially if the Lord wants me to stay overseas for a while.

After a match against Katey and Katelyn's Team with one of our faithful cheerleaders in the background!

I am going to miss being in Vienna during the fall and witnessing the transition to Christmas season.  I will also miss playing soccer, doing the many Surge Activities and being involved at CIG, my Church in Vienna.  But I hope that over my three months at home I find time to improve my German and get involved in my home church plus taking time to rest and listen to the Lord and get some clarifications about future plans.

Even with the sudden change in plans I am glad to be home and I am excited to see what God is going to do with these three months in Canada. 

 

 

 

View of the front and back of my home in Canada

 

Prayer Request:

Time/Ability to rest and slow things down

Discernment of what the Lord wants me to do with my time here and my future

Ambition to Study German and find places to speak it

Make new friends and strengthen the old ones while I am at home

 

Thanks for all your support and prayers,

All for God, Gillian