Picking up the story where I left off... It was March 2014. I was about to go on holiday but just found out I had to move out of my current flat. I had no idea where I would live when I returned in three weeks. Was it even worth returning to Australia?
The very next day! Yeah God! An opportunity opened for me to move in with one of my friends who was about to move into a new apartment and needed another housemate. This was the confirmation I needed that God was not ending my season in Sydney just yet.
When I got back from my holiday, I only had less than a month before my visa expired. I had several promising job applications in process, so I wasn't too worried. The days continued to tick away one by one. Eventually I realized I was running out of time. I switched from a work visa to a visitor visa that allowed me a few more months to figure out what I was going to do. However, now that I couldn't work anymore I had to rely on my dwindling savings account to keep me going. I diligently searched for any other positions that might offer me a sponsorship, and applied for numerous additional positions. One-by-one, each door closed. This was extremely frustrating, as each time I went back to God asking if He wanted me to stay in Australia I was met with verse after verse about receiving my inheritance and walking into the promised land.
During this time of uncertainty I was continually amazed at the love and support from my friends and church family in Sydney. They faithfully stood with me in prayer each week, asking God for the breakthrough. Regardless of the outcome I knew I was loved and cared for. Nearly six months of living day-to-day wondering where God was taking me was draining. I relied heavily on the strength and support of others, as I had reached the end of my emotional capacity to deal with this on my own. This was a painful and challenging time period, but looking back I can see it was due to the quick growth. It reminded me of childhood and the muscle cramps I used to get when I was going through a growth spurt. The fastest stretching and growing pains are certainly the most uncomfortable ones.
I was down to my final month and beginning to contemplate whether I should start looking at plane tickets, when I found out the church had just been approved as a sponsor for religious visas. Was this my open door? The church had already selected and lined up three overseas interns for the upcoming year, so I wasn't sure if they would be able to take me on as well. I prayed about pursuing a full-time internship with the church anyways. I was overwhelmed by God's peace and joy and knew with confidence this was my open door. A few days later I presented my request to the lead pastors. Although the church had not budgeted for a fourth intern, they felt that God was going to provide, so they said "Yes"! Within a few days I was buried in the land of visa documentation and furiously tracking down forms and paperwork I had never heard of. A few, whirlwind days later I mailed my packet off, and a few days after that I was granted my bridging visa that allows me to stay in Sydney while everything else is processed. Oh yeah, and this was just days before I left to go on the ministry trip to Bega. Needless to say it was a bit of a chaotic time, but once it was finished I was able to relax and really enjoy the ministry trip.
If I thought the first year in Australia was challenging enough trying to build a church in its infancy, this second year has already pushed me to another level of faith and trusting God. Please continue to join me in prayer that my religious visa is granted quickly and that I am able to finish raising all of the financial support I need for the next year. As I am working for the church and cannot seek outside employment, I am solely relying on the generosity of friends, family, and others who want to further God's work in Australia. For more information about my internship, check out my
website. To Him Who is able, be ALL the glory!
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