Asya has a visa to get residency in Ukraine! I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. We recently asked for extra prayer for both Raia and Asya. We're seeing lots of answers to those prayers. Please keep praying for both girls, and for all of us.
On Thursday Asya and I got on a bus to travel to Krakow. We trip was long, but went smoothly. The border guard on the way out hassled Asya a little about supposedly overstaying in Ukraine, but he couldn't fine us, as he seemed to want to. We spent the night in a hostel, and the next morning was just miraculous. We have never gotten a visa so easily. Never. Please remember, Raia's visa application was turned down two years ago, so we went into this with a lot of fear and trepidation. It's been hanging over us for quite a while now. Raia had other plans and options, so being refused was sad, but not a disaster. It felt like Asya just had to get this and didn't have much of a chance.
We got to the Ukrainian embassy right on time for Asya's appointment, they took our documents, and told us where to go pay. At that point we got a little turned around, because my phone wasn't wanting to connect to Polish internet to follow their map to the bank. But we figured it out, paid, and went back. They took the receipt and told us to have a seat because there was someone in line in front of us. A few minutes later they called us back, we thought to ask questions and go over all the papers, but no, the man told Asya to sit for her photo and do her fingerprints. And then I saw that he was already printing her visa! We just couldn't believe it! Like I said, always before there have been questions, or something that needs to be added or changed, or even just "come back later to get your visa." This time he didn't ask a single question and printed the visa out and stuck it into her passport right then! He laughed a little at how excited we were.
After that we celebrated by going to a modern art museum (Asya) and walking along the river (me) and dinner at a restaurant (both of us, of course). We spent another night in the hostel, and got back on another bus for another all-day trip.
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| So strange to see! |
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| Lots of memories here |
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| And here. She was shocked by how small the dragon is. |
The next morning we hosted 80-90 people at our house for the church Harvest Holiday/Thanksgiving. To quote our pastor we were "on the vibes of thankfulness," even if Asya and I were exhausted from our travels. The holiday was beautiful. Honestly, I didn't even see much of it, because I was so busy with the kids. I only had a little planned part in doing a cooking activity with all the Sunday school kids, but I also kept the little ones whose parents were running everything busy and happy the whole time. I know there were a lot of people, there was praise and worship, a short message and small group discussions, and lots of good food. An amazing wedding photographer from the church took photos and posted them here; I'm picking out some of hers and some of ours for this.
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| Leadership team |
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| A little visitor I have babysat |
Two of my biggest thankfulnesses right now are for Asya's visa and that we can live in this house, where we can be a part of a beautiful day like this.
Now that Asya has a visa, we'll need to apply for her residency card. That means gathering another set of documents, figuring out where to turn them in, and then registration. It should be all downhill from here, but you can keep praying for the process.
