Eighteen days ago we packed our bags, left our jobs, said goodbye to friends, and headed for our grandparent's place to await our departure to England. Eighteen days and here we are, no visas, no plane tickets, nothing. We never would have anticipated it would take this long, but then again, we never anticipated we would ever be going to England. The lessons that can be learned in life will pass by if you don't stop for a minute and intentionally take notice. So instead of searching every angle of reason, or why God does things the way He does, we hold to one thing. He's got it covered.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
-Romans 8:26-31
Friday, September 24, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
England...almost there
This past few days Manuel and I have been busy packing and moving out of our apartment of 3 months, to stay with my wonderful grandparents in Shingle Springs for a few days to await the final part of our visa process. All we have left to do is wait. Which is a hard thing to do, but hey, it strengthens us right?
Our small apartment was filled more than we realized...thank goodness grandma and grandpa came down to help us out, we wouldn't have made it without their truck!
As we drove down highway 80 we had to stop a few times and tighten the loads, but grandpa's knot knowledge was put to good use. :)
Our small apartment was filled more than we realized...thank goodness grandma and grandpa came down to help us out, we wouldn't have made it without their truck!
As we drove down highway 80 we had to stop a few times and tighten the loads, but grandpa's knot knowledge was put to good use. :)
Grandpa's truck
Our truck.
Please keep us in prayer as we wait that God would work out everything we need in order to pass this application process. We'll keep you posted once we get the visas and our airline tickets.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
England...still waiting
As you may have been keeping up with both mine and Manuel's facebook posts as of a few Mondays ago when we received the invitation to be intern directors in England, you may have noticed, we're still in the states.
Due to the kind of work we'll be doing with the interns and among the different charities we are connected with, we were told last week that we need a visa called Tier 5 Charity Workers Visa. Sound like a mouthful? Try explaining it to someone over the phone when English is not their second language, e.i. the travel agent. This visa will allow us to have much more freedom in what we can do while we're there and possibly give us the ability to earn money as well.
The upside is that we are on top of it and with my last day of work being last week, I'm able to devote much time to preparing for our interview which we had scheduled on Tuesday of this week. Yesterday to be exact.
That brings me to the downside. Because of the nature of this visa, we're facing a lot of paperwork and details we've never had to do before. Such as this interview which Manuel and I were on our way to, when we had a tire blow out on highway 80, in the fast-lane. Thankfully Manuel is a skilled driver and might I say tire replacer, but unfortunately we didn't make it to our appointments and we've had to reschedule for Friday the 3rd.
We've gone back and forth in the first few weeks with a little worry or frustration, but we've both come to agree that we completely trust God will work everything out. With all the roadblocks we're coming up to, it must be a great opportunity that the enemy is trying to thwart. Please keep us in your prayers and believe with us that Friday's interviews will go well and our visas will be given quickly.
Due to the kind of work we'll be doing with the interns and among the different charities we are connected with, we were told last week that we need a visa called Tier 5 Charity Workers Visa. Sound like a mouthful? Try explaining it to someone over the phone when English is not their second language, e.i. the travel agent. This visa will allow us to have much more freedom in what we can do while we're there and possibly give us the ability to earn money as well.
The upside is that we are on top of it and with my last day of work being last week, I'm able to devote much time to preparing for our interview which we had scheduled on Tuesday of this week. Yesterday to be exact.
That brings me to the downside. Because of the nature of this visa, we're facing a lot of paperwork and details we've never had to do before. Such as this interview which Manuel and I were on our way to, when we had a tire blow out on highway 80, in the fast-lane. Thankfully Manuel is a skilled driver and might I say tire replacer, but unfortunately we didn't make it to our appointments and we've had to reschedule for Friday the 3rd.
We've gone back and forth in the first few weeks with a little worry or frustration, but we've both come to agree that we completely trust God will work everything out. With all the roadblocks we're coming up to, it must be a great opportunity that the enemy is trying to thwart. Please keep us in your prayers and believe with us that Friday's interviews will go well and our visas will be given quickly.
England...Why not?
Well, Family, most of you already know the Coelho's big news, but we thought we'd officially announce it.
We're moving to England!
On Monday the 16th Manuel got an offer from One Hope's Paul Walker to join the U.K's Broadcasting internship as the Intern Director for at least 3 months. He took me out to dinner, our favorite Don Perico's, and said, "Baby, are you ready for our life to change?" I was, to say the least, a bit astonished when he told me of the opportunity and that the start date for the internship was Sept. 1st. Only a few weeks away.
We prayed about it and felt as though God had answered our prayer that we had been praying over and over since we read the book "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" (that's a mouthful isn't it?). We had asked God to put a risk in front of us that we may take it....sound risky to you?
We called Paul the next day and asked for more details and within 2 days we had made the decision to take the position. Not only would it allow for Manuel to continue to do what He's been doing here (as no interns were signed up for this year in Napa, it was perfect timing) but it would allow for me to come alongside and join him in ministry, doing what we both dream to do, making leaders in every country.
God has completely taken care of every finance, every need that has come up, and has made preparations in advance for our coming, we were so blessed to find out everything would be paid for.
As for an official departure date, we are waiting on our visas to be processed and we'll let you know as soon as we know. They've graciously pushed back the start date of the internship to Sept. 13th or 20th so we have enough time to get there, get settled, and know our way around.
And so begins our new chapter in our marriage and ministry!
We're moving to England!
On Monday the 16th Manuel got an offer from One Hope's Paul Walker to join the U.K's Broadcasting internship as the Intern Director for at least 3 months. He took me out to dinner, our favorite Don Perico's, and said, "Baby, are you ready for our life to change?" I was, to say the least, a bit astonished when he told me of the opportunity and that the start date for the internship was Sept. 1st. Only a few weeks away.
We prayed about it and felt as though God had answered our prayer that we had been praying over and over since we read the book "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" (that's a mouthful isn't it?). We had asked God to put a risk in front of us that we may take it....sound risky to you?
We called Paul the next day and asked for more details and within 2 days we had made the decision to take the position. Not only would it allow for Manuel to continue to do what He's been doing here (as no interns were signed up for this year in Napa, it was perfect timing) but it would allow for me to come alongside and join him in ministry, doing what we both dream to do, making leaders in every country.
God has completely taken care of every finance, every need that has come up, and has made preparations in advance for our coming, we were so blessed to find out everything would be paid for.
As for an official departure date, we are waiting on our visas to be processed and we'll let you know as soon as we know. They've graciously pushed back the start date of the internship to Sept. 13th or 20th so we have enough time to get there, get settled, and know our way around.
And so begins our new chapter in our marriage and ministry!
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