Ups and Downs

After my exciting news about my visa being approved, I am sad to say that I now sit with no visa in my hand. My dad (quite a saint) went to the consulate in Chicago on Monday to pick up the visa, only to find that the consulate had lost some of my forms. These forms are apparently crutial to the visa process (although i ask if they were so crutial, why did they lose them?) and so they would not give my Dad the visa. Instead (I find out at 4:30), I had to quickly fill out new forms and express mail them at the post office which closed at 5:00. After much rushing around the office, Kathy and I pulled up to the post office at 4:55 and successfully mailed the documents. Now the process is once again in the consulate's hands, and they will ship the finished visa to me in PA when it is all done!

It is slightly frustrating, but also a good learning experience to gain some patience and perseverence. My work here in Akron at the Material Resrouce Center is going very well, and maybe it is just not complete. God wants to give me a little more time here for whatever reason.

When my visa was supposed to come in on Monday, my parents and Robyn had planned to drive it to me for one last goodbye and set of hugs. When the bad news arrived, I was so down in the dumps, my family decided to still come and visit. It was such a blessing to have them here, to see all of the wonderful people I have gotten to know, and all the wonderful work these people do.

One of the most inspiring things about working at the Material Resource Center is the perseverence and willing spirit of the older folks who regularly come to volunteer. People with physical disabilities regularly come in, doing whatever they can to make a difference. No matter how slow they might do their job, or how much explaining they need to learn how to accomplish a new task, they do it with smiles and good spirits. That place is alive and running because of all the wonderful retirees who spend their time there, and every little bit of work helps. Let that be a lesson to us all, able bodied or not. Every bit helps. Never doubt that. Pitch in when and where you are able. We all have gifts to offer and wonderful things can be accomplished when we put them all together.
Peace,
Annie