Missions Update

Visa Approved!

We are so excited to share that our Australian Visas have been approved! Praise the Lord for this process to have been completed. It took many hours of preparation, a few different lawyers, a year and a half, and lots of prayer. This is a large step towards moving onto the field of Australia. There are two big things that have to be completed to arrive on the field. The first one is receiving Visas to move to Australia. 
We have been asked a few times what a Visa is and what it means. The definition according to Google is "an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country." Our Visa allows for two years before we would have to apply for another Visa. 
Without our Visa we would not have been able to enter into the country. Since we have received them we now have until January of 2025 to enter into Australia.

Partnership
As mentioned above there are two big things needed to arrive on the field in Australia. One of them being the Visa. The second is to be at 100% of our partnership goal. We are at around 75% of this goal. We have 25% of our partnership goal to go. 
We ask that you be in prayer as we are working hard to raise the rest. As we work hard we know that God will provide in his timing and he will provide in his perfect will. 
We are currently in middle America. We have been able to share the ministry at a church in Wyoming. We will soon be able to share our ministry in South Dakota and Nebraska. In April we are planning to share our ministry in Georgia. 
Much of February has been spent on the road traveling to different churches where we have shared our ministry with people from all walks of life all over the country.
We have a strong deadline of January 2025 to be in country as that is the latest date that our Visa requires. We have a few other details that we will have to address before moving. Once we have reached 100% of our partnership goal we will be able to leave for the field in short time.

Preparing for the Field
In February we were blessed to be included in the Africa Pre-field Retreat. It was the first of its kind. It was such a blessing to be on a couples retreat. It was encouraging for our marriage. It also further prepared us for arrival on the field. The subject matters contained marriage, expectations, and how to be a good team member. There was much time for conversation with the other missionaries. It was encouraging to be with people who are in the same phase of life as we are. There was also a time when we were able to pray with each other. We met so many amazing people and were so encouraged by the couple who hosted the retreat. They opened up their home they had built for marriage retreats. The couple who taught most of the sessions are over the Africa Pre-field at ABWE. They were a delight and we are so grateful to be included in this. 
It was a wonderful time where our hearts were prepared for our upcoming life changes. This was truly such a blessing to be included.

Prayer

• For us as we work towards the goal of 100% partnership
• Violet Immune System to be boosted
• Safe travels as we are speaking at churches

Praise 

• Our Visa have been approved
• Violet has been content even while being in the car for hours
• We have had an anchor church added to our partnership team 

Pre-Field Africa Retreat