Update on our current situation

This is from an email we sent out earlier today. If you are reading this here, but didn't get the email let us know so we can add you to our distribution list!

Dear Friends and Family,

First, if you are receiving this email it is because we believe you were on our Newsletter distribution list. Long story short, the computer with the our email distribution lists has been replaced. The lists were one on the very few things we did not have a back up of. Thankfully all the important stuff we had on a back up drive. So if you are getting this email and you don't want to be, just email us back and tell us. Undoubtedly, we will miss some people and we're sorry for this.

The church leaders in Stirling met with an official from the U.K. Border agency this morning. The purpose of this meeting was to evaluate the church's ability to manage foreign workers (that would be us). As you may recall, the British government implemented a new system of issuing work visas. This new system took effect earlier this year. In this new system, an organization must apply and receive 'sponsorship' before the workers (us) can apply for our visas. This morning's meeting was a step closer for the church receiving sponsorship.

Our supervisor Mitch Vick informed us that the meeting went very well. He was very positive with its outcome. Unfortunately, the outcome was NOT Tristan and Leslie can get on a plane tomorrow. The next step is: the U.K. official will send a report tomorrow to the office in Sheffield, where a decision will be made. Once again we are uncertain of how long it will take to get a decision. However, we believe it will not be more then a few weeks (hopefully even sooner than that). Once a decision is made, a letter by mail post will be sent to the church in Stirling. Once they receive this, they must register the workers (us) online (thankfully an online process). After they do that, then we can apply for our visas, which will take another week or two.

We (us and the church in Stirling) have no one to tell us about this process. There is no one we can ask: "how long did it take you to get this or do that." So our estimates on time are all guesses. However, if all goes fairly smooth, we could look to be back in Scotland by early December, maybe earlier if things are processed faster. One potential problem is that the British Postal Service has been going on and off strike for sometime and will continue to happen in the coming weeks. So that doesn't help things.

We appreciate your prayers, support and understanding. So many of you have just overwhelmed us with your generosity and hospitality. We are extremely undeserving of such wonderful friends and family. We are so blessed to be supported by the Northside Church of Christ in Wichita. They have been so wonderful to us. Thank you all very much.

Please continue to pray for this process. We are not at the end of it but we feel the end is near. If you would please also say a prayer for Jed and Shiloh Lovejoy. They are HIM workers in Morley, England. They have to return to the U.S. in November because of this very same problem. They will also have to wait, as we have been waiting, until the church in Morley gets sponsorship. It is a frustrating process and we pray that their wait is shorter than ours has been. Thank you all very much. We love you. If you have any questions about any of this, please email us.

With the Love of Christ,
Tristan and Leslie

And a picture because our blog has been sadly missing them with our last few posts!
Fall colors in Stirling

Controlled Excitement

Have you ever had a moment where you just need and want to jump up and down and scream with joy, but you were a little nervous to do so? All three of you who follow our blog might just be able to relate.
Leslie and I can't help but ooze with excitement right now! We have a date to look forward to! It is NOT a departure date, but it IS a date. Thursday, October 22, 2009 the church in Stirling meets with the U.K. Border Agency to discuss what essentially is our fate and the fate of the Central Belt Scotland Team. The Border Agency will meet with the church leadership to review their application for sponsorship of international workers. Once the church is approved for sponsorship, we then can apply for our visas.
That is what we know. Here is what we don't know. We don't know if approval is given on the spot after the meeting or if there will be more of a paper trail. If they are approved on the spot, we don't know how long it will be before we can apply for our Visas; the hope is that we can apply almost immediately. If they are denied on the spot...we'll were not going to go there just yet.
So, you can see why we have "controlled excitement." We ask that you please pray for the meeting this coming Thursday. It is huge! Not only for our work but also for previous mentioned Scotland missions team (check out their website from the link above). Please pause right now and say a sincere prayer for this work. Thank you so much for your prayers and support as we wait upon the Lord!
Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."