New Plan

In the months since our last post, everything turned upside down! Instead of Kirstin moving to the UK to serve on campuses in Birmingham, England, she has taken a new role as a missionary mobilizer with Cru's campus ministry in the US. She will be serving and caring for the US staff who serve overseas long-term from the Philly office. Adam will be joining her as soon as his US immigration process is complete. We would love as much prayer as we can get!

Because of all of the sudden changes, our wedding date is now dependent upon his arrival in the US. We will share more as soon as we can.

A Quick Visit

I (Kirstin) traveled to Birmingham, England for a vision trip in September. I joined my new team on campuses around the city for Freshers Week (freshman orientation week) activities. Just like in the US, the first few weeks of the semester are the busiest in campus ministry. We spent the days meeting new students, attending activities fairs, and encouraging student leaders as they took steps of faith. I got to experience normal, everyday life in Birmingham. I got to know the city and got a feel for the ministry. I also worked on my support goals and details for my visa application.

On either end of the week, I got to spend a few days with Adam and his family in Nottingham. It was too short, but it was so wonderful. We just did normal things - eye appointments, grocery shopping, church - but the ordinary becomes extraordinary in a long distance relationship.

Planning a Vision Trip

Almost as soon as the UK received my paperwork, I received official word that I have been invited to serve with the Campus Ministry in Brimingham, England! Even though there was no reason to believe I would be denied, it is really exciting to make it official.

We are currently making plans for me to visit in September, to join my new staff team as they begin the school year. If you've been on my team over the years or if you know anyone who works in campus ministry, you know that freshman orientation week is the busiest, most crazy week of the whole year. I'm not sure what my new team's plans are, but I am certain I will be jumping right into the deep end with them in September.

As a fun bonus, I will get to spend a few days with Adam and his family as well! I can't wait to squeeze them!

On to the Next Step

This week I (Kirstin) received official word that the US Campus Ministry has approved my request to serve in England. All of the "paperwork" has been sent (digitally) to the human resources team in the UK. Now we wait for their approval and invitation to come serve in England. Pray with us that this process goes quickly! Months ago, the UK team told me that they would like me to come for a visit in September as they start their school year, to meet the team and the student leaders and to learn the ropes in a totally new location and culture. They, of course, could also use some extra manpower in the busiest season of the year, and I would love to be there to help! My official approval and invitation need to come before I can buy plane tickets.

EDIT: Within a few hours of writing this post, I got my official acceptance and invitation from the UK! It's official! I'm moving to the UK in 2018!!

Today Adam is also submitting a written statement with his immigration lawyer, once again stating his case for residency. Please pray for him as the many, many steps in this process can feel tedious and the waiting can feel endless. 

Please pray for us as a couple, too. The distance is hard.

Just in time

This morning Adam tried the post office again and was told once again that the biometrics machine was not working. A little while later, he got a call saying the machine was suddenly working, so he hurried back to the post office and got all of his biometrics. He even got to meet with his immigration lawyer to make sure he has everything he needs for the interview tomorrow.

Many friends near and far have offered well wishes and prayers. Some friends in my summer ministry training group even organized a time of prayer for Adam really early tomorrow morning.  We have been blessed by the body of Christ and by others who love us, and we are grateful for each of you. Thank you for joining us on this journey!

His interview is tomorrow (Thursday, June 22) at 10am UK time. We look forward to sharing good news with you as soon as we hear!

Time Sensitive Prayer Request

Hello everyone!

This week we have a few urgent prayer requests.

First, Adam has another major immigration interview this Thursday (June 22). He was told to expect five hours of non-stop "interviewing" (read: interrogation to make sure he is who he says he is). It starts at 10am UK time. Please pray for him as he steps into a room knowing the people questioning him are trying to poke holes in his story; they are not on his side. He has nothing to hide, but it's still pretty intimidating.

Second, and more urgently, we ask for prayer as he gathers the required documents for the interview. Each day this week he has gone to the only post office in his city that offers the biometrics he needs for his interview, and each day the machine has been mysteriously unavailable. First it was a power outtage and then the maching was broken. He needs it to work tomorrow (Wednesday) in order to take it with him when he leaves for the interview early Thursday morning. It's frustrating, and the bus fare is getting expensive. 

We need those finger prints tomorrow, and we need the interview to go well on Thursday so Adam can stay in the UK.

Thanks for praying with us! I (Kirstin) am really stressed about it.

New (temporary) Homes

Hello from beautiful Colorado! I am at Colorado State University for six weeks of cross-cultural ministry training with Cru. We just wanted to share some quick, wonderful news and some prayer requests!

Adam finally reached the stage of the immigration process where he is placed in subsidized housing! No more couch surfing for him! He has his own room in a house full of men from all over the world who are also in the immigration process. And on first glance, his roommates seem to be really neat and clean (which was a specific prayer request). The best part is that his new place is within walking distance of his church (where he serves multiple days a week), his mom's place, a grocery store, and a medical clinic. It's exactly what we prayed for for months and months! Praise the Lord with us! And praise God for the opportunity to minister to his new roommates. 

This stage of the process also provides a tiny food stipend, so he doesn't need to depend as much on the kindness of friends and family to get by. We are so grateful for those who have fed him so well these past months, but we are excited to make progress in the immigration process. 

Please continue to pray for Adam as he settles into his new place and gets to know his roommates. Pray, too, for the next steps in the immigration process, which include another, much more intense interview. 

Please pray for me, too! I love love love spending the summer at CSU with Cru. This gigantic mission org really feels like family, and all of the training I have ever received has been incredible and first class quality.  But it will be really hard to go through this intense training without Adam. It's designed in a way that benefits engaged and married couples most if both parties are present. Adam's current immigration status prevents him from attending. And now I'm seven hours behind Adam, which makes our tiny window of communication even smaller. Every day is a mix of excitement and sadness. Please pray for good communication, for time to process my training content together well, and for quality time "together" even though we're apart.