Hi Guys, it’s been a while since I’ve posted here. Life in Cork has been FULL! After last summer’s mission team and Holiday Bible Club (aka VBS), our family got to attend a family missionary conference in Austria, I went to visit my sisters for a couple of weeks in Phoenix, we had a couple visits here from special guests, Branden and I got to teach at a children’s ministry conference in the UK, and we moved house right before Christmas!

Lots of more normal things along the way as well, and the steady beat of ministry (although we’ve started overseeing the youth ministry at the church too!). Also, our dramatic visa saga has ended happily, for now, and we are good to go until next fall, praise God!

It’s been good and full of life and challenges and growth, and we’re so incredibly thankful entering the new year, knowing the Lord has gone before us and continues to let us, call us, to be a part of the things He’s doing here in Cork!

And as good and grounding as things have been here, we are looking ahead now, to a furlough next month! We’re planning on going back to the States for about 5 weeks, leaving February 11th and staying stateside until March 17th. This time around, stops include Colorado, Wyoming and Arizona.

This is honestly always kind of a weird time, being home, getting ready to go home, knowing we’ll come home again. These places are completely different from each other – people, culture, food, everything – and yet, somehow our hearts reside in both. Going back to the States is always both rest and work, and so is coming back to Ireland. Strange that they’re completely different and also so similar.

We’re excited to be with family, eat food we miss, enjoy friends we haven’t gotten to hang out with for a year! And also looking forward to sharing in person, all the things God has been doing, all our adventures over the last twelve months.

Speaking of sharing what’s been happening here, we’re planning on doing a special Worship & Update Night at Calvary Church on Friday, February 21st at 7pm! Everyone is welcome to come! We’ll have a time of worship together (really looking forward to this!!), then share what life has held for us over the past year, and some of the things on the horizon as we look ahead into 2020. We’ll end the night with some refreshments and fellowship for anyone who wants to stick around and catch up!

I’ve made a Facebook event page where you can find more details and let us know if you can make it, here: https://www.facebook.com/events/685696235296218/

It’s honestly open to EVERYONE! So please come, and maybe think of someone who might be encouraged to hear what God is doing in Ireland!

Thank you, for continuing to follow along and be a part of our lives and the ministry in Cork – it’s humbling, and we’re so thankful to live this life with Jesus and with you! If you want to connect on Instagram, you can find me at thetreulife. That’s where I’m most likely to post, more regularly anyway.

Looking forward to seeing some of you in person in just a few weeks! Until then, please keep our family in your prayers as we get ready to go, organize things for both sides, and continue in the work God has called us to. He is up to good things, and we can’t wait to share more with you!

In Him, Ernie

Okay, in an attempt to fill you in, let’s start with the visas. First a (hopefully) short recap. At the end of last year, we went in to apply for our next visa (for this year) and were told that many of the regulations regarding our particular visa had changed, and if we wanted to stay in Ireland, we’d need to file for an extension. The immigration department would review our paperwork and situation and decide if we’d be allowed this special permission.

That information was really unexpected and we were a bit shaken at the thought of the possibility of being sent back to the States suddenly. It was a good opportunity to lean into the Lord! We applied for the extension and waited for a decision.

In really dramatic fashion, and what we considered to be a miraculous intervention, the Lord sorted out the extension and we were not only granted permission to stay in Ireland for another year, but also able to go on two international trips that we’d previously planned! You can read more about that here if you want to know the story – it’s a good one!

After the extension was granted, we learned that we wouldn’t be able to apply for that particular visa again. After talking to other missionaries and doing some research, we found out that we qualified for a different immigration permission called the Minister of Religion visa. The extension we received won’t expire until the fall, but to ensure we’d have enough time to plan, especially if we needed to appeal a decision, we decided to try to apply as soon as possible for next year’s visa.

Looking into the new visa, we learned that it had also been revamped and that the number of documents required had tripled. In addition, we were told specifically by the immigration department that if we wanted to get a visa we’d never held before, we needed to apply as if we didn’t have a visa at all. We’d need to go back to the States, send our documents from there, and wait for their decision. This could take up to two months. We emailed back and forth several times, trying to explain how difficult this would be, but the immigration department here in Ireland was adamant.

So, we began to make preparations. Gathering documents, doing research, sending emails and talking to various people and departments, booking tickets and making arrangements to go home, and at the same time, continuing ministry here in Cork and just mentally trying to settle into the fact that we had no idea what the future held. We could easily be denied and sent home. Something that I’m so thankful for is that, when the Lord called us to Ireland, He was very clear. And the calling was to be without reservation. We have no plan B, no “what if,” no car or house or security in the States, no imaginations about what life would be like away from Ireland. The idea of not being able to stay was scary and heartbreaking.

In the spring, we took our furlough. Four states within the first four weeks, six weeks total! Ireland is our home, wholeheartedly, and we pray earnestly that we’ll get to stay here for a very long time. But there’s also something really special about going back to your first home. You don’t live there anymore, but it’s familiar. You know where everything is, all your food cravings are fulfilled, conversations and interactions have deep roots. I’m learning that “home” is more about people and experiences than location. The month and a half away went by both fast and slow; it was refreshing and exhausting and good!

While we were there, we finalized our paperwork and submitted our application for the Minister of Religion Visa. Soon after, we got an email saying the immigration department in Ireland had received our documents, but that there wasn’t a need for us to have left the country to apply. The person we were emailing with now was saying the opposite of what we’d been repeatedly and adamantly told before. At this point, we were frustrated, but it was just another thing to trust the Lord with. We were doing everything we could, and the realization that things were completely out of our control was well established. The Lord had a plan, and we could trust Him. That’s what we knew. And we were with family and friends that we hadn’t seen in a long while; there was a lot to be thankful for.

We finished our time in the US and headed back to Cork. When we arrived home, we discovered a letter from Immigration that had been waiting for us for a month. It stated that our current visa, which we’d gotten for the extension, was the Minister of Religion Visa, and that if we wanted an answer for next year, we’d need to apply again before it ran out in October.

We’d spent all that time and money, going back to the States, all the paperwork and original, signed documents. Now they were saying our current visa is something it wasn’t. And we still had no answer for after October.

It took me a couple of weeks to stop being upset. But in my time with the Lord, He reminded me of a verse He’d given me from Psalm 37:39-40…

“The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
    He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in Him.”

He has our answer in His hand. It’s not in the hands of anyone else. If He wants us here, nothing will be able to take us out. And if His plan means leaving, then it will still be a good plan. He reminded me about the work in front of us – there’s so much! The Lord is doing so many things in our church, in our city! We were about to head into the busiest time of the year ministry wise, and we could not afford to be distracted or have our heads in two places. Hand to the plow. Whatever the answer will be, it will come from the Lord.

Somehow after that, I was able to focus again. It’s like I’d been driving in heavy rain. Blurry vision, windshield wipers racing, the pressure of keeping everything going. But I could let my heart rest a bit now. He was doing His part, and we needed to be faithful with ours.

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And that brings us to the summer! I honestly love summer so much! There’s the possibility of consistent sunshine (although the sporadic sun in Ireland makes us grateful and flexible – you have to change your plans and go outside when there’s Vitamin D to be had!). There’s a well earned break from school for all of us, and the calendar is full of both ministry and family time.

If you’ve made it this far in the post, I’d love to ask you to pray for the things we have going on! Each month in the summer, we have at least one church family event. This year they include a Father’s Day BBQ and a bonfire at the beach in August! We’re also gearing up to begin a small group study for the teenagers in our church in the fall, so we have monthly Youth Group events on for the summer! Please pray for this new, exciting ministry!

The biggest event is definitely our Holiday Bible Club (aka VBS) which is set to happen at the end of this month. The Lord gave us a vision to write one ourselves last summer, and we’re doing the same this year. There’s also a team of 13 coming from the States to help serve – which is incredible! That means that parents and our normal Sunday morning volunteers will get a rest, and the entire church is served!

We have some cool family things on the calendar as well, and we’re making the most of the summer months with sunshine and no school routine!

Please pray for us as we continue preparing for the team and Holiday Bible Club. I would be lying if I didn’t say there has been a fair amount of spiritual warfare already. That coupled with just the normal pressure of putting on a big event – there’s a lot going on! Please pray for the team as they get ready to come, for all the logistical things that happen when 13 people travel, and for what the Lord wants to do in and through them in the ten days they’ll be on the ground here. And most of all, please pray for the kids that are coming to the club! Pray that they will have an amazing time and experience the love and hope we have in Jesus!

I’m excited about the Gospel going out, for God’s Word to be shared, and that we get to be a part of what the Lord is going to do in those three days!

Would you pray too, for our visas? The earliest we can reapply is the third week of August. At the moment, we have peace and are able to focus on the things in front of us. But it has been a very long and difficult process so far, and I know that as we get closer, we’ll need reminders to rest, to trust that God has a good plan.

Thank you for reading and praying and being a part of what the Lord is doing here in Cork! We’re greatly humbled and encouraged that the Lord would use us here, and that people would partner with us, to see the the Gospel go forth and the work done. Jesus has incredible things in store – what a blessing it is to co-labor with Him!

You might remember that before the boys and I went to the Philippines with my family, Branden and I had some challenges with renewing our visa.  Well, praise God that visa did get sorted (in an amazing and dramatic last minute display of God’s ability to take of things we can’t!)  We are good to stay in Ireland until the end of October this year.

What is still up in the air is what will happen after that.  In 2018, the Irish government made some major changes to its immigration regulations.  We first found out about them in September when we went to renew the visa we have now.  One of those changes is that there is now a cap on the number of years you can be on this visa.  That cap is three years, which we will complete in October of this year.

Because we can’t apply for it again, we either need to leave the country or get permission to stay under a different visa.  We’ve learned that there is one other visa we could qualify for and, through lots of conversations and weeks and weeks of research, we’ve almost gathered all the documents required to apply.  Most of these documents have never been asked of applicants before and several of them are not easy to obtain.  Among other changes, the immigration department is also requiring that we apply from our country of residence, which is one of the main reasons why we’re headed home for furlough.  Once we land in the U.S., we can mail in our application and documents, along with proof that we’ve left the country.  Then we wait to see what they decide.

To be honest, we’ve been on an emotional roller coaster since September regarding the visa situation.  Sometimes it’s at the forefront of everything, this weight and feelings of things being unfair, along with an overwhelming unsettledness and questions of ‘what if?’  What if we can’t get all these documents?  What if we have to leave the country in October?  What will we do?  What will life look like?

We know others that have had to leave suddenly, because of visa issues.  And some have not been permitted to come at all.  There is so much changing in Ireland.  This process feels cold and deliberate and unyielding.  And yet, I know the Lord is there.  That these ‘what if’s’ don’t keep Him up at night.  And sadly, this situation has revealed both my lack of confidence in Him and His relentless, quiet, kindness as He calls my gaze and heart to find my security in Him alone again.

The other day, I’d sent an email to a friend in the States, asking for help with one of the visa documents.  It was on my seemingly impossible list of to-do’s.  I’d been trying to figure out this particular document for several weeks already, without much progress.  Finally, I sent her the email explaining the situation and what we needed.  A few days passed, and I hadn’t heard back from her.  I sent her a message on Facebook to see if she’d gotten it.  We messaged back an forth a couple of times.  In the end, she said she’d take care of it.  Then she wrote the words “rest sister.”

I went to bed that night with a tiny bit of defensiveness.  When we first found out about all the changes, about all that was going to be required for us to apply for this new visa, I was kind of a mess.  It sounded impossible.  And because the regulations are so new, even many of the local authorities didn’t have any experience with them.  There was no template, no list of things to do and check off; we, and the leadership in our church, just needed to figure it out.  Now over the last few months, we’ve found others that are a little further along in the process, and God has been kind to encourage us in lots of other ways.  So most days now, I’m okay with it, functioning somewhat normally with the things in front of me without crying at the drop of a hat.  But this command, this invitation – “rest sister” – it felt a little rough on my skin.  Like “Calm down!” or “Relax already!”

Going to bed that night, I told Branden, “I want to rest!  I want to not be overwhelmed and truly trust that God is gonna take care of everything.  But I also have an incredibly long list of things that I actually have to do.  I can’t just sit back and drink a cup of tea – or maybe I can, while I start packing my bags to leave the country!”  (Did I say a tiny bit of defensiveness?)

This friend of mine, by the way, with the email, she’s always been a source of truth, a way God has spoken in real ways to Branden and me.  I love her so much.

I felt tired.  Ya’ll I am tired!  Like you know when you’re toddler is crying inconsolably because they just haven’t gotten enough sleep?  Yeah, I’ve been there more times than I care to admit in the last few months.  I’ve been overwhelmed, and at the same time, so grateful for where we are, how the Lord led us here, what we get to do and be a part of, and the relationships God has grown in the last 2+ years.

And can I just take a minute and say that God is so good!  That along with what I think are relatively normal challenges of having two pre-teen boys in our house, there is peace and ease and laughter and safety and genuine love  and discipleship in our home – praise God!  Our marriage is probably the best it’s ever been, we’re healthy, ministry is full, and our church is growing is so many ways – so much to be thankful for!

And perhaps that’s why the thought of everything changing again, us being kicked out of the country, not knowing what’s up ahead, that’s why it’s so overwhelming.

In fairness, this call to rest, the Lord had already said it to me.  I know myself (maybe you’re the same?) when I’m exhausted and feel like things are out of control, it’s because I’m trying to do things on my own, trusting in my own abilities and strength.  It’s like I’m walking a tight rope strung over the Grand Canyon, and more and more objects keep getting handed to me.  I have to walk; I have to balance, I have to keep it together!  I’m just not able!

The day after messaging with my friend, I was brought back to a section of Scripture the Lord has often used to speak to me.  This Psalm has encouraged me, convicted me, held me in so many situations.  And it’s not always the same verse or section.  This time it was this:

“The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; He is their stronghold in times of trouble.  The LORD helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.”
– Psalm 38:39-40

My answer will come from the Lord.  Yes, there are things I need to do, applications and paperwork to fill out, but ultimately, it was the Lord who brought us here, preparing these works in advance for us to do.  And it will be the Lord that either keeps us here or moves us.  And I can trust that He knows the situation, that He knows our hearts, that He has a good plan, whatever it might be.

In that I can rest.

The person who says the words of this psalm is in need of saving, delivering, and help.  And their part, what they are able for is to hide. Not run away or avoid their circumstances, but tuck in, trust, take refuge in something, Someone who is bigger, more capable than they are.  The situation may not change (not right away anyways) but there is shelter, there is safety, and rest.  And joy in His presence!

“Rest” is a call to look up, to see that He is with us, that it’s okay if we cannot, because He can.  Praise God!

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So, we’re getting ready for a furlough.  And you know what?  When you leave home (to go home!) for six weeks, it actually requires a lot of planning!  Planning on this side – ministry stuff, house stuff, who will mind our cat – lots!  Planning on that side – we’ll visit four states in those six weeks, seeing family and places and more people we love.  So plane tickets, rental cars, meet ups, hang outs, it’s gonna be good

And in an effort to slow down, enjoy people, really see what’s in front of me, I’ve decided to do a little photo challenge One picture a day – nothing I’ll pull a muscle over, but just one image every day while we’re on the trip that freezes time and locks in something real.  Photography helps me look at things, be present, be thankful!  So that’s my plan.  Anyone want to join me?  I’m gonna use #seetheday2019.  See what I did there?  Anyways, I’ll keep you posted on Instagram and the old Facebook page.  You probably won’t be on a six week trip, but you can totally join me if you want!  Really just want to be present and capture what the Lord has each day, you know?

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Okay, one more invitation …would you pray with us?  So much to lay before the Lord.  Would you pray for our visa application?  That we’d be able to get all the documents together, that it would get to the right person on the right day, that God would just go before us (as I know He already has) and we’d be approved, without any hiccups or issues?

Would you pray for our time in the States?  I believe the Lord has so much in store, and I don’t want to miss any of it!  For our time with people, that He would use us to encourage others, that all the logistics would come together, and also that it would be a time of rest.  Please pray for safety and health and that we would abide in the Lord.

And would you pray for our church here in Cork?  For those serving in our stead and the precious kiddos and families in our fellowship?  God is doing a great work in this city, and we’re so thankful and humbled to be a part of it!

Okay, I think those are all the major ones!  Thanks for reading guys, and for praying with us, and for being a part of our family and this ministry.  We’re grateful for each of you, and know that we are not alone!  Keep an eye out for that hashtag!

Love you loads, Ernie

Part One – You Should Go

Part Two – It’s Okay

Part Three – Thursday

Part Four – God Is Spoiling Us

Part Five – Together

Part Six – Philippines Pictures – Part 1

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I love this picture of my Mom, my Aunt, and me – all together in one image, in one place.
My Aunt and Uncle left the States about twenty years ago and moved to the Philippines to become missionaries.  Now they hold church in the downstairs part of their home and have weekly and monthly outreaches to different parts of the community. My Aunt was such a huge influence in my spiritual life when I was growing up.  Our families lived together until I was about nine years old, so Aunts and Uncles were more like another set of parents and cousins were more like siblings.  Going through the process of being called by the Lord to the field ourselves, her encouragement and words of wisdom from being there already, from persevering and learning to follow the Lord in faith, was so valuable.

This was the first time I got to see the work they are doing and meet the people in their church.  I got to lead worship for the two Sunday morning services we were there.  During the trip, anytime we were on the road or away from home, my Aunt and Uncle made a point to gather everyone each night and open the word together.  My Aunt had me lead worship as well.

When I was growing up, everyone in our family sang.  My grandfather used to say that we should, whether we think we had a good voice or not, because that’s all we’ll be doing when we get to Heaven.  I feel like that strong heritage of worship and music was foundational for me, and for my sisters and cousins.  Being together in the Philippines, worshiping the Lord, hearing the familiar harmonies, that time is something I’ll always be grateful for.

I’m so thankful too, for the precious people in their church.  Getting to be with them, I learned just how fervently they prayed for our visas and for us to be able to come on the trip.  One conversation I’ll never forget, a couple in the church who are very close to my Aunt and Uncle, hung out with us quite a bit while we were there.  The man, Kuya Jimmy (kuya means “big brother” and is term of familiarity and respect) told me towards the end of the trip, that when he first saw the boys and I, he had goosebumps.  He said that they’d been praying weekly for us and that when he saw us, it was a great answer to prayer, not mine, but theirs!  What an incredible, humbling blessing!

Later in the trip, we got to go to a different area with another beautiful beach.  Pictures mean so much I think, because they are tangible (digital) evidence of an experience, like a little portal that takes you back to a moment.  These boys wading in the ocean at sunset, on the other side of the world – we were there!

And this boy, with his very serious eyebrows, and beautiful eyes!  And all the watermelon he could fit in his tiny mouth!

More non-seat belted van pictures Can you tell they were tired?

I love this beautiful little face!

My parents, they worked so hard to make this trip happen!  Happy birthday Mom!

We’ve lived on an island for two years now, and for two years the boys have asked me to swim in the ocean with them.  And my answer for the most part has been, “Um…no thanks.  It’s freezing!”  But I had no excuse in the Philippines – the water was like bath water!  I actually really swam there, and we were all very happy!  We were on the beach the entire day here – swimming, eating barbecue in a little hut, then back out into the water!

A somewhat sad attempt at an all cousin picture

Lola snuggles

My Aunt taking the babies for a walk.  Time is so precious.

Getting to experience some very elaborate buffets in the city!  My Dad looks so happy and Asian here!

Shabu Shabu

We got to visit this really cool museum to celebrate a different aunt’s birthday while we were there!  All the walls are covered with these incredible murals that you’re supposed to interact with.  You leave your shoes at the front desk and walk the entire building in your socks or bare feet!  Missed Branden a little extra on that day.

Ethan and his love of cats!

This optical illusion set up was the coolest!

Getting pampered!  I definitely left the Philippines with my hair a glowing fuchsia color!

Sweet friends – so blessed

Two and a half weeks went by so quickly

Such amazing travelers

The flights home had their own share of craziness, if you can believe it!  But we eventually made our way back home to Branden.  And to the chilly climate of the northern hemisphere.  I have to admit, that part of me that wakes up when I’m with family, takes a little while to go back to sleep.  It’s bittersweet for sure, but always reminds me that I’m not truly home yet, not in Ireland or the States, or anywhere on this beautiful planet.  One day, goodbyes will be a thing of the past, and our hearts will finally be able to settle.  Until then, we keep on traveling.

Well Guys, you made it – end of the series!  Now I promised an announcement, so here it be…

In the not so distant future, we’ll be on a plane again.  We’ll be taking a furlough in the spring, for most of February and March!  The plan is to visit family outside of Colorado for the first part of our trip, and then be in Denver for a few weeks in March.  So, USA – one of the places we love and call home – we’ll see you in a few months!

Part One – You Should Go

Part Two – It’s Okay

Part Three – Thursday

Part Four – God Is Spoiling Us

Part Five – Together

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I know that up until this point, the posts in this series have been pretty sparse picture wise.  And I’ll just apologize in advance for the photo dump situation that’s about to happen here!  Looking back at these images, my heart is just so full!  I still kind of can’t believe we got to go and be there, in the Philippines, with my family!  I’m so grateful our boys got to be there, experiencing the food and culture, the language, life in a beautiful, warm, third world country.  It really is one thing to hear and learn about a place, being told about it by others.  It’s something completely different to go there yourself.

And I’m thankful for technology.  When we were mad packing, trying to get to the airport, I picked up my “big” camera.  Batteries were dead.  Extra batteries were also dead.  I didn’t have time to charge anything and made a decision in the moment that my phone camera would have to suffice.  Not the greatest quality, but it ended up being really handy and easy to have in whatever situation we were in.

I’ve thought about how to share these pictures with you, and basically decided to just post little explanations as I go!  Hope this gives you a glimpse into our two weeks+ there…

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So the day after we landed was a Sunday.  After church and running a few errands, we all packed up, piled into a couple vans and drove for about thirteen hours to a house my parents had rented on a beach.  We stayed there about four days.  I’m showing you this picture first because I think it looks nice and calm and tropical.  While we were there, we got to go see some sights and eat amazing food (like a whole pig roasted and then served on fresh banana leaves with fruit in its mouth!).

What we didn’t plan on was the relatively minor but still present typhoon that hit the area the day after we arrived!  Of course we still had to go down to the beach

I really love this picture of my Mom and me.  It’s very similar to a super windy selfie we took when my parents came to visit us in Ireland last year.  Maybe we’ll take super windy selfies in every country we visit together!

The boys look really Filipino to me here!  When we went to buy replacement clothing (while we waited for our luggage to be found), I really only bought them shorts and t-shirts and flip flops, because that’s all they needed the entire time we were there!  This is literally what they looked like for the entire trip

Attempted group selfie.  My favorite is Ethan

I’m definitely a portrait person, so unfortunately I don’t do a great job of taking pictures of scenery or really much else other than people.  Also, my phone camera definitely doesn’t do this justice.

This is the front porch of the house we stayed in.  That gorgeous little princess is my niece Lydia.  She basically looks Puerto Rican, right?!  If you can believe it, she’s even more beautiful in real life, even with the chocolate on her face.

Also, when I say “we” stayed there, I mean more than twenty of us in the three bedrooms.  Filipinos don’t mind being close!  There were two bathrooms, but bathrooms in the Philippines are pretty different from ones we have in the States or in Ireland.  There is no hot water coming into the house.  Sometimes the toilets flush, but many times you have to flush them manually with a bucket of water, and you don’t flush toilet paper.

To bathe, you fill a large bucket with water that comes from a spigot in the wall.  If you want the water to be warm, you boil a kettle.  Then you use a smaller bucket with a handle, which we call a “tabo,” to scoop up the water and pour it over yourself.  The entire bathroom is one big wet room with a drain in the floor.

I’m so grateful my kids (and I!) got to experience that, learning to do things in a different way, seeing that different parts of the world are not as theirs is, and that there is much to be thankful for.

OH, THE FOOD!!

We spent quite a lot of time with a family from the church my Uncle and Aunt pastor.  They have three boys, two of them about the same age as ours.  Fast friends, here watching the typhoon over the beach in the distance!

And here, enjoying the fact that you don’t have to wear seat belts in the Philippines!

This picture is proof of two things:
1.  Boys under the age of 13 DO NOT know how to look at a camera and smile.  Literally, their faces malfunction if you are trying to take a picture!
2.  My uncle (far right in the hat and shades) can still pull off the “I’m so cool” pose!

We got to experience so many cool things while we were there.  For a long time, the boys have wanted to open a fresh coconut and drink from it.  Well, you see that seventy year old woman in the picture below?  She has this stand on the side of the road where she has hundreds of coconuts and opens them for you with a giant machete on a tree stump.  6 coconuts for less than $2.  She literally hacks away at the tough green exterior until she gets to the center, sticks a straw into it, and hands it to you to drink.  Once all the water is gone, she cuts it in half, makes a spoon out of part of the shell, and gives it back to you to eat the meat.  Authentic experiences we’ll never forget!

We got to visit the house my Dad’s mother grew up in.  There were a few different times while we were there, when we got to drive through different areas each of my parents grew up in.  Lots of things have changed, but there were certain stores and buildings that had stayed the same.  Listening to them tell stories about those places, about walking those streets on their way to school or going to the market, seeing where they grew up, was a treasure.

My Dad with his youngest grandson, my handsome nephew Liam.  He’s sweet and funny and clung to my Dad for so much of this trip.  Which of course made my Dad the happiest!

Ethan got a real taste for one of my favorite Filipino desserts, a treat called Halo Halo, which means “mix mix.”  It’s shaved ice and sweetened milk, with a variety of toppings mixed in.  We ate it every chance we got!

Okay, if you made it to the end of this post – congratulations!  If you’re up for it, there is one more post in the series, also full of pictures!  And at the end of it, there’s a special announcement.  Hope to see you here tomorrow!

Part One – You Should Go

Part Two – It’s Okay

Part Three – Thursday

Part Four -God Is Spoiling Us

……………………………………………………..

The airline losing our luggage seemed almost comical at this point.  In the moment, I panicked slightly.  The boys and I had just landed in Manila after a whirlwind trip and over 36 hours of traveling.  We weren’t supposed to be able to go on this trip because of our visas being up in the air.  Then, all of a sudden, four hours before we were meant to get on the plane, immigration called us and our visas got sorted!  A delay on our first flight caused us to miss our connections.  After an unexpected night in London and a couple of new flights, we had finally made it to the Philippines, but now we had a two and a half week trip in front of us and didn’t have any clothes or toiletries!

My priority at that point was to contact my Aunt.  My Uncle was somewhere in the airport waiting for us.  In a couple hours, we would be surprising my parents and sisters with even being in the Philippines!  I filled out the necessary paperwork with the ladies at the luggage counter.  They would try to locate our bags and promised to get them to us as soon as possible, which in the end was nearly a week later!  One of the ladies allowed me to use her cell phone to call my Aunt at the house.

“Auntie, we’re here at the airport, but they’ve lost our luggage!”

“That’s okay, we can go to the shop.”  She was calm, and I could hear my Mom talking to someone in the background.   They didn’t seem to suspect anything.  My Uncle was at the airport and had been waiting for us.   We just needed to walk outside to meet him.

The boys and I picked up our backpacks and made our way out of the baggage area.  There was my Uncle.  I apologized for the long wait.

“It’s okay.  I could actually see you the whole time.  I thought, ‘There’s two boys with a short lady.  That must be them!'”  Thanks Uncle!

We got in the van and started the two hour drive back to their place.

…………………………………………………….

There’s something that seems to happen, at least to me, when I’m away from my family for a long time.  Like part of me goes to sleep.  Life goes on in the day to day, being a wife and mom, doing ministry and enjoying the community we have in Cork, but part of me isn’t really part of that.  Then, when I’m with my sisters and parents again, that part wakes up.  There’s an ease, and a joy, and it feels like home, even if you’re not at home.

Walking into my Aunt and Uncle’s house, surprising my family, was incredible.  The boys walked in first, which elicited some genuinely surprised and excited yelling!  When I walked in, my sister Robin ran full force and nearly knocked me to the ground!  Next was my younger sister, Priscilla.  Hugging and crying and smiling and laughing!  I looked over to see my Mom, standing with her hands on the table she’d been sitting at.

“I’m not surprised,” she said, emotions in her voice.  “I knew you’d be coming.  I didn’t know how, but I knew you’d be coming.”

I walked over and hugged her.  We were there, together.

This isn’t the end of the story!  I have SO MANY pictures to share!  So please come back tomorrow

Part One – You Should Go

Part Two – It’s Okay

Part Three – Thursday

……………………………………………………..

“Ladies and gentlemen, just a small delay here.”  The captain explained that the engineers were looking at something, and that we’d be on our way soon.  We were about 15 minutes behind schedule already.

10 minutes went by.  Another announcement.  The situation seemed a bit more serious.  The captain apologized; it would be another 30 minutes.

Poor Ethan started crying again.  “Mom?  Are we not going to be able to go to the Philippines now?!”

“You know what I think?  I think that nothing can keep us from going to the Philippines!  Look at everything that happened today.  We shouldn’t even be on this plane!  We just need to relax and see what the Lord has in store.  We’re on an adventure with Jesus!”

I motioned to a stewardesses walking by.  “Hi, we’re connecting in London to Beijing, then to Manila.  I think we’ll probably miss our connection.  Do you know what will happen to us when we land?”  She couldn’t tell me for sure.  They could put us on the next flight or book us into a hotel.  Or we could end up sleeping at the airport, waiting for the next flight.

Still in shock that we were even sitting on that plane, I actually had complete peace.  If God wanted us in the Philippines, we’d get there!

Finally another announcement was made, and a few minutes later, we were taking off.

Just over an hour later, we landed in London.  As we were taxiing to the gate, the same stewardess come over.  “So, we’ve just received a call.  Unfortunately you have missed your connection.  But there’s a lady waiting to meet you when you get off the plane.  The airline has already booked you and your children into a hotel.  She’ll have shuttle vouchers and be able to give you instructions for the new flight that they’ve booked you on for tomorrow.”

The lady was waiting for us as we stepped off the plane.  She explained everything as she walked us to the door to catch the shuttle.  It was almost 11pm.  Our next flight would leave the following day at noon and take us through Hong Kong instead of Beijing.  The voucher for the hotel included dinner and breakfast.

“Get a good night’s rest tonight, and come back around ten in the morning.  If the restaurant at the hotel is still open, you could even have a bite to eat!”

I thanked her, and the boys and I walked out to wait for the shuttle.  I messaged Branden and let him know what was going on.  A fifteen minute shuttle ride later, we pulled up to the hotel and got checked in.  Our room had a double bed as well as a funny little Murphy bed they had to pull out of the wall for us.  We dropped our bags and went down to have a midnight snack.  The kitchen was closed, but the lady behind the counter said we could order pizza, Caesar salad or curry.  It was really late, but we hadn’t had a proper dinner, and I think we were all just buzzing a bit.  One pepperoni pizza and two salads please.

When the food came out, we were surprised to see Ethan’s pizza was ten inches wide!  And each of our salads could have fed 2-3 people easily!

“Mom, God is spoiling us!” Silas exclaimed.

I couldn’t argue with that!  We ate our dinner, went back to the room, took showers, and tucked in.  It was after 1am.  What a day!

…………………………………………………………..

The next morning, we went downstairs to a giant continental breakfast.  I don’t know why, but I LOVE hotel breakfast.  So does Ethan.  Like, it’s pretty much his favorite thing about staying at a hotel!  I think it’s all the options and the unlimited quantities!  This spread was no exception.  It really did feel like God was spoiling us!

After breakfast, we waited for the shuttle and made our way back to the airport.  A couple hours later, we were on a plane to Hong Kong.  The airline actually booked us in a higher class for seating than we had for our original flight.

“Mom what’s the difference between Economy and Economy Plus?”  Just then a stewardess walked by and handed me a menu for the in-flight meals.

“Well, in Economy, they just walk by with the cart and say, ‘Chicken or beef?’  In Economy Plus, you get a menu!”  The boys chuckled a little, but in my head, I thought, “Wow, even in the seating, God is blessing us!”

Hong Kong airport was beautiful.  Mountains on one side and the ocean on the other.  Flying in, we could see dozens of islands and ships all around.  Everyone seemed friendly and able to help you.  We walked into a few shops.  There were tons of options for everything.  The shelves were lined with colorful packages of all shapes and sizes, in so many different languages.  We walked by a massive sign that had a giant cartoon cat surrounded by several happy children, an advertisement for some kids product.  We were in Asian now!

We found our new gate, and I sent Branden an update.  Half an hour later, we were boarding our last flight.  Next stop – the Philippines!

The flight was only about an hour and a half long.  Getting ready to land, I was thinking about my family, my Mom and what her reaction would be.  My Aunt still hadn’t told her we were coming.  The airport was a two hour drive from their house, and she had sent my Uncle to “run an errand.”  The last time I was in the Philippines, I came through that exact airport.  I was fifteen and obviously in a very different stage of life.  I remember a few things from that trip – the heat, the busy-ness of the city crowds and traffic, the people, some of the amazing places we went.  Landing there now, I was aware that my children would be taking things in.  This was their first time in a country of their heritage.  Of course they knew bits and pieces of the culture, but being there on the ground, surrounded by the language and the people, the food and the day to day life, I was just aware how important this trip really was.

We followed the crowd to the baggage claim area.  My phone didn’t seem to be able to log on to the airport wifi.  I needed to send Branden a message to tell him we’d made it.  I needed to send my Aunt the same message.  I didn’t have a phone number for my Uncle, and had no real way of communicating with him. I finally stopped and asked someone to help me sign on.

Almost everyone in Manila speaks both Tagalog (the main dialect) and English.  Actually, most everyone speaks a combination we call Taglish, which is probably 80% Tagalog, 20% English.  Asking this store salesman about hooking up to the wifi, I was suddenly aware that I hadn’t really spoken Tagalog to anyone for quite some time.  My parents would speak it to each other when I was growing up, and occasionally to us, but nothing really conversational.  I definitely understood more than I spoke.  I got through enough to ask my question and understand that I would need to purchase and load a SIM card if I wanted to even log on.  That wasn’t going to happen right then.   Just keep walking.

We got to the baggage carousel and joined the crowd standing around the metal conveyor belt.  Bags appeared from behind the heavy plastic flaps that covered the opening and slowly made their way around the loop.  2 – 3 minutes went by, bags being taken off, new bags being added.  There was an American man standing next to us.

“It always takes so long to get your bags in this airport,” he said.  He talked about a couple of the other Asian airports he’d flown into several times and how Manila always seemed exceptionally slow.

“Well, you just don’t want to be the last one standing around waiting, you know?” I said jokingly.  We both chuckled, almost nervously.

Another 2 -3 minutes went by.  The American man pulled a bag off and waited for another.  A group of Japanese business men in suits all helped each other pull suitcases off the belt, loudly pointing and hoisting them onto carts.  Another 5 minutes.  The boys were bored and tired.

“Where are our bags, Mom?”  I didn’t have an answer, but it wasn’t looking good.

Finally, we were the last ones standing there.  Two men came over and started pulling the left over bags off and standing them all together.  I went over and told them our bags weren’t there.  They directed me to a small counter nearby.

Two ladies in emerald green jackets and pencil skirts greeted me.  I explained (again in broken Tagalog) about our bags, and one of them asked for our luggage tags.  I found them and handed them to her; she asked me a couple questions about our flights and started typing information onto her computer.

“So the system is showing that the airline actually doesn’t know where you bags are right now.”

Part One – You Should Go

Part Two – It’s Okay

…………………………………………..

Thursday morning I woke up determined just to get on with things.  My parents had already left Denver and would be landing in the Philippines Friday night where my Aunt and Uncle would collect them from the airport.

“Let’s just give it until noon,” Branden said again.  “Okay.”

The morning went by with its normal chores and prep for the day, and then the boys and I started school.  I don’t think I was really present.  The boys would ask me about their spelling lists or how to solve a math problem, but I was distracted.  Their normal messing and being children grated on me, and I found myself having to apologize for being short with them.

Noon came and went.  No phone call.  Nothing.

Branden came down from his office upstairs.  “Anything?” he asked.

“Nope.” I forced a smile.

“I’m sorry.”

School went on.  Grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.  A history lesson.  Language sheets.

Then, at 2:30pm my phone rang.  I didn’t recognize the number, but the area code was Dublin.

“Hello?”

“Hi.  Is this Ernestine?”  The lady’s voice on the line seemed hurried.

“Yes, it is.”

“Hi, I’m calling you from Dublin, the immigration department.  We’ve gotten a phone call from one of our members’ offices.  Are you meant to travel today?”

I stepped out of the room so I could hear her better.  “Yes, well, we were.  I have a flight that leaves around 8 o’clock tonight, but –“

“Well, we’ve received your request for a visa extension, but there’s nothing here about travel plans.  Why didn’t you include something with your application?”

I explained that we’d already emailed Immigration and received word back that we just needed to wait for our approval letter in the post, that if we left before things were sorted, we’d be denied re-entry.

“Okay.  Alright.  Just give me a few minutes,” she said, hanging up the phone.

Branden had followed me into the room.

“That was Immigration.  They said to give them a few minutes.”

“Are they getting you a letter?”

“I think so?”

I looked at the clock.  Even if this lady could somehow email us our letter, I’d still need to drive down to the Garda station to get my file updated.  The station was almost half an hour away and closed at 4pm.

3pm – My phone rings again.  The same hurried voice, “Alright, I’ve emailed you your pre-clearnace letter.  Are you able to get to the Garda station?”

“Yes, but I’ll have to wait in the que.  I don’t think I’ll be able to get through.”

“Well, I’ve done everything I can here.  Good luck!”

I thanked her and hung up the phone.  I called the Garda station, asking for the immigration officer and explained the situation to him.

“I can be down to you in about 25 minutes.  Would you be able to see me today?  I have everything needed.  I just need my file updated.”

“No, you’ll have to wait in the que with everyone else.  If you don’t get through today, then you don’t get through.”  Charming.

I found Branden, who was keeping the kids occupied in the other room.  We stepped outside, and I gave him an update.

“I’m not gonna go Branden.  There’s no way I’ll get through that line.  It’s after 3 o’ clock.  Also, we’re not packed.  We need to be at the airport in three hours!”  My head was spinning a little.

“Just go Ern!  You never know what will happen.  Just go try!”

I printed my letter from Immigration, grabbed my purse and passport, and got in the car.  Fought through some traffic, found parking, and started walking to the station. I walked in at 3:40pm and counted the people in line.  There were six plus the three at the open windows.  My phone buzzed.  It was a message from Branden.

“How’s it looking?”

“It’s not too bad.  This could happen!”

The line moved slowly but the clock seemed to as well.  One by one, the people in front of me took their turn – handing over documents, stepping back to take their ID pictures, swiping credit cards.  I was next in line now.  3:48pm.

“Next please,” a monotone voice came from behind the plexiglass.  I stepped up and greeted the woman at the desk.  I explained our situation and that my children and I had a flight that was scheduled to leave in about four hours.  She asked for my pre-clearance letter, and I slid it through the slot under the plexiglass.

She read it over and looked up.  “This is not an original letter.  I can’t update your file without an original letter.”

I explained again how I just received the letter via email.  I didn’t have an original yet, but needed the file updated that day.  Within the next nine minutes actually!

She looked at the letter again, then back up at me.

“Okay,” she said, and started typing on the computer in front of her.  I looked back up at the clock behind her.  3:53pm.

More minutes went by.  Type, type, type, type, type.  Finally, she finished typing.

“Alright, so I’ve made loads of notes on your file.  When you come back through the border, you’ll need to present a copy of this pre-clearence letter along with your passport.  If they have any questions at all, they’ll be able to see the notes on your file.  You shouldn’t have a problem coming back in.  Now, because this isn’t an original letter, I can’t update your file today.  You’ll need to come back in with an original once you return from your trip.  Other than that, you should be good to go.”

“Thank you so much!” I said, gathering my documents.  The clock said 4:02pm.  Even the fact that the window stayed open after 4pm was incredible!  I walked as fast as I could back to the car, messaging Branden at the same time.  He’d been folding laundry with the boys and getting suitcases set up to be packed.  The boys still didn’t know we were going, though they were probably wondering why they’d gone from doing school to doing laundry!

I got into the car.  Until that moment, I wasn’t going to the Philippines.  Now, I had to get home, tell my children we were going on this huge trip, pack, and be at the airport in two hours!

My parents were already in the air.  I was trying to think through everything that needed to happen.  What did I need to have sorted before I left?  I didn’t have any money pulled or exchanged.  I hadn’t even gone to the store to get snacks for the plane.  And no one knew we were coming!

I dialed my Aunt on Facebook Messenger.  It was 11pm in the Philippines.

“Hi Babe,” her calm but curious voice came over the line.

“Auntie!!” my mind was going in a million directions.  “Something miraculous has happened!”

“What?  What happened?!”

I told her everything.  From Barbara going in to the office with me, to the play by play of the afternoon.  I fired off questions about what to pack, how to bring money, who would pick us up from the airport.  We’d probably been talking for three or four minutes when all of a sudden she just let out a big “WOOHOO!”

I just started laughing!

“I knew it!  I knew you would be coming!  This is what the church here has been praying for.  Because God is a good God.  Why would He provide for this trip and then not let you come?  He isn’t like that!  I knew you would be coming!”

I asked her if I should send a message to my Mom.

“Oh no, Babe,” she smiled.  “Don’t send her a message.  Let’s surprise them all!”

Just after 4:30pm – I walked in the front door of our house.  Branden called the boys into the hallway where I was taking off my coat.

“Okay boys.  You know how we’ve been doing all these crazy things to get our visas sorted?  Well, we needed the visas anyway, but part of the reason for the rush was because …WE’RE GOING TO THE PHILIPPINES!!”

The boys knew that my family was taking the trip, but that we weren’t going to be able to join them (basically the plan before June).  Now, all of a sudden, in the hallway of our house, with nothing packed and an hour and a half to go, they were going to get to travel to a new country and be with family they hadn’t seen in seven months!

Silas found his way to the staircase and sat down.  “What?  We get to go to the Philippines?!”

Ethan just started crying and couldn’t stop.  He cried on and off the entire time we were packing!  He was happy and nervous and overwhelmed.

In an hour, two suitcases and three backpacks were packed.  We were in the car and, after a stop at the bank and McDonald’s to grab food, we were making our way to the airport.  I was still wearing the clothes I’d mindlessly put on that morning, because I hadn’t had time to change.  This was the first time we’d be traveling internationally without Branden, and I was honestly a bit nervous about navigating international airports that we’d never been to before.  There were lots of things I didn’t know.  We had our passports and luggage and a few snacks we just happened to have in the house.  I had lots of things bouncing around in my head, but mostly, I was just shocked and happy!  Ultimately, I clearly didn’t have to be in control, because the Lord already had a plan – we were just walking in it!

We got to the airport, parked the car and made our way to the check-in counter.  After getting our tickets, we hugged Branden goodbye.  He was his usual cool and collected self.  I was still in shock that we were about to get on a plane and meet my family IN THE PHILIPPINES!

“Message me when you get to your next airport,” he said smiling, completely confident that we would make it to each stop.  I kissed him, a bit sad that he wasn’t coming with us.  He hugged the boys and told them to have fun and to be helpful to me.  Always teaching them.

We made our way through security, found our gate in Cork’s small airport and, after just over an hour, were boarding the plane.

We were sitting all together in the very last row of the aircraft.  All that was behind us were the lavatory and the stewards’ area.  We tucked our backpacks under the seats in front of us, buckled our seat belts, and got ready for take-off.

Fifteen minutes went by.  Then an announcement came over the intercom.  Something was wrong with the plane.

Part One – You Should Go

…………………………………………………..

The next few weeks were filled with collecting documents, writing emails, putting things in the mail, making phone calls, doing whatever we could think of to get our visa extension approved.  We wrote an email to the immigration department in Dublin, telling them about the trip we’d had planned to the Philippines, and about Branden’s trip to the UK.  Their response was quick and definite – if we left the country without our visas being secure, we’d be denied re-entry at the border.

The boys and I were meant to fly on Thursday, October 25th.  We’d submitted our documents and request for the extension and gotten a letter in the post saying everything had been received.  I had a peace from the Lord that it would be approved.  What I didn’t know was when.  As the days and weeks went by, I began to settle in my heart that we most likely would not be joining my family in the Philippines.

People were praying for our visas, that they’d come through and quickly.  Those that knew about the trip were heavy-hearted with us and praying that somehow things would work out for us to go.  Some days I was fine, successfully entrusting my emotions to the Lord.  Other days I was a mess.  Branden would find me crying by myself.  He’d pull me close and just pray.

We weren’t supposed to be able to go.  Why would God provide, knowing that the timing wouldn’t work out?  I was relieved I hadn’t told the boys.  I made the phone call to my mom. It was awful.  Not a lot of things worst than watching your mom cry over FaceTime.

The Sunday before we were supposed to get on the plane, my friend Barbara caught me at church.  She and her husband own a jewelry business in their town.  She said there was a politician who they were acquainted with, that had his office there.

“You should go in and try to meet with him, let him know that you have this trip coming up, and that you need his help with your visa!”

I had all but resolved that we wouldn’t be going.  She talked with such determination, that we should explain that we’d had this trip planned for so long, that all we needed was a letter saying we could get back into the country.

“Maybe pop into his office tomorrow, and see what he can do!”

Later, she texted me his location and phone number.  I talked to Branden.  In the morning, we drove down to his office.

His secretary told us he wasn’t there and asked what we needed.  We explained our situation.  They let us know that their office couldn’t really help us, but that there was a place in the city centre that helps with visas.  They wrote down the details and sent us on our way.  We drove to the city and found the office.  Two and a half hours later, we finally sat down with someone.  Someone who had never dealt with our particular visa.  She pulled up the website we’d already been working from and read the info aloud, mostly to herself, and apologized she couldn’t be more helpful.  Another discouraging day.

Barbara called me the next day to ask how things had gone.  Not great.  I really didn’t see how things were going to work out for us to go, but she only seemed more determined!

“Why don’t I meet you in the morning, and we can go back into the politician’s office together?”

In the morning, I left the boys at home with Branden and met Barbara.  Part of me felt like it would be useless.  It was Wednesday.  We were supposed to get on our flight at 8:15pm on Thursday night.  We’d been trying everything we could for weeks with no progress.  Another part of me thought, “Hey, it can’t hurt right?  This might be just how the Lord wants to work things out.”

We walked into the office; the secretary recognized me from two days before.  She walked to the counter with a pen and paper.  I explained our visa situation again and that we’d followed their advice and had gone to the place in the city, but that they’d been unable to help us.  Then Barbara spoke up.

“It’s just that they have this trip planned, and they really need someone to sort something before tomorrow!  Please, anything you can do to help.  Is there someone you can call?  Anything!”

I had to smile at how passionate she sounded.  Barbara also has family living abroad, and I knew she knew how important it was to be with your people.  The secretary wrote down my information and said to keep my phone nearby, that their office would call another politician’s office in a different town, who might be able to do something for us.

Barbara and I left and went to a coffee shop where we chatted for a while and waited for my phone to ring.  Nothing.  We walked to our cars and I told her I’d keep her updated.

2pm – Barbara texts me to ask if anyone’s called.  Nothing.

3:30pm – She texts again.  Nothing.  She messages that she’s going to drive down and go back into the office.  Twenty minutes later my phone rings.  It’s Barbara.  She greets me and hands the phone to the secretary who tells me she’s going to send a message to the immigration department in Dublin.  She tells me to keep my phone on, and that someone will call me before 5pm.  At this point, I’m really thankful for Barbara!  Even if things don’t work out, she’s fighting for us!

5pm comes and goes.  My heart settles back into resolved disappointment.  We tried right?  We really did.  Maybe it’s just not the Lord’s will for us to go.  And I don’t get it, but that’s okay.  It’s going to be okay.

I cried on and off the rest of the night.  “There’s still time,” Branden said, trying to encourage me.  “Let’s give it until noon tomorrow.”

“There’s just no more time Branden.  It’s fine.  Even if they did call by noon and somehow emailed us our extension letter, we’d still have to go down to the Garda station to get them to update our file.  The last time we went down there, we were in that line for four hours.  I haven’t packed anything.  We’re not going be able to go, and it’s fine.”  I was telling myself too.  It’s fine.  It’s just one of those things that I don’t understand.  But God is still good.  I would see my family in the spring, Lord willing, when we go on furlough.  It’s okay.

“I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvelous works.”

It is my great privilege to tell His stories.

………………………………………….

We’ve been home for a little over two weeks now, and I still can’t believe how it happened…

Some of you know that Branden and I were facing some challenges with securing our visas for our third year here in Ireland.  A couple of months ago, we went to renew them and, after standing in line for almost four hours, were told that the laws regarding our visas have recently changed.  We are now only guaranteed two years on our particular visa, and we’ve already used them.  If we want to stay any longer, we need to send documents in to Ireland’s immigration department and ask for an extension.  Once we have permission in writing, we can go back, stand in the crazy line again, and then apply.

That news came as a bit of a shock honestly.  We walked away from the Garda station a little off balance, dazed, anxious.  We had no plans of leaving Ireland or stopping the work we’d been doing with Calvary Cork.  We had no plans of doing anything else at all.  Now everything was up in the air, and it seemed we had very little control over our family’s future.  And not even control, we had no idea what would even happen.

“The Lord has a good plan,” Branden reassured me.

Yes, but what was it?

All these thoughts came then.  We were walking in the city, sending messages to our pastor and some of the leaders in our church, letting them know the situation.  The boys were talking, I remember too loud.  Branden was holding my hand and speaking quietly, to himself, to me.  I knew he was worried too.  My heart felt physically heavy in my chest and I knew if I let myself, I could just start crying, lose it right there on Oliver Plunkett Street.

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Among all the things this could mean, there was this trip we had planned.  The boys and I were supposed to meet my parents and sisters and their families in the Philippines at the end of October to celebrate my mom’s 60th birthday.  The last (and only other) time I’d ever been there was twenty years ago, and this would be the first time for the boys!

When my mom first told me about wanting to go (over a year ago now), I told her there was no way we could join them.  She was planning two and a half weeks of sight-seeing, eating amazing food, enjoying beaches, and more.  Maybe most special of all, we’d spend the entire time with her only sister, my Aunt and Uncle who are missionaries in the Philippines.  I remember when we first moved to Ireland, having a conversation with my Aunt, knowing that this life the Lord had called us both to meant that we may never be in the same country at the same time again.  I love her, and this thought was a bit heart wrenching, but we’d both accepted it.  Now there was this trip, but there was just no way.

I’d explained to my mom that we just didn’t have the money.  She reassured me that they would help cover the expenses while we were there – food, transportation, activities.  But even then, just airline tickets would be far more than we could cover.

For a while, anytime we’d chat, she’d talk about the plans for “when we go to the Philippines.”  Different activities, places she was arranging for us to see.  I knew she was excited and speaking with the hope that somehow we’d all be able to be there together.  In the spring, I finally asked her to stop.  It was too hard listening to all the things we’d be missing out on.  And I knew the longer she thought about the trip with us there, the harder it would be when reality hit.  She didn’t like that conversation.  Neither did I.  But we both understood.

Fast forward to June.  I was having a conversation with a friend, and we were talking about living away from family.  She’d spent some time abroad as well and knew the challenges, to herself, to her kids.  I was telling her about this trip, how living away had its challenges for us, but also for our families.  This is the reality and maybe for us, the hardest part of following the Lord to far away places.

“You have to go!” she said.

“Where?”

“To the Philippines!  This would be a once in a lifetime trip!”

” I know, but there’s no way.”  I was a bit confused actually.  I’d already explained that.

“I’m going to pay for the tickets.”

“What?” More confusion.

“I’ve been looking them up while we’ve been talking.  It’s totally doable.  You should definitely go!”

The rest of the conversation was sort of a blur.  I think I told her there was no way she could do that, that maybe she should talk with her husband first!  She said they’d actually already talked, not about the trip, but that they felt like the Lord wanted them to send us a certain amount of money for support, the same amount of money that it seemed we needed to go to the Philippines!

I was still in shock.  Was there really a way we could go?  I told her I’d talk to Branden and call her later.

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“You should absolutely go!” Branden said, looking at the calendar app on his phone.  “The conference in the UK is right in the middle of the trip, so I probably can’t join you, but you and the boys should be there.”

I’d forgotten about a children’s ministry conference Branden and I had agreed to teach at.  They’d asked Branden initially in the spring.  He’d mentioned that I was available to teach too, if they needed more instructors, and that was the plan.  Now Branden was typing an email to the director, letting him know that he would be there and pick up the slack for anything I was supposed to do, but that I would be otherwise engaged.

I called my friend.  A few days later, the tickets were booked.  We were going to the Philippines!

I called my mom, who was both laughing and crying out of happiness!  All of her children and grandchildren would be in the Philippines, celebrating together!

I didn’t tell the boys.  I actually never tell them anything until we’re on the way to do it.  It means lots of surprises for them, and no incessant “How much longer?” and “When is it going to happen?!” questions for me.  This would be a BIG surprise!  It’s interesting, moving away from the only home your kids have known, what kinds of things they say they miss.  Some are the same as you, some are surprisingly different.  We all agree; time with family is precious.

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Okay, back to a couple months ago with the visa, or lack of visa really.  With all the crazy, unsettled thoughts swirling in my head, I pictured my mom.  Would we be able to go on this trip with our visas up in the air?  What would she say?  How would she take it?