Visa Delays

Feelings about visa delays. :)

All day we have been looking forward to getting a phone call from Alexis from the airport before she left for Australia.  A little before 6pm we got what we thought was that call.  Unfortunately she was calling from the MTC.  Her visa did not arrive in time.  She told us in this quick phone call, that most of the missionaries headed to Australia had been temporarily reassigned to missions in Washington and Oregon until their visas come through.  But Alexis and her cousin Annie Tanner and just a few others were still scheduled to leave.  The status of their visas was that they were at the consulate, because of this they thought they would get the needed information today and still be able to leave tonight.  At about 2:30 this afternoon they came into their classroom to give them the news.  They will be staying at the MTC until next Monday, hoping that the visas will come and they can still go to Australia next week.  If not is is possible that she will be temporarily reassigned as well.  We are praying it comes!!  As we were talking to her I was listening with that Mom ear to see how she was handling this.  She sounded fine, happy, peaceful.  She even said that she and her cousin both had the strong impression that they had more they needed to learn at the MTC, and that this was what needed to happen.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed at the amazing faith my daughter has.  It was so fun to talk to her, even if the news was a little disappointing.  She is definitely still the same girl I sent off too-her closing comments were, "I"m going to be here another whole week, so send lots of packages!" 

The Lord is the in the details of our lives though.  I received confirmation of this yet again after Lexie called.  I make a conference quote calendar every six months with quotes from the current conference.  The quote for today, that was chosen long before I knew when or where she would be serving, was this- "The Lord's delays often seem long; some last a lifetime.  But they are always calculated to bless.  They need never be times of loneliness or sorrow or impatience." -Pres. Eyring
I am sure that this delay will bless Lexie's life.  It is also a little blessing that her other cousin going to Australia goes into the MTC on Wednesday, so perhaps these three cousins can have a little reunion there before they leave.