This was an excerpt from a prayer warrior request that we sent out as we were in Houston applying for our visas:
Email from us on 7/25/09
“There is almost no reason why they should approve us. Yes, you read that right: there is almost no reason why they should approve us. For one thing, we don't have a big fat bank account that proves we already have enough money to get us through the 3 years that we are applying for.”
Another email from us on 7/25/09
“Greetings Fellow Warriors! Here is the scoop on our visit to the consulate this morning.
The good news: she didn't hand us back the papers and tell us never to come back again. Whew!
The bad news: she wouldn't accept our residence visa request, because she said our "proof of financial means" document was worthless (as we feared - we just don't happen to have 3 years worth of living expenses in a bank account right this moment), as well as our "proof of adequate lodging" document (it was a letter from an Italian realtor stating that we were retaining his services when we get there - you can't rent a home without a permesso, and you can't get a permesso without a visa, and now they're telling us we can't get a visa without lodging already arranged).
The good news: she did offer us another option. She suggested Randall apply for a study visa for 1 year.
The bad news: this means more work, more hoops to jump through.
The good news: we apparently won't have to come back to Houston for these new requirements; they can be done by fax and mail.
Anyway, Randall now has to show proof of enrollment with a recognized full-time school (can be language school, fortunately) in Italy. Then we have to have a bank statement that shows we have $900 per month to live on for the next year ($10,000-12,000). For the adequate lodging, she said booking a hotel for the first week and showing proof of that would be adequate. And we have to buy our plane tickets. Randall asked what if we buy our plane tickets and 1 week's hotel, and she turns us down for the visas, and she said that would not happen.
Emily, Andrew & I would apply for tourist visas, then when we apply for our permessos we would request a family permesso since we are accompanying Randall on his study visa.”
Email from us on 8/8/09
“It has been exactly one month since the prayer session when we made the decision to obey God and go, and since then He has provided the money needed to go to Houston to apply for our visas, (and that includes more than just the trip itself; it also includes getting 50 documents notarized for NO CHARGE, and 4 sets of passport photos taken of Randall, Andrew, and me at NO CHARGE), He is making the visas work out so far through other hoops, He has provided the money for plane tickets, we have had several DESPERATELY needed car repairs done, and i have been able to buy several items needed for our move to Italy, AND ALL THIS WITHOUT US HAVING ASKED ONE PERSON FOR THE MONEY, EXCEPT THE LORD HIMSELF. And all this considering that for the last 18 months we have been waiting for these very things to happen, but waiting for all our ducks to be in a row before we'd go.”
Now for the wet-blankets (spiritual warfare)...
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