Hi Loved Ones!
It's Andrea and Sven again :) (Andrea writing) Sven and I hope you are doing well, we've loved connecting with many of you again in person and in emails! Just so you know, we will mostly be using our combined email from now on: [email protected] (it works with a dot or without) Here's another update. Enjoy!
Visa:
As you may or may not know we are still in South Africa waiting for Sven's Visa to come. He's applied for a Religious Workers Visa, which is good for 2 years and renewable from Aus after that. Getting this one means we won't have to leave the country again to apply for a Visa, and I can be a dependent on Sven's visa once my current Student Visa runs up in 2 years.
Visa processing status: The application was sent off to the Australian Embassy in Pretoria SA and received on the 8th of August (after being mailed express and then sat in the mail box uncollected for 2 weeks). So, we've been here now for almost 8 weeks and have been in contact with the embassy frequently. Today we heard that they will call us back about it next week, and though they know that our flight is scheduled for next friday, the 31st of August, we're not sure if it will come by then. In faith for it, but who knows really. If it doesn't come by next wednesday we'll be changing our flight to a later date.
Holidays:
During these past 7 weeks we've been able to connect with family and friends here in Durban, something that was long overdue as Sven hasn't been home for an extended time since 2005, before he did his DTS. We've also been blessed to get away to Mozambique, Cape Town and a little trip to Pretoria (which is near Johannesburg) not for the Visa, but to pick up a trailer for Sven's dad and to connect with some family there.
In Cape Town we were able to stay with Sven's uncle, Athol, who he hasn't seen in years. He is such a kind and generous man, it was a joy to get to know him and do some special things together like re-plant a tree that signified the life of Sven's mom (Athol's sister), go to MacGregor and eat some goooood meals together! While there we even got free tickets to see Switchfoot, climb a mountain, explore the beautiful area (that reminds me a lot of Vancouver) and visit the YWAM base and good friends there.
Perth:
When we get back to Perth we will both be getting ready for our schools that start at the beginning of October. We have new staff to train and prepping for as leaders for the schools - organising the schedule, welcome book, getting supplies for students, etc. Our schools are 6 months long, consisting of a 3 month lecture phase and 3 month outreach. We're not sure where we will be going yet for outreach but look forward to all that God has in store for these next schools. (you can check out our Facebook pages: Art Evangelists School and FrontLine DTS, or YWAM Perth website: www.ywamperth.org.au)
The biggest current need we have for now is our visa, we'll keep you up to date with it and when we'll be back in Aus, but please be aware of it as it's important and would really appreciate your prayers in this matter. Thanks so much!
Lots of love,
Andrea and Sven
It's Andrea and Sven again :) (Andrea writing) Sven and I hope you are doing well, we've loved connecting with many of you again in person and in emails! Just so you know, we will mostly be using our combined email from now on: [email protected] (it works with a dot or without) Here's another update. Enjoy!
Visa:
As you may or may not know we are still in South Africa waiting for Sven's Visa to come. He's applied for a Religious Workers Visa, which is good for 2 years and renewable from Aus after that. Getting this one means we won't have to leave the country again to apply for a Visa, and I can be a dependent on Sven's visa once my current Student Visa runs up in 2 years.
Visa processing status: The application was sent off to the Australian Embassy in Pretoria SA and received on the 8th of August (after being mailed express and then sat in the mail box uncollected for 2 weeks). So, we've been here now for almost 8 weeks and have been in contact with the embassy frequently. Today we heard that they will call us back about it next week, and though they know that our flight is scheduled for next friday, the 31st of August, we're not sure if it will come by then. In faith for it, but who knows really. If it doesn't come by next wednesday we'll be changing our flight to a later date.
Holidays:
During these past 7 weeks we've been able to connect with family and friends here in Durban, something that was long overdue as Sven hasn't been home for an extended time since 2005, before he did his DTS. We've also been blessed to get away to Mozambique, Cape Town and a little trip to Pretoria (which is near Johannesburg) not for the Visa, but to pick up a trailer for Sven's dad and to connect with some family there.
In Cape Town we were able to stay with Sven's uncle, Athol, who he hasn't seen in years. He is such a kind and generous man, it was a joy to get to know him and do some special things together like re-plant a tree that signified the life of Sven's mom (Athol's sister), go to MacGregor and eat some goooood meals together! While there we even got free tickets to see Switchfoot, climb a mountain, explore the beautiful area (that reminds me a lot of Vancouver) and visit the YWAM base and good friends there.
Perth:
When we get back to Perth we will both be getting ready for our schools that start at the beginning of October. We have new staff to train and prepping for as leaders for the schools - organising the schedule, welcome book, getting supplies for students, etc. Our schools are 6 months long, consisting of a 3 month lecture phase and 3 month outreach. We're not sure where we will be going yet for outreach but look forward to all that God has in store for these next schools. (you can check out our Facebook pages: Art Evangelists School and FrontLine DTS, or YWAM Perth website: www.ywamperth.org.au)
The biggest current need we have for now is our visa, we'll keep you up to date with it and when we'll be back in Aus, but please be aware of it as it's important and would really appreciate your prayers in this matter. Thanks so much!
Lots of love,
Andrea and Sven