Expect the Unexpected
I spent multiple hours earlier this week navigating random glitches on Indian Immigrations online e-visa application form. After several fails it finally accepted my details and payment. I breathed a sigh of relief and went off for a stress-relieving walk around Halswell Quarry. The grazing ewes and newborn lambs looked pretty calm and content and the wind on my face was soothing. A few hours later I received an email telling me I had 24hrs to send a detailed itinerary of travel, accommodation and activity from my current and past two visits to the country! Sean the Leprechaun had triggered an alert in their system. Just like the little green men in their online programme had triggered alerts in mine! I felt like I’d been given out with a dubious third umpire call!
My heart rate went up a notch. I sent off a flurry of emails and messages to our Indian partners, Jo Smith and Kaaren and Jeph Mattias seeking urgent advice. Kaaren and Jeph’s account promptly fired back an auto reply saying they were off adventuring in the mountains and wouldn’t be contactable until October 21st! “Bummer… three weeks from now ’ll be in Bangladesh. Way too late for advice.” My heart rate went up another notch. I took some deep breaths, dug into my old emails and files, found details of my past trips to India and compiled a rough draft document. Hours later my phone pinged. Jo and Kaaren were back in touch suggesting how to carefully curate my current itinerary. I wonder if Kaaren got off her bike on a 4000 metre mountain pass to tap out an answer to my plea for help! I didn’t have time to write back and ask.
I flicked off a bunch of new messages to my daughter and son-in-law in Kolkata. It was the middle of the night there so they were in deep zzzz mode! I kept digging and drafting. Somewhere in there I had a feeble crack at mindfulness exercises and contemplative prayer practice. Lizzie rang me at 2.30pm (7am Kolkata time!) and talked me through some further crafting and diplomatic wordsmithing. We were now close to the end of the 24-hour window. The pdfs were sent off with about an 60 mins to spare.
Two days later and I’m still in the standby zone waiting for that third umpire to take a second look. Hoping for good news. Working on staying calm and trustful. Super keen to join the rest of the team on the other side of the visa hoops.
Please keep praying with the Vision Trip Team as we continue our adventure. Pray that we will learn to flex, adapt and pivot when circumstances and officialdom require it. Pray especially that we will learn to rest in God’s care each step of the way.
“Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 143:8)