Bumps on the Road

The past couple of weeks I've been reluctant to write on my progress preparing to go to ATL for the STINT mission. Mostly because I've been discouraged, I started doubting whether or not it was possible at all for me to make it to Atlanta, let alone start ministry. 

There were 3 major issues that I had to deal with. Support. Visa. Time. 

Even before I started all preparing for STINT, actually even when I hadn't decided whether or not I would sign up, these 3 things were always my biggest concern.

Visa. The USA is notorious for being very difficult to get into, usually by making it very complicated to get a visa. I was told that it would be more difficult for me to get a visa because I hold an Indonesian passport. Also because I am not being supported by my parents. All these things put together would make immigration officials assume I'm running to the US to become an illegal immigrant....

Time. I was blindsided a few weeks ago by the news that I had to be in Atlanta a month earlier than what we had planned. This means 1 less month of prep time, be it visa, funds, getting my school stuff wrapped up in Korea, and also this would mean I would not have a chance to say goodbye to a lot of friends that will be out of the country on vacation. 

Support. I have been incredibly discouraged by the lack of interest that I have been getting concerning this mission. I guess I was naive to think that every single person who heard about my plans would be moved to support, financially, or at least through prayer and encouragement. It was incredibly sad to see some people leaving behind the prayer cards I had given, as if they were just some trash. This opened my eyes so much to see that it was not on man that I had to rely on, but on God.

All these things put together have gotten me down the last few days, but after some words of wisdom from those around me, and a well needed Scripture wake up call, I'm finally feeling a lot better. How that came to be is a whole other post.