The last question on Fred’s application (which we filled out months ago when we first made the appointment) asked if Fred was related to or engaged to anyone living in the U.S.  We paused in our progress, recognizing what such an answer could cost us; and indeed, it did. 

Fred’s engagment was the key issue – the only issue – during his interview. Very likely, if we had lied on his application, Fred would have recieved his visa; however, that is not really a plausible scenario, for as Fred said to me today, “There was no other choice; that was the answer.”

Thank you for your prayers.  Please do not be disappointed with the result or think them unaswered.  They were!!  And in the very best way possible – through God’s tremendous work of grace in our hearts. 

I am disappointed, and yes, I’ve cried (Fred has, too.); but we are not devestated or disillusioned by the consulate’s response.  God is still sovereign, and God is still good.  That has not changed.  Although we may have trouble seeing the answer through our earthly eyes, this answer is the best answer for Fred and my good; and we praise Him for His marvelous work of grace in our lives.

O Father, You are Sovereign
(to the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation”)

O Father, You are Sovereign
In all the worlds you made;
Your mighty word has spoken,
And light and life obeyed.
Your voice commands the seasons
And bound the ocean shore,
Sets stars within their courses
And still the tempest’s roar.

O Father, You are Sovereign
In all affairs of man;
No powers of death and darkness
Can thwart Your perfect plan.
All chance and change transcending,’
Supreme in time and space,
You hold your trusting children
Secure in Your embrace.

O Father, You are Sovereign,
Lord of human pain,
Transmuting earthly sorrows
To gold of heavenly gain.
All evil overruling
And none by Conqueror could,
Your love pursues its purpose -
Our soul’s eternal good.

O Father, You are Sovereign;
We see you dimly now,
But soon before Your triumph
Earth’s every knee shall bow.
With this glad hope before us
Our faith springs forth anew;
Our sovereign Lord and Savior,
We trust and worship You.

That’s significant for several reasons.  First and most obvious, it adds to the wait time for Fred’s visa.  The Lord knows how much I need to learn to depend and wait on Him, and He has graciously given me more time to do so. 

Second, this affects many – okay, nearly all of the planning aspects for the wedding.  While the end-of-June interview date put pressure on our tentative wedding schedule, it still left time to arrange and take care of various details.  The corrected end-of-July date, a mere few weeks before the wedding, does not. 

On one hand, all this makes me want to laugh.  After all, I’ve always been a haphazard last-minute girl who somehow manages to perform (relatively) well under pressure…um, you all don’t need to agree so readily on that point…anyway, it’s only fitting then that my wedding should be so, too.

On the other hand, I have to laugh, too, when I think of my mother.  (Poor dear.)  You see, thus far in the wedding planning process, I have been told, “No,” several times.  (The key word seems to be liability.)  Flexibility has already taken on new meaning for me and my family this year, but we will, no doubt, plumb its depths in the month to come; and now I have all the more reason to be creative!  Things are going to get interesting around here.  (There’s a reason this blog is entitled, “The Adventures of Fred and Fern”!)

With that said, let the festivities commence!