5 years!

Today is one special day in the Mntanga household! I think it may be my favorite day of all. We worked so hard for it and I am constantly reminded of how blessed we are. We made it. We survived the visa process. Persistence paid off. The stars aligned. God answered prayers. We were in the same place with no return ticket in hand.


Luba arrived on this day 5 years ago. I can still remember what a chaotic day it was (and night before). Our water got shut off at home so I stayed in a hotel so I could shower. He left South Africa on October 23, arriving the next day. I spent the whole morning waiting, freaking out, getting my make-up done, pacing, waiting some more. There was no cell phone in the process so I had to rely on checking the app and waiting for him to walk through the arrivals door at Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.

For those that don't know the whole backstory, we had only spent time together when I visited South Africa. Luba was never given a visa to visit the USA so he only visited when he moved here, with no return ticket. The rest of the time we communicated via Skype, instant messaging and emails. He was on his way to bed when I woke up and then on his way to work when I went to bed. The time difference and my long days at work didn't work well for us. What did work for us was God, a whole lot of praying and faith, and friends and family support. I was reminded of some moments that occurred during our visa journey that could only be divine provision. When you are in the immigration process, you have to rely on two countries' governments working flawlessly- I'll just leave that right there. This morning, I was reminded of the final step to fall into place to conclude our documentation to get an interview at the US Embassy in South Africa. We were waiting on a police clearance that had already been long overdue (and paid for). Luba called, but he always got the "run around." Had we had extra cash lying around for a bribe, this step would have taken a lot less time. For his job, he did a lot of transportation for people and at the last minute, he had an assignment change. He was then asked to drive two women to the airport. They asked him to make some pit stops along the way, which was initially frustrating. Being in the car for longer than a quick trip to the airport meant more time to chat. Our visa story came into light as did the last never-ending step of police clearance. Of all the people that he wound up driving "at the last minute," he was transporting the woman who was a high ranking government official who was appalled at this situation. This woman gave Luba her personal cell phone number and assured him that she would take care of everything and asked him to call her a few days later. He did, and we got his police clearance that same day. This concluded the documentation and pushed us through to the end. We had moments scattered all throughout the journey that were so humbling and a reminder of provision and divinity.


Our visa journey started with paperwork on 1/25/13 and our interview was approved on 8/26/13. For some, the paperwork takes much longer. This felt like forever, but our process was relatively quick.  This is what the steps look like - each with a TON of documentation and money.





Luba arrived and we headed to Santa Monica for the night. We did all the things that couples take for granted. We walked by the ocean. We perused the sights on the Santa Monica Pier. We had a glass of wine and ate dinner together. We were able to have a conversation without a return date looming in the back of our minds.

Today I'm reminded of all that we can easily take for granted - people, experiences, provision, faith, and tangible results of waiting and praying. Before he came, I made lists of all the things we could do together - picnics, cook dinner, sightsee, go to church, wake up in the same place every day, etc. Today always sets a "reset" button for me.


This year, we are all the more thankful.

On behalf of us, hug a little tighter today. Squeeze your babies. Show appreciation for your "other person." Thank God for your blessings. Count your blessings. Go on a special date. Hold hands. Cheers over a glass of pinotage. Steal a kiss. Encourage someone in a long distance relationship.


Love,
Danielle