a chronological re-visit of God's wonders

Another chapter done. A quick summary would look something like this:

February 2009 -- spontaneous conclusion to a trip round-the-world. Landing in Edinburgh, as soon as I stepped outside of the plane door into the Scottish air, a weight was lifted from my shoulders and I knew in my heart I was home, for now.

And a room in my old flat had opened up the night before. I was moving home!

March 2009 -- after returning to the UK, the severity of the recession was starting to become a reality as fewer and fewer job opportunities appeared on the market, and fewer still even bothered to send me a rejection letter after applying. Keeping my silly optimism, landed a casual waitressing job at a restaurant up the road, working 2-3 times a week and scraping by on rent.

May 2009 -- after failing to get a more consistent waitressing job in a cafe and losing my other waitressing job, I got on a train to Pitlochry for a conference on a Friday afternoon with no prospects of employment. At all. And feeling quite sorry for myself at that point deep down, due to my inability to make a latte and be employable.

That night, in a byre over lasagne with people I didn't really know, two of the conference staff kept talking about the Scottish holiday they were hosting that following week in the Cairngorms and how they needed volunteers to help make it happen. I ignored the first comment, but as it continued to come up over the course of dinner and the conference, it finally sunk in that I had no plans for the following year, much less the following week, so said I could help out. And found myself on a train to Kinguissie Sunday night to spend a week cooking, cleaning, hiking, bird watching and dolphin watching in the Highlands.

On the train journey back to Edinburgh, I was asked to apply for a post with the charity.

June 2009 -- traveled to London for my interview and was convinced that I wasn't getting the job. How wrong I was.

August 2009 -- two weeks of training with A Roch for a two-day / week post. With the expiration of my visa looming over my head, I knew it was a great start but wasn't enough to keep me in the UK. A post for an admin role in Edinburgh appeared online. Three days / week. Contact: a friend of mine.

September 2009 -- started working full time, 2 days a week for A Rocha, three days a week for this university. Needed to start lining up details for the visa application now that employment was in place. Certain amount of funds needed by Nov 1.

November 2009 -- funds in the bank.

January 2010 -- employers more than willing to be flexible and have A Rocha employ me full time and sponsor me for my visa. Certificate of sponsorship comes through 1 week before the deadline for my application.

February 2010 -- application in the post the day before the deadline. Peace settles in my heart, and an echoing voice saying -- I provide all that you need for my promises to be fulfilled.
Called in for biometrics.

March 2010 -- approval letter, passport and visa ID card arrive in the post, one week before I'm leaving the country to go on holiday in Morocco.

God is funny, timely and loves in such an extravagant, BIG way! Even when I question, He smiles and provides with arms wide open.

And God said, "I will be with you." -- Exodus 4:12