Note: To listen to an audio version of this update, click here
“Had we not been deterred, we could have gone and come back twice by now.”
– Judah, Genesis 43:10
Special Fall Update 2023 — Delayed but not Disheartened
Good morning, to all who have been following our journey. I’m writing to you from Louisville, Kentucky. And, well, I suppose that that fact is what I’m writing to you about. Thank you to so many of you who have reached out to us these last couple of weeks asking how our trip was to Japan or what our visa status is! You all already know then. Our original departure date was November 21st, but we’ve had to reschedule.
This won’t be a long update. But I’ll be sending another if and when we do make to Japan—Lord willing, in the very near future! Perhaps I was a little ambitious in my last update. But I do not regret it, for it was ambition held in good faith. And I’d take that kind of faith over hesitant disbelief any day. So, here’s what happened.
On July 1st, we submitted our visa applications to the immigrations office in Japan and were given a timeline to expect approval (or denial) in two to six months. We were also told to reach out if we hadn’t heard anything back by September or October. We’ve been reaching out, but the only update being given right now is that our applications are pending “under review” (as they’ve been from the beginning). And, well, it is now the first of December.
This morning, in Japan time, our missionary friends in Japan went in-person to the immigrations office in Tokyo to inquire for us on the delay. They were told the same thing. Our visa applications are still pending “under review.” And no expectation date was provided. As you can imagine, this is not exactly how we envisioned things going. Are we complaining? Not one bit. In fact the verse I quoted at the top was done fully in good humor. (Plus, if you go back and read Genesis 42-43, but view their youngest brother Benjamin as their visa application, our story does have some humorous parallels.) No, we are not angry or discouraged. Disappointed? Of course. Most of our earthly possessions are packed away in totes in our hall closet. We’re more or less living out of a suitcase for the time being, waiting for that call. But in the meantime, every single one of our needs are being met. There’s simply nothing to complain about. We’ve learned along the way that God’s timing is always—and I do mean always—better than ours. Every single time.
In closing, we don’t know when we’ll get that approval. It could even be this week. But we are eager to go and quite ready to do so. Not only does Japan await, but we also have a baby due this Spring! The clock is ticking. But for now, we patiently wait and pray, knowing that God is in control and that he is infinitely good (James 1:17). Keep your eye out for our social media updates for when we do get those visas. We’ll also have a link there for those who want to tune into our home church’s send-off service for us at that time.
Oh, and a big thanks is coming for those of you who have already given to our startup fund. I’ll have all of those numbers as they come in over the next couple of months! If you’re new to our updates, this was the document outlining basic categories needed, as of a couple months ago.
Grace and peace,
Joe and Sierah Pliska