USA Visa God miracle!!!

Well where do I start, if this is just the beginning of the journey then definitely the rest is going to be such fun with Jesus!!!! When the Embassy moved my appointment I was wondering what was happening but was relieved in one way as it seemed it was just a bit much and was just not wanting to be in a rush and needed all my things that they want done correctly. So the Friday I am sitting chatting to a friend of mine who has been to America and applied for visa before, she says Cath just be honest about your intentions to go, because what I just could not get around was proof that I was coming back which to the Embassy is a key area, also the fact that I am unemployed does not help me. But as I was talking to her it was just making sense that I just needed to be honest and completely open about what I want. And also use the Mozambique time as proof that I am now a "missionary" and that travelling places is just what my life is about now. And the fact that I came back to South Africa after being in Mozambique shows that I do have intentions of travelling and coming back home.

So then I needed to also get a photo, they are really specific did not realise it, thought I could just take a picture of myself and print it out. Anyway so I did take a picture of myself and go off to town the one day and now I want to get it printed, I go into this one photo shop, they guy is a bit useless cant really help my I just got frustrated and walked out. So then in the centre of town I stand wondering where can I go to get this printed, so I am wondering around town, my friend says there is one in this one centre, we end up going there I ask the guy can he print my photo out he says their machine is broken, he then asked me what it is for, I tell him for American visa, he says oh, well they used to do the pictures for the American visa's all the time as the embassy used to be close by, so I show him my picture he laughs and says they would never accept that, and says he will take my picture and make sure it's the standard they need. To me this is just little things that God does to make sure my life is just made one step simpler and He is so gracious that He sends me in the right direction even when I don't have a clue where I am going, by the way this photo thing happened Tuesday afternoon at like 3h30 and the guy was gracious enough to do it for me as he says usually I would have to wait a day for it, which would not have been good as my interview was the next morning.



I arrive at the embassy on time but stand in this queue, but sometimes God uses my disability to get me to the front of the queue and so the security guards take me in and sort me out sooner then all the other people, they saw I was walking strangely!!! Anyway I then saw them turning people away because of the wrong size photos, and I just praised Jesus for mine!!! So off we go to the next thing, I give them my documents, the guy says you are unemployed I said I know, so he highlights this fact on the sheet and gives me a number and says wait to be called. So I am sitting in the waiting area, just praying in tongues, and just before I get called I sense these angels that went ahead of me to prepare what was to come. So I went up when they called, now you stand in front of this glass window and speak through a phone to the guy interviewing you, its quiet a guarded place, so the first thing he says to me is so you are unemployed, what have you been doing then, so I told him I was in Mozambique for 3 months on a mission school. Then he wants to know well what am I going to do when I get back to South Africa, so I said I don't know God has not told me yet, so he looks at me and says so when did you get struck by lighting, so I just laugh at him and say why, he is like how can you live like that, so I just am kind of laughing but also knowing that God needs to speak now because I could just talk myself into the wrong thing here, so he says you are a qualified accountant what were you doing before Mozambique, so I tell him I was working with churches and NGO and i felt God tell me to resign and go to Mozambique. In Mozambique I felt him say I should go to America and well this is what I am trying to do, so he looks at me again and says you really got struck by lighting didn't you, He says to me you are a very unusual case, and so we carry on talking about denominations churches, how organisations need help etc. then he says ok well here is the story, we really don't have a category that you fall into(so now I am thinking that he is going to deny me a visa) but I will give you a 1 year visa, under the fact that you seem to be serious about following what God tells you and you proved it by the fact that you quit your job and went to Mozambique, and got struck by lighting, and he is putting on my visa that I work with NGO doing accounting and that what I plan to do when I get back as I need some kind of reason to tell the guys at the airport when they still need to give me access into the country. Then he takes my finger prints tells me I am sweating to much as my hands were sweating, and asks me am I nervous, but I just laugh and say no its hot, but I was nervous a bit but it was such fun because I realised God was so there and helped me speak what I needed to and the guy had fun talking to me as he was amused by my thoughts and way of life. So I guess if I was in the world they would have denied me a visa, but because I have big God on my side, he just opens doors for me and I just have to walk!!!!! Its such fun!!

Love for Everyone!

Hi All!

well time has flown and its nearly time for me to get on a plane and
come back home, i leave here the 8 January. i know that so much of me
just wants to stay but i also know so much of me wants to leave and
pour out Gods love in other places!

I tried a bit to begin to express what this time in Mozambique has
been for me, but at times its so hard to get out of my mouth what God
has done as its deep heart stuff and so showed me that the Christian
life is far more then i could even dream or imagine. but as i walk out
my little life that i have given to him over and over here, wanting
just him to lead me and him to mould me like a jar of clay i trust
that where ever i go from here i will be able to express what God has
done in me here, to all those i meet and come into contact with!
i have leart that my life means nothing unless its laid at the foot of
the cross and Jesus has full control, to the point of giving up
everything for him, whether its hugging a child or giving someone some
food, or smiling at someone who has never seen a smile before, trust
me i saw some interesting things here, especially at the hospital we
went to visit!

the past few days have really been a blessing from God, have been able
to have a break and spend a lot of time on the beach and swimming in
the sea, its hard to get me out the sea, its so warm and wonderful, i
like being a fish, in the sea and also a fish soaking up the Holy
Stream of water from heaven!
i think to share one of the biggest things God did, was the point he
brought me to and showed me that its not about me, its about the body
of christ and about the lost people out there. and how the body of
christ functions together and we are a sign to this walking out of the
body we are to represent the fragrance of christ! its a prophetic walk
i experienced here and will never forget even as i continue to walk it
out!

think thats all i have to say for now, will catch up with you when i
get back to Cape Town.
love
catherine

Fire, Water, Holy Spirit, Church

Hi to those close to my heart and pray friends!

i just wanted to say hello and share some personal thoughts with close friends. i know that being here has put my feet on different ground and i have to tell you have changed quiet a bit, so dont expect the same cath back, i am a bit off the charts at the moment, and everyday here just does somethiong different to me. I know i am being pulled in a complete different way which might not have been expectant. but there was a word that was brought the other day that, God was going to shake some of our lives and take us in an opposite direction, well thats me at the moment. I know that God has set me on a journey and this has been the beginning of my life actually, a launching pad for me to run from.
I thought for a while that i would be applying for long term here at Iris, but that is not on my heart at the moment. i know what is on my heart and it came by like a silent wind in the night, I have had a few places on my heart while being here, and so i might be a running cath at the moment, well for the next while, literally living out what the bible has been saying. i almost feel like there is more to just learning here for 2 months, but i literally cant go back to 9-5 job, there is more to it then that. my heart has been ripped open and God has done surgery and shown me so much, will share more when i get back to SA. But for one He has called me to live day to day.

God has baptised me in the 4 baptisms, Water,fire,HolySprit and Body of Christ, and i really believe He done that to equip me,train me and let me go!
so this is just something i needed to share so, you need to pray for me that i go in the right direction and that God covers me with His blood and sends his holy spirit ahead of me.
i wanted to let you all know as i know the hand full of people i am sending this to will be my prayer support and guide me and love me for where i am at!

love you all, will be in contact soon. i am staying here in Pemba for the 3 week outreach i am doing after this week. it will be good!have been going swimming in the sea every morning, its so amazing, we hardly have water here, so washing with soap is seldom, well for the past 3 weeks, i ahve not had a proper shower, so imagine what that feels like!! but thats the joys of missions in Africa! you get used to it, trust me!

love
Catherine

Hey to all my loyal fans out there!

its Cath still out in the bush of mozambique,
for those who prayed for my hands its getting better, had the stiche sout
last night under the stars on the front porch of my house. it was sore
but my hand feels better now, just got to give it a few days to heal.

otherwise things are going along as God planned them, i might not
always agree with what he is doing but, dont have all they say all the
time. lets just say am being pushed to my limits in God and my faith is
building all the time, God is just so full of grace here. you realise
each day here that its a new day in God and you just wait for God to
release something new in ones life.
The scripture God gave me was 1 Peter 1:1-10, if you are praying for
me pray that scripture it encourages me alot.
there is so much to learn out here, and all the more to do, but move
according to what God is doing!

love you all
cath

HI ALL

THIS is a quick note to ask for some prayer. its a bit
crazy here. i was doing fine, but saturday i fell and cut my hand open
really badly,but God took care of me and sent people to help me, i
had to get stiches and cant use it at the moment and its really
sore.
I realise alot is against me here, and its a constant
spiritual battle, i know God has me here for so much and cant give
up now, and i am really beggining to seek God in a different way its amazing, but
now i have to rely on my house mates to take care of me , but they
are great. thanks for your prayers so far.

love
cath