Jacksons – October Update 1

 We had a positive experience at the visa application centre in Manchester. We need another letter from South Africa clarifying that Fraser would be a volunteer.  

The application forms and documents will be forwarded to the South African High Commission in London for a decision by October 24th. We’re aiming for November 1st as a departure date.

A one-bedroom flat is waiting for us in Wellington, Western Cape.

Ruth has decided to stay in England to continue her A levels. This will be hard for us but seems to be the best option. Thank God that her grandparents are willing to let her live with them.

As for spiritual accountability, we expect to get involved in a church in South Africa but we consider we’re accountable to our prayer supporters in general and in particular a few people with special gifts of insight.

We have booked an appointment for a visa interview in Manchester for Friday 22nd September.  Pray that we’ll get clarity over which category of visa would be best to apply for. The letter of invitation from South Africa is currently being couriered to England and should arrive any day now. 

 Pray for the lives and attitudes being changed through InReach groups continuing in Nigeria. 

James, now at Glasgow University, and Ruth, at college in Scunthorpe, are both settling into this stage of their education. 

Check our latest leaflet in the rack which describes what we hope to do and includes a helpful little map showing the countries that benefit from NetACT’s work at present.

Thanks for all your prayers.  The mountains that arise are moving out of the way one by one.

Jacksons – September Update 1

Thank God that our police clearance certificates from both the UK and Nigeria have arrived.

Every time we look at the requirements for South African long-term visas, we find another document to be acquired or certified at a cost. Pray we’ll see clearly what we need. 

Fraser will apply for either a long-term volunteer’s or a visitor’s visa.  We are unsure whether Dawn should apply for a visa as a volunteer in her own right or apply for an accompanying spouse visa.

Please pray that we’ll know which is best – to go as an accompanying spouse we’d have to get an apostille (government proof) to our marriage certificate at an additional cost – as we don’t want to apply for the wrong category and be declined.

The South Africans are busy drafting invitation letters for us to present at the visa hearing.  Pray that they will arrive safely in the UK and will say all that needs to be said.

Jacksons August Update 2

Give thanks to God for he is good.

The applications for visas are in at a cost of just over £70.  Please pray that our certificates will be granted this week and arrive safely with us in the UK.  We were able to have our obligatory chest x-rays done for £85 altogether.

We have been offered accommodation about half an hour from NetACT’s base at Stellenbosch University.  They run courses in social reformation which sounds like something Dawn could get involved with.

NetACT is interdenominational and is made up of partner colleges including those belonging to the Evangelical Church of West Africa, the Anglican Church in Kenya, Presbyterians and several others. These colleges are located in several countries including Uganda, Burundi, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Mozambique.

Pray that the South African immigration authorities will find our applications completely acceptable.