Still waiting....

June 20th

Dear readers (Specifically Debra Davis, and Anne Newton) :)

I apologize for the months and months of silence.

I originally created this blog so that friends and family could keep up with my traveling adventures. When those ended, I thought, well...why not continue to write to share the glory of God's works in my life.

Things were a little bit hectic (to say the least) the last time I was updating you all, and ever since then, things have sort of died down. Nothing new in my life has happened. And by that, I simply mean that my situation hasn't changed.

Last time I was here, I kept things vague simply because I, myself, wasn't quite sure what was going on and what exactly had just happened to me. So in case you might've been confused as to why I am still in the U.S. or in case you understood but just forgot, here is a quick re-cap to refresh your memory/clarify your thoughts. :)

On March 1st, I thought I was beginning a whole new journey by heading towards Canada. I had 60 days starting January 2nd to stay in the U.S legally and either find a job that would sponsor me to stay here, or find a plane ticket to leave the country.
The week prior the end of the 60 days, I had two job interviews and because I hadn't gotten a response from either job as to whether I'd been hired or not, I decided it would probably be smart to leave the country, while staying close enough so that if I were to get hired, I could just come right back and start the paper work process to get sponsored and legally stay in the country.
The attempt to go to Canada failed since the Canadians didn't let me in the country. (I thought that as a French Citizen, I wouldn't have any issues getting into Canada).
So the Canadians send me back to the US, which means I need to go through the Immigration first.
American Immigration looked through my records and interrogated me for long long hours, only to find that in year 2010, I had the misfortune of staying in the US over the 90 days I was given to either find a job in my field of study (Media Communications) or leave. The OPT working permit had rules that I had failed to double check once receiving in 2009.
After this, I am told to go back to my home in the US and wait for a court hearing date to go over my small mistake.
 I am told the wait could be be between 2 weeks and a couple months. I am also told that my situation is quite minor and that I have nothing to worry about since it was just a small "oopsies" on my part, and once it got taken care of I would find out whether I could stay in the country or leave.
I was also told that if I were to leave before this court date, I would be "self-deporting" myself meaning I would not be allowed to re enter the country. EVER.

SO this is where we last left off.

4 months have gone by since then and I haven't heard a single thing from the Immigration. I haven't received a court date. I have called them and they simply told me I would have to wait a couple more months. I have called free legal advisers to seek advice but they were no help.

So what have I been up to since then? Still blessed to live with the wonderful girls that I have lived with since I first moved back to Huntington. They have been an incredible blessing.
I have been spending time with my 509 community (church that I attend) and they've been an incredible blessing as well.
I have been spending a lot of time with my boyfriend who has been heaven sent. His patience and encouragement with me and the situation I'm in have gotten me quite far.
I've volunteered here and there (a woman's homeless shelter, the Red Cross, and helped with a film shoot once).
I've done some photography here and there.
My parents have been helping me financially. I have also been babysitting.
I was able to see my sister who came to visit here for over a month!
I had been going to Goshen (where my boyfriend just graduated from) and making friends there, while spending time with my friends here in Huntington.
I've been journaling. I've been reading. I've been praying.
I've dreamt of leaving. I've rejoiced for still being here surrounded by loved ones. I've wept in confusion, restlessness, and feeling useless. I've praised the Lord for His plan. I've grown. I've been humbled. I've been hurt. I've been frustrated. I've been joyful and content. I've been trying to serve others.

I've been blessed through the storm.

Now...I still wait...I suppose.