Silly Israelites

Exodus 14:11
They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?"

 I must admit that as the day draws closer for us to hear a definite "yes" or "no" (though that day could still be close to a year away), I have to daily remind myself that God is in control. On my drive to work this morning, I found myself fretting that we may have endured this long separation only to find out that all of our efforts have gone in vain and our waiver has been denied. Why would God let us spend all of the money and time we have spent only to have us end up living in Mexico? Why would he "string us along" like that? Then, I realized that at that moment, I sounded an awful lot like those silly Israelites in Exodus.

God had a miraculous plan in store them. He had delivered them from slavery and they would soon experience the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea as well as numerous other miracles.  He ultimately had planned for them to reach the Promised Land. Yet, they had zero faith in His plan and His goodness. Instead, they let fear and doubt take over and all they could see was the desert around them.

In many ways, this immigration journey has been a desert experience for me. It is easy for me to see the here and now and fear the worst possible outcome (in my eyes). Yet, along the way we have experienced so many partings of the Red Sea. The fact that Raul did not get deported on his court date in May and that we are still experiencing this journey is a sign of God's grace. We have seen God's work with our finances and the fact that we were able to pay off our large debt to the immigration lawyer and to afford my trips to visit Raul. I am sure that we have been oblivious to other workings that the Lord is doing in our lives. Yet, He is loving, gracious, merciful, and faithful.

Honestly, I am still a little scared that God's "promised land" for us may still be Mexico. Yet, I know that if it is, there will be joy and purpose there and His promised land will be far better than anything I could have planned for myself. It is obvious that God has had his hand on our lives individually and as a couple and we are not just wandering around aimlessly. He is molding us and preparing us for something greater to bring glory to Himself. God is here in my desert and I am glad that he is still faithful to me (and to us) even when my faith wavers.

I still get frustrated with the way our immigration system works and all of the hoops we must jump through. I get irritated with their timelines. I still fret that we may have made a mistake somewhere in our paperwork or that maybe the wrong person will review our case and deny us for "just because". But, then I have to return to the place where I truly believe that God is in control and that as long as we seek Him, his will will be done and there's nothing we can do to mess that up. As scary as giving up control is for me, it is still a comfort to know that I really am not in control. I ultimately come back to Exodus 14:13-14 "Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Spring Break 2012

What a wonderful week we Gizzos had in Puebla. Thank you to all of you who prayed for us and our safety. It will be hard for me to share with you just the highlights of the trip since we had so much fun and got to spend our time in three different places--Mexico City, Puebla, and Santa Monica--but I will try not to bore you with all the details.

I arrived in Mexico City on time on Friday, March 2, despite the presence of a wintery mix of rain and snow when I left Chicago. I was very thankful that the flight was not delayed because there was really no way for me to contact Raul to tell him. He was the first smiling face that I saw when I got out of customs and he was there holding a sign that said "The Gizzos" in case I didn't recognize him. From there, we got in a taxi and rode to our hotel that Raul had secured from a sort of hotel room broker at the airport. The room was not big, but it was clean and that was all I was interested in. We stayed there Friday and Saturday night and then made our way to the city of Puebla by bus on Sunday morning. It only took us about two hours to reach our destination.

The view from the balcony of our hotel room.

We were not very impressed with the hotel that we stayed in the first night so we looked for a different one to stay in until we ventured to Santa Monica. After checking out a couple of different places we found Hotel Posada Guadelupe and were impressed with its updated rooms and free WiFi. It ended up being less expensive than our other hotel and had a much better location and view as well. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay in Puebla and for only $38 per night, you can barely beat the price. Well...I guess Raul did find a much cheaper place to stay the night after I left, but when he complained that his window wouldn't shut properly, they handed him a piece of wire... :)

Hanging out at the zocalo

Though the outskirts of Puebla wasn't all that appealing, the downtown area near the square or "zocalo" was beautiful. The city was very clean and the outsides of the old building were well maintained. We spent most of our time in Puebla walking up and down the streets just looking at the little shops or sitting on a bench near the zocalo to soak in our surroundings. The temperature in Puebla was very comfortable. It was cool in the morning and evening and pleasantly warm during the day.

Outside Raul's "wing" of the house

Posing for a pic with Abuela and Lupita

We traveled to Raul's "hometown" of Santa Monica on Wednesday and arrived there around 3:00 p.m. after a four hour bus ride followed by a 45 minute taxi ride. Santa Monica is much hotter than the city of Puebla and we mainly just sat around and chatted with his grandpa until the sun went down and we could venture out to meet some of his family in the small town. I think almost everyone we met on the street was somehow related to him since both of his parents were originally from this town. I was excited to meet Abuela and Lupita in person. Lupita was very sweet and insisted that we needed to let her know the next time I was coming so she could buy a pig to slaughter. It was a lot of fun for me to see how well Raul has settled into life in his pueblito and how almost everyone knows him and jokes around with him. On top of cousins, aunts, and uncles, I met his basketball buddies and other guys that he plays cards with.

We headed back to Puebla on Friday morning and spent our last two days there. It was so nice not to have a schedule to abide by and to be able to sleep in and take naps whenever we wanted to. I also really enjoyed having Raul to lean on again. He was there to make decisions about where we would stay and how we would get there, where we would eat and how much we would tip them. It was nice to feel "married" again if that makes any sense.

We traveled to the airport in Mexico City by bus on Sunday morning for my 2:30 p.m. flight back to Chicago. As usual, I kinda fell apart when it was time for me to go through security and say good bye to the one I loved. This time was especially hard because I do not know the next time I will be able to see him. I'm hoping that the next time I see him, he will be the one coming on the plane and I will be the one picking him up from the airport, but only God knows. For now, we will have to trust God to carry us through day by day like he has so faithfully been doing.

Every time I get to see my husband, I fall more and more in love with him and am amazed that God gave me more than I could have ever asked or imagined in a husband. Raul really made me feel loved by the way he introduced me to his friends and family. Though I am definitely not the adventurous type, I felt safe with him by my side. What a blessed girl I am!

Remembering Pa Gibbs

Just a heads up that this post really has nothing to do with immigration or Mexico or anything of that nature. My dad has been on my mind a lot lately as we're nearing the date of his departure from this earth and I wanted to share with you how this precious man that I was privileged to call my father has shaped who I have become and has even influenced who I have chosen to spend the rest of my life with. I will be in Mexico on March 4th, the anniversary of his homegoing, so I thought I would post this ahead of time in honor of that date.

As I'm sure most of you are aware, Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in December of 2010 and he died a few short months later. I am blessed to be able to say that I really have no regrets when it comes to my relationship with Dad. I have many fond memories of going on tractor rides with him and tagging along in the car to go check on the crops at the different farms. Though many girls have said that their dads kinda distanced themselves from them when they started going through puberty, this time of my life did not scare my father. Perhaps it was because I was the baby of his five girls and he had plenty of practice. I always knew that no matter what, my dad was on my side. He was always there to hug me when I needed a hug and to tell me he loved me when I had a bad day. Maybe he was soft because he had all girls or maybe God gave him all girls because he created him to be a softie. Whatever the reason, my Dad was good at being a girls' daddy.

Not only did Dad treat his daughters well, but he also was a good example of a godly husband. Though he and my mom had a few "disagreements" now and then, I had no doubt that my dad was totally devoted to her. Though it was usually just meat and potatoes, my dad took his turn at preparing lunch or supper when he could and he always pitched in with the dishes. He was truly a servant to his wife and his familty, and I could tell that my mom respected him and loved him as well. Their marriage was a partnership built on Christ and serving him together. Their home was open to all of their children--from all over the world. Many people of no blood relation have seen my parents as mom and dad or grandma and grandpa over the years.

I do regret that my dad didn't get to spend very much time with Raul before he passed away. Though they are very different, they are also very much the same. I can tell that Raul loves me and he serves me much the way that my dad loved and served my mom. Dad set the bar very high, but my I'm sure that my husband can live up to my dad's example with the Lord's help. One of the most precious memories that I have was from one of the last times that I was with my dad. Raul and I were taking him to the ER in the middle of the night because of blood clots in his leg. I was in the driver's seat and dad was already in the truck as well and Dad asked, "Where's my boy?". He was referring to Raul and at that moment, it became clear to me that Dad thought of Raul as his son. Before Dad died, we were talking about how Raul was going to take care of me and he said, "I love that boy." Me too, Dad. Me, too.

I miss my dad so very much and as I type this tribute to him, I'm wiping away the tears. Yet, I know that I will see him again one day. Thank you, Lord, for this godly man you gave me to call my father. Thank you for his faithfulness to you. May Raul and I live up to the example that he and Mom have set before us. Amen.

In Juarez Again

Raul began his journey to Juarez Wednesday morning.  He stayed overnight at the airport in Mexico City last night so that he could catch his early morning flight to Juarez this morning. His appointment at the Consulate is tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m.  Unlike last time in Juarez, Raul had a friendly American face greet him at the airport when he arrived. A friend in Iowa told us of her missionary friend, Jim, who lives in Juarez where he and his wife are involved in a variety of ministries. I was able to contact him by phone and he offered to pick Raul up from the airport and to even let Raul stay in their home until Raul flies back to Mexico City. We are so thankful for his acts of kindness.

I just got off the phone with Raul and he seems to be in better spirits than his last visit to Juarez. I suppose part of the reason is that he knows more what to expect this go around. But, I also think he's enjoying being able to stay with Jim (his wife is currently in the States) and Jim's two dogs. Apparently, one of the dogs is very big and fluffy and has been a good source of stress relief for Raul already.

Turning in the waiver tomorrow is our final step in the process. From there, we just wait, and wait, and wait... :) As I said before, we will get a letter in about two months either stating that Raul has been approved for his visa and he can head back home to the States or stating that his case has been sent for further review. If that happens, we will probably have to wait 8 or 9 more months before we hear if he got approved or denied. There is a high likelihood that our case will be sent for further review since it is more complicated than many. However, God can do miracles, so nothing is certain at this point.

I will be relieved when the waiting is over, but the closer we get to a final answer, the more anxious I get. It feels like we are approaching our court date last May all over again. The only thing that keeps me sane (other than know that God's will will be done) is the fact that no matter what the verdict is, I will finally be able to reunite with my husband and live in the same home again. However, I am still really hoping that home happens to be in Waukegan!

For now, we are looking forward to my visit in the beginning of March. I will be with Raul on the anniversary of my dad's homegoing on March 4th and I'm glad that I will be there with him on that day since he has been so supportive through the whole thing. Thankfully, my mother will be able to be with my sister and family so she will have support as well.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and prayers. Please hold Raul up in prayer tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. (Juarez time, which is one hour behind Illinois time) as he has his waiver appointment.

Panama Pics for the non-facebookers

 For those of you who aren't on facebook, here are just a few of the pictures that have been posted lately. Since my mother had two cameras with her and Raul had ours, we have a total of 6,000 pictures from the trip. Luckily, my mother will be the one who gets to sort through all of them and edit them. Enjoy!

http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k630/thegizzos/Panama/

Feelin' the love

Well, the Gizzos have officially been the Gizzos for a year, now. Yesterday was the anniversary of our civil marriage at the courthouse in Waukegan. What a crazy ride we have been on, but I am still very much in love with the man I call my husband. Though Raul did not remember that it was our anniversary yesterday, I assured him that he had one more chance to remember our anniversary before I would be upset. Here's hopin' that  the April date goes better for him...! :) Poor guy, he was thinking we were married on the 23rd of January since the April date was the 23rd.

Though I just returned from my Panamanian vacation, I am now busy planning my next vacation to Mexico in March. Just when I was afraid that funds were running too low to visit Raul another time, a couple from our church offered to buy my plane ticket to Mexico for Spring break. Now that was an offer I couldn't refuse! This time, I will be flying into Mexico City and Raul will meet me there. We will probably stay there one or two nights and then head to Puebla. From what I have read online, the city of Puebla is supposed to be nice and has a lot of cultural tourist attractions. Raul says that if I'm on my best behavior, he will take me to Santa Monica to visit his family and see where he lives since it is only 3 to 4 hours away from where we will be staying in Puebla. He is estimating that one day there will probably be as much as this white girl can handle. I am excited to see where my love has been living these past few months.

We continue to be amazed at the generosity of our friends and family and we feel very blessed to have so many close friends. In addition to my upcoming vacation, I have been spoiled by friends for my upcoming birthday. Their thoughtful gifts have meant so much to me, and I know Raul appreciates my people here taking care of me since this is the first time since I cannot even remember when that he will not be able to celebrate my birthday with me. Even when we were on a "break" in our relationship, he somehow found a way to take me out for my birthdays. I did get the chance to celebrate my birthday with his family today and it was nice to hang out with them again.

Thank you to all of you who continue to pray for us and encourage us with your thoughtful words and acts. Please keep February 10th in your prayers as this is the date that Raul travels to Juarez to submit our waiver. Then it's waiting, waiting, waiting. Much prayer is needed for that part as well!

Happy New Year!

There is so much to share about our Panamanian adventure, I do not even know where to begin. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us and praying that our trip would go well. Praise God that we had no major catastrophes on vacation. Everyone stayed well and we had safety on the crazy roads that we traveled daily. We did have many "minor adventures"  that were anxiety producing in the moment but easily laughed about later in the day. Among those were people being locked out of bathrooms, people being locked in bathrooms, more than one person getting pooped on by birds, a jelly fish sting, and a car sliding off the road.

The view from our backyard

We stayed in a 3 bedroom house with a beautiful view of the ocean. A nice beach was within a 10 minute drive and we took the opportunity to enjoy this luxury on multiple occasions. Our taxi drivers went above and beyond the call of duty and were our own personal tour guides on multiple occasions. In addition to our beach time, we walked through a nature preserve, toured the Panama canal, and saw monkeys hanging out in the trees. I was glad that I had packed dramamine for the plane ride because I used the extra pills for car trips since the roads are so full of twists and turns that most of us felt at least a little car sick at some point.

Our friendly taxi drivers for the week. The guy in the middle declared himself to by my mom's personal security service during our stay. She was in good hands.

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Raul and I had a great time just hanging out together again and it was really hard for me when it was time for him to leave for the airport (he flew out earlier in the day than we did). It seems like each time I say good-bye it gets harder, and I'm looking forward to the day when the last day of vacation does not mean saying good-bye to my husband. But, God is good and it's amazing that I have been able to see Raul on two separate occasions in the four months he has been gone. I'm also hoping to visit him again in March.


We are looking forward to what 2012 has in store for the Gizzos. Though we  had a lot of growing experiences in 2011, I can honestly say that I've never been so thankful to see a new year. Our next big thing is Raul's waiver appointment on February 10, and then it is more waiting. Though this is a scary place to be, Raul and I are both comforted by the fact that as long as we seek God, there is nothing we can do to mess up his plan for us. I'm just hoping that plan includes both of us being in Waukegan by the beginning of 2013! Happy New Year!