Targets & Timelines

Preparing to go…

In our previous Ministry Update we shared about what we learnt and what God showed us on our Vision Trip to OM in Austria.

Being on furlough/home assignment comes with a different rhythm. While this change is good (particularly after the very intense pace of the past 2 years on Logos Hope) and we are very grateful for the time of rest as well as preparation, we are now very keen to do all we can to settle and begin serving in Austria. We are excited to get to practice German daily and begin learning all the nuance, differences and wonders of a new culture.

There are a number of key targets and ‘checkpoints’ along the timeline that we have set for getting to Austria.

Partnership Targets

Our 2 key targets for the rest of our time on home assignment are to raise the prayer and financial partnership that we will need to serve well and stay long-term on the field.

Prayer Partners

We know that many people have and will continue to pray for and with us. However, we are very aware of the contrast between serving on board Logos Hope – in the midst of a large, vibrant, missions-minded community of Jesus followers, and living and serving in Austria – a country where only 0.57% of the population are Jesus followers.

We hope to raise a committed group of prayer partners that we can share deep and sensitive prayers requests with, knowing that they will stand with us and cover us during the tough and challenging time we expect to face. If you feel that this is something God has equipped or called you to do please send us an email or WhatsApp so we can connect with you.

Financial Partners

We believe that God has called us to meet the financial cost of living and serving through gift-income for specific reasons. Primarily because we believe:

• It allows many more people a more direct and connected involvement in missions.
• It provides a vital network of support, encouragement and accountability for us as we serve.

We don’t see our partners as standing behind us and just giving us money to live and work. We see our partners standing alongside us as we work together to complete the Kingdom work that God has given us. Our partners invest encouragement, prayer, accountability and finances, so that we can invest time, energy, prayer and skills into the work of caring for, coaching and encouraging missionaries on the field.

To live and serve in Austria, we are required to raising €4 500/R 76 500 in monthly financial partnership. This amount is required by the Austrian government in order to get the visa we need. This amount will allow us to cover all living and ministry costs, save towards the cost of home assignment every 2 years and increase our own giving to missionaries that we partner with.

Timeline Checkpoints

A question we have received often over the past weeks has been “So, when are you moving to Austria?”. The short answer is “sometime in September or October”. The optimistic answer is “definitely before school starts on 12 September”. The longer, realistic answer is “once we have…”

• Raised our financial partnership target of R76 500 (€4500)
  • We hope to do this by the end of May so that can focus more fully on German lessons and preparations for visa applications.
  • Having our full support amount coming in from 1 June will allow us to cover flights and other transition costs without raising additional once off donations.
• Passed an A1 German Language Exam
  • This is a requirement of our visa application and we are currently working with a tutor from the Deutsche Schule in Durban to be ready to write this in June.
• Submitted our visa applications
  • Due to employment requirements and how OM in Austria is registered with the government we can’t obtain our visa through OM. Instead, we will be partnering with Linz Baptist Church who have agreed stand as our ‘sponsors’ in the visa process. We are grateful for OM in Austria’s knowledge, experience and guidance in this process. We plan to submit our visa applications to the Austrian Embassy in Pretoria at the beginning of July.
• Had our visa applications approved
  • The estimated processing time for this kind of visa is 1 to 3 months. We have experienced excellent service from the Embassy in Pretoria so far and so we hope and pray that it will be more on the 1 month side of the time-frame and be approved by the end of August/beginning of September.
• Completed the final preparations to move
  • Once we have confirmation that the visas have been approved, we can purchase flight tickets, finish packing and apply for Schengen visas (as our residency visa will be waiting for us in Linz, Austria) and be ready to by September/October.

Thank you so much for your interest and your companionship in our journey. Our prayer is that God will use us to impact everyone that we interact with as we serve and follow Him. If you have any questions, are thinking about partnering with us, or would just like to hear more about our journey we would genuinely love to make time to meet with you.

In His light and love,
Zippy, Dané, Cori and Lily

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