Our original plan was simple: fly to Cape Town on November 27 and greet friends and family. But after prayer, we felt clearly impressed to move the trip to the afternoon of December 2 instead. It seemed strange—until five minutes after we booked the tickets. The Czech Embassy in Pretoria, silent for days, finally replied: “The only available appointment we have is for the morning of December 2.” It felt almost unreal.

We notified the AFM office and the Bohemian Conference about the final documents needed for the visa. Everyone began working. Days passed—and still no sign of the final documents. By the evening of December 1, disappointment began settling in. Then, only sixteen hours before our appointment, an email arrived: “Herewith the signed documents.”

Adrenaline kicked in. I printed and signed everything, jumped into the car and sped off to fetch the Czech translations an hour away. Every document had to be translated before submission. It felt like a race against time—but somehow everything came together before morning.

When we arrived at the embassy, hope returned. We handed over our papers, and the staff disappeared into the back. Through a large window, we occasionally saw them passing by, scanning our documents. Each glimpse made us more confident. “It looks promising,” we whispered, grinning.

Then came the call: “Mr. Wentzel, please come to the window.” A pause. “We regret to inform you that the application has been denied.” They politely explained that we need original copies of a few of the documents, but that once we had them and resubmitted our visas, the review process would take 60 to 90 days.

Anticlimactic—after all the build-up, all the timing that felt miraculous. Instead of the triumphant ending we expected, we were met with failure—and found ourselves drawn closer to Christ. We finally have a clear picture of the way forward regarding the visas, and we were reminded that His strength shines brightest in our weakness and that growth does not come only from breakthroughs but often through disappointment.

We are thankful for this faith journey we have been on, and thankful for the roles you all have played. Please help us pray for the visa application process, and for our hearts and characters as we prepare to launch.

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