My South African visits Australia

After arriving back home, it was time to reflect on the events of the December 2011 meeting with Urshla.
It seemed obvious to me at least, that we had become firm friends and much more. I knew I wanted her for my wife.

I arrived home on 5th December and posted Facebook pictures of my South African adventure. I wrote to Urshla and we almost immediately began planning for her to visit Australia.

In March 2012, Sandy planned to marry Sam Shand and I thought it would be a good opportunity for Urshla to meet my family. I must've been insane!
I discussed this with Sandy. She didn't want any part of it because she felt it would be hard enough to be married without Mary present. As it turned out, Sandy was right. It would've been too hard for me too.

Visa application and payment

So on Sandy's intuition, I suggested that Urshla plan to travel to Australia in April. It would mean taking leave or time off without pay. By mid-January 2012, we were making more detailed plans to apply for a tourist visa. Taking a calculated risk, we purchased a ticket on the first day of February. As February closed, the application and payment for Urshla's visa was submitted to Pretoria via VFS Global, an world-wide agent for government immigration departments. The immigration department requires many supporting documents for the visa application.

We expected a visa to be approved in about four to six weeks. To our surprise, VFS responded a week later requesting a letter from me to Urshla inviting her to visit Australia, including an itinerary of her movements.
I had the invitation to her the same day, names and addresses of all the places we planned to stay. The visa was approved the next day. Now we were very excited, especially Urshla, because this would be her first trip out of Africa.

So now, Urshla had her visa and flights booked. The days leading up to her arrival were full of anticipation. As well as the flights to and from Australia, we also included a few days in Sydney and Launceston. I booked my own flights to match Urshla's flights. Because there is a five hour layover in Sydney before catching the Brisbane flight, I booked a return flight to Sydney, to be there when Urshla arrived. I didn't let Urshla know.

Leaving SA for the first time

Meanwhile in Durban, Urshla was with Michele and Clinton, her nephew, at the airport. It was very sad for Michele because she is usually the one heading back to university. This time, her mother was leaving her in Durban. There were a few tears flowing at the Durban airport. A photo of the trio was posted on Facebook, so I knew what she would be wearing for the flight.

I flew to Sydney on 13th April, arriving an hour or so before Urshla's flight was due. At the international gate, I waited and watched for her appearance. There were many international flights exiting the gate, so I watched from a distance away, wanting to see her emerge from the gate. And I waited. Hundreds of people streamed steadily through. I wondered if I might miss her.
In the distance, I saw a woman that had a familiar frame, but she was with a young man and seemed to know him well. I thought, "If I follow those two, I might have the wrong person and miss her if she came out of the gate."
As I approached from behind, the her hair, top and figure became more familiar, but I was still a little confused by her companion. Coming to her, I squeezed her elbow and she turned to me. It was Urshla!
She said "Hi, what are you doing here?" without any surprise or hesitation.
I was a little disappointed.  A squeal, a look of surprise, a collapse on the floor, would've made my efforts worthwhile.
I put my arm around her shoulders and we embraced briefly.

Then she introduced Daniel, who was her flight companion from Johannesburg and they'd become friendly. Daniel is a Melbourne man, who met a South African woman to whom he'd become engaged. He was returning home to prepare for their wedding. In God's providence, he was a Christian. He helped Urshla's nervousness to settle, about flying out of South Africa for the first time. They'd spent much of the trip looking at photos of his fiance on his laptop.

We shook hands and I thanked Daniel for his care of Urshla and he went his way. I took Urshla's trolley and suggested we sit for a moment to catch up. So we sat on nearby chairs. We held each other for a long while. We felt relieved and excited to be with each other again. Urshla was weary from the travel and needed to freshen up. I offered to mind her bags while she went to the rest rooms.

Our flight to Brisbane was due in five hours. We walked from the international terminal to the domestic, found a cafe/bar and settled into a cozy booth. We bought a couple of drinks, sipping them slowly.
We were inseparable and felt very much in love. After praying and thanking God for his travelling mercies, we settled into easy, comfortable conversation about whatever came to mind. Our bodies touched the whole time, sometimes with my arm around her, often with her arm linked through mine.
It was the loveliest few hours spent together as we reconnected.

We must've been something of a spectacle because of the quizzical looks other patrons gave us. We were not good patrons. The drinks were our only purchase but I consoled myself that our cheerful presence was an attraction for other patrons. Besides, I wasn't too concerned with the stares from others. I had my South African love and for the moment, it was enough.

Next: Meeting the scary family!