Next Level

A score weeks, and more, ago… We began preparing for the reception of the container full of our Library Dreams Project supplies from our Grace Klein Community friends in Birmingham, Alabama. We found a seemingly reliable clearing agent. Little did we know that after a month of consultation with them they would ditch us and leave us for the dogs.

I, Cornelius, was perplexed and lost of what precisely to do next. The container had already been discharged from the US and was in the international waters. I jumped to utilise technology and managed to track the approximate location of the ship that was carrying our container. I emailed my colleague from our partners and he confirmed the ship’s location through the shipping company.

In the meantime, I sent enquiries to several companies that we were referred to by the disappointing firm. We eventually found an alternative clearing agent.This time it was not a huge company, but an independent consultant. I thought we were now winning. I had no knowledge of this consultant’s experience. I was merely operating in “rescue mode.”

Initial submissions to the appropriate government agencies were conducted. We made three great strides and then we had to take four leaps backwards, as I began to learn that there was a lot of documentation that was needed to proceed with any of the logistics.This pattern persistent for no less than 60 days.

The container reached the port of discharge 28 days ago. We had not received the much-needed Import Permit until two days ago. We have now submitted for VAT exemption which I am 100% sure is the last thing we need to do and the container will be in Jeffreys Bay hopefully by next week Friday, 7th April 2017!

Whew! After going through this I feel like a qualified clearing agent. Needless to say, it’s been a crazy trip.

As if that wasn’t enough, we got a letter from the Sunshine Elderly women’s club that we may not continue using their facilities as our venue for Music and Literacy classes. Were we supposed to be sad that they did that? No way! Sometimes when you are shown the door, do not hesitate because you might be in most need of that fresh breath of air. It turned out we were not at a loss because our estate agent called me and informed us of a vacant house that we could take up to rent effectively from 1st April 2017.

Now, that’s amazing because we have a place which we will call our own, for now, as we rent a house in Pellsrus which is a stone’s throw away (literally) from the house we have eyed to purchase in the past 3-4 years. Our God is greater. We are so thankful to see all this progress and strongly feel that we are headed in the right direction. Praise Jesus!