What's hard about applying for a Visa ??

It actually didn't seem do-able as we were stumbling along trying to get going this morning, 

but... we did actually find the misplaced Johannisthal resident registration document (securely tucked into passport which comes with me always in parka pocket), the address to the right Ratshaus (each area has one - person we asked directed us to wrong one), the correct S-Bahn connections and directions (right or left of platform)... a place to get additional ID photos (tried the little mall where we change trains - successful on first try), the right building complex along Friedrich-Krause-Ufer Strasse (actually walked/then flagged down a taxi to save time; he promptly made a U-turn and got us there 5 min later for 7 euros), the right entrance after walking along long sidewalks, the correct floor and waiting area on that floor (4-6 along various halls) and even which closed door to enter (5-6 along wall) when our number came up on a billboard... all before closing time at 2pm!  

Once inside a small room, (ladies working with files and more files in the dark... flourescent lights off - only rainy-day-Berlin-natural-light thru the windows...) we were talking thru glass windows (small pot light shining onto paper) to a young lady 'in power' (once a foreigner herself) who eventually changed her tune from "Das geht doch gar nicht!"... to listen to her colleague's suggestion and explanation of how we could stay longer than 3 months; 

YES, we were granted another stamped, important document (on newsprint recycled paper) with details about the appointment on March 17th, to discuss(hopefully receive) our 1 year visas for Germany.  It took some convincing that 'ja doch' - it is ok to volunteer and help a church for a year, and 'ach nein' - we don't want to leave the country in three months, and  'ja, machen wir gerne' - we would be happy to bring a letter with us from the organization that was taking care of our financial needs, medical, accomodation and can have it here in 2 weeks time.

Increasingly aware this weekend of the spiritual battles at conscious and subconscious levels: for me they are unnecessary distortions, confusions, distractions and fears  - so I confidently declare that God alone is God and HE can do what HE says HE can do!

On the way home we found a place for Mexican food; browsed in McPaper and a Toy store; had some coffee and dessert before taking the familiar S8 back home.