Once again, we actually felt God's protection this morning. Will and I went into the passport office and waited for a little while. They took us straight to court. Will wasn't allowed to be present while I talked and while the migration inspector presented his case against me. Then I called Will in as a witness, and he gave his testimony, too. And then we had to go out and wait while the judge made her decision. When she called us back in, she had to read two pages of typewritten details, before she got to the verdict. Finally--I didn't think I would make it to the end!--she read that she had decided against deportation, because of my small children, and because we are trying to get all this straightened out. So, we just have to pay a fine and keep trying to hurry our new visas along! Thank you, Lord!
We probably are going to go somewhere else while we're working on getting our visas, though, because the inspector's last words to us were, "Remember, I have the right to file charges against you every three days." And he probably would.
At this point, Will needs to add a few more papers to the pile that they turned in to register the bi-regional church organization to invite foreigners. He'll do that on Tuesday. (We hope! Pray that he'll be able to get those last few papers.) Then we'll probably leave here on Wednesday to go to another city. It will take a week for the registration to go through, then we'll apply for invitations. That's another prayer request: for the invitations to be ready very fast. Once we have those invitations, we'll go to Kiev to get our visas. Please keep praying for us every step of the way!
10 comments:
Amen, Praise the Lord, and pass the grits! We are delighted to hear the good news and give thanks to the Lord for His provision for you once again! Woke up at 2:03 this morning and prayed for you until I fell asleep again, which was, of course, 10am your time and the beginning of your appointment. Will continue daily supplication for all details yet to come.
love you all,
d/b/g
Oh, praise God from whom all blessings flow! Will continue to pray.
Thanks, Tom! (You're Katya's husband, aren't you? :-) We were planning to call. WIll got a visa there without any trouble on October 17, so we're hoping they'll continue in that way. He also got his visa registered all the way to the end of it, for more than six months. We've been keeping track of the fuss about the new laws, but so far they haven't caused us any problems.
Praying for your family and this entire situation. I have been keeping up with the recent Visa laws in both Ukraine and Russia and see that many are in such hardship over all of this. May the Lord go before you with each step! Your faith and steadfastness in all of this has been admirable. Praying the Lord blesses your faithfulness to HIM!
oops... that last comment was from me (aka Raiah) With the numerous people named Sarah I thought you might like to know which one! ;-)
Hi, Phyllis! I was so relieved when Bernie called me at the Pregnancy Resource Center to tell me this good news!! Praise the Lord!! And, we are certainly praying for the speedy ability for the Russian Baptists to be able to issue invitations! (I awoke at 1:50 and started praying! Bernie and I had no idea we were both awake and praying!) Love you all!
Continued prayers on your behalf! Thankful for the lack of deportation. :-)
Hi Mom, just a small correction: it wouldn't be a hang up w/the baptists, but w/the gov't. The Vladimir-Ivanovo Baptist Union has been helping us hurry things along. However, the regional Migration Control by the law, has a month in which to approve and issue the official invitation. We will be petitioning for a faster processing time. (The local Baptist union only applies for the invitation as the responsible host organization.)
Clear as mud? =)
Will
Hi! Yes, I get it! They apply for you, the government issues! Whatever it is, we are praying for ALL of it!!
We have special guests this weekend! Yankee Arnold and his wife are former FBCers and he will be speaking today at church. He had a church and Ranch in Arvada, CO for years, pastored a church in Athens, GA for years and is now traveling as an evangelist, encouraging ALL believers to be soulwinners. We've been having a very nice visit with them since yesterday afternoon. Lots of love!
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