Favored Status?

 This past weekend, we celebrated the fact that the price has been paid for our irrevocable citizenship in heaven— a citizenship for new life available to people from every people, language and nation— uniting us and giving us unrelenting hope for the future. Alleluia!

Back together for school break

The reality here on earth is that we are not all united under one citizenship and things are not equal across every nation. Generally, we have been privileged as US citizens to have passports that allow us to travel to almost any country in the world. The favored status has been something that we’ve taken for granted—there is a meeting in Europe, or a reason to pop over the French Island next door, or we’re invited to meet someone for vacation in a country we’ve never been to before. For us, the decision to go comes down to our finances and making time in our schedule. We don’t have to think about if we are allowed to be there. 

But as our organization has diversified, we’ve become more conscious that for many people from other nations, they can’t assume that they will be allowed into another country.  They always have to check, apply and wait to see. 

This severely impacts their plans. Our regional director was denied the opportunity to attend a large conference. A colleague couldn’t go to a family wedding. Another colleague wasn’t allowed to visit his in-laws. We couldn’t organize a meeting on the French Island because we knew not everyone would be allowed entry there. Beyond just finances and timetables, others have to factor into any trip the visa application procedures and the likelihood that they will or will not be allowed in the country. For people considering long-term work, they sometimes have to fight the battle twice— first to be allowed into the country and then to be allowed to stay. 

On Clove Island, our family has been blessed by always having an easy time getting and renewing our annual service visas, but we had one colleague who was forced to pay a large fee for her longterm visa like a business person because of her passport country. We’ve taken it for granted that our passport country has been a benefit… but could that tide be shifting? 

Four countries in Africa have enacted visa bans for US citizens in the past year. It might seem like a small thing, but we have a lot of friends and acquaintances who suddenly are not allowed to stay in the countries where they have lived and worked for years (even decades). Some of these Americans who have had their country of service closed to them, are looking to see if they can claim nationality with another nation so they could re-enter their countries with a different passport. Even on the islands, anti-American rhetoric is higher than we have ever seen. Suddenly having a US passport doesn’t seem like a promise of favored treatment abroad.  

Passports back with new island visas

Tom was trying to finalize our visa renewal this past month. He got the recommendation letter from the department of education like normal, but when he went to the immigration offices, they said it wasn’t enough. He needed to get a letter from the island governor as well.  While this change didn’t seem directed at us as Americans, we did wonder if it was showing a shift in attitude, a desire to scrutinize more closely the foreigners in their midst.  

Thankfully it didn’t end up being a big deal. It was annoying and time-consuming, but everyone was friendly and Tom was able to finalize our visa renewal without much trouble. We are thankful. We don’t want to take that ease and goodwill for granted. We know that on this side of heaven, we can’t put our trust in the reputation of our passport country or on the favor of men. Reputations change and favor can be fleeting, but the power and love of God is unchanging and forever. 

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We thank God for our risen Savior and the chance to remember and celebrate Him this past weekend. Tom sent out messages to all our island contacts for the holiday and got back lots of positive responses. Megan was able to study with Hashiri and encourage her in her new job situation. There was a nice study at women’s gathering despite some missing people. Generally our kids have recovered well from their travels. Our daughter had a rough day on Sunday, but is improved today. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
The Easter gathering didn’t really happen. We were supposed to gather and picnic outside by a river, but it was rainy. There ended up being some smaller gatherings. We have started planting seeds about the idea of doing a bigger gathering in May for Pentecost— pray that this would gain traction and be planned in good time so that many can participate and be encouraged. Pray for a mainland African family that often hosted events but after some backlash has stopped hosting anything— pray for them to know how to continue to be both wise and bold. Pray for the island body— it seems a bit disjointed at the moment. Two brothers have traveled to the big island to talk about plans for the coming few years for the islands— pray for unity and for God to be the director of their plans. Men’s gathering probably won’t happen until they are back— but pray that it does happen this month. Pray for our daughter as she makes her decision about where to go to college— pray for peace and a clear way forward. A bar has reopened across from us (after being quiet for more than a year) with loud music until 2am on both Friday and Saturday this past weekend— pray that this doesn’t become a new trend and that the neighborhood would pressure it to respect people’s sleep (something they have done in the past). A colleague on the big island had to evacuate to mainland Africa with her young son for medical care— pray for healing for him and peace of mind for his parents.