Her Papers

Nanasi and daughter (old photo)

This past month Nanasi was all dressed up, with make-up, jewelry, a shimmery head covering and a bright smile— a stark contrast to her usual appearance during a morning visit. Usually she’s wearing her morning grimace, an old tattered shawl haphazardly thrown over her head as she tiredly flops in a chair with a sigh or groan, eyes still hooded with sleep. But this day was different.  She was infused with energy because she had an appointment at the French consulate to discuss her papers. “Having papers” is a way of saying that someone has French nationality or at least the legal documentation to stay in France. Nanasi has been working for a long time to get her papers. I’m not sure when she started telling us about it but it was years ago. What impresses me is the enthusiasm and optimism that she maintains through the process. From what I’ve heard, French nationality is hard to get for anyone.  Yet here is a poor, uneducated, middle-aged woman who has never lived in France, who never loses hope. Her confidence comes partially from her personality and partially because she has been told that she has a legal right to it. Her father served with the French military for several years before the islands became independent. As such, she has been assured that all her father’s children have a right to French nationality.

And so the process goes. On and on.  Every couple months or so, there is a new update. A new required piece of documentation has been sent or received. Some form is coming that has to be signed. A relative is personally delivering a letter to some official office in France.

I smile and ask questions whenever she tells me an update but I find myself continually asking, “What will she do if and when she finally gets her papers??” She doesn’t even know French beyond a few greetings. She is a grandmother who most days complains of being tired and about her aching back. She has never left the islands.

She never has a good answer when I ask her, but I think for her the papers mean freedom. Islanders are often “trapped” on the island because unless they are willing to take the illegal boats they can’t get visas to travel. One time Nanasi was part of a group going to help perform the music for a wedding on the French island. She was so excited. “They always give visas to these wedding groups, “ she assured me, “We’ll get to be there for a month, do the wedding and see the island.”

Men, goat & chicken take shelter in rain (taken by our 5 yr old)

But ultimately it all fell through, the consulate wouldn’t give the wedding group visas. After trying again for weeks they would only give them visas for a week-long stay— barely enough time for the wedding (whose events would fill an entire week) and with no time to rest or enjoy the trip. They decided it wasn’t worth the money.

Nanasi has tons of family both on the French island and in France. She is regularly calling on them for help with finances. Every year some of them come to visit the islands, bringing with them money to help with the house, with school fees, with medical expenses and even with food and clothing. They are a lifeline, but meanwhile there is a feeling that Nanasi is stuck here, dependent, while they can come and go as they please.

None of her island community know that she has this hope of French nationality. Only her close family and us know. This is a risky enterprise and she probably worries about jealousies leading to curses or bad luck. Plus she would lose face if things fell through or if it took longer than expected. Also, she says that she is looking forward to rubbing people’s faces in it. She is near the bottom of the totem pole here but having French nationality will shoot her ahead of various wealthier friends and neighbors that she has various grudges and grievances against.

Our beautiful 9 yr old

I have my doubts about the whole thing. Whether it will make her life any better and whether it is even certain that she’ll get French nationality. To her, the claim is rock-solid, but to me it seems tenuous. Her father is long dead and the islands have been separate from France for over 40 years. Most island documentation is not up to French standards. Still, she is confident and proud of the fact that she is doing everything the right way. This is legit. She’s not resorting to any black market dealings or false documentation. We try to push the conversation to a greater, more eternal hope than getting French nationality. She hears us and responds politely but she cannot look beyond her papers.  She has put her hope in them.  Despite the fact that the process has been taking years, she remains optimistic. She has a right to nationality and she will get it!  And then everything will be wonderful!  God willing.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We continue to be thankful for the cooling rains after several hot months. It sounds like the meetings about the language work went well on the big island. We were encouraged to hear that a meeting took place between two groups that have been estranged— we’ve been praying for reconciliation and this was an encouraging first step. The group that Tom is meeting with had an encouraging time this past week using a newly produced video in the local language. Our newest teammates have had the opportunity to share with some new island friends and they want to start studying together— this is an exciting development, pray for clear communication moving forward!

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray that Nanasi and others like her would find the true hope that never fails. Island brothers and sisters are calling for a day of prayer and fasting for the islands on Sunday, March 18th- please join us! Contact us if you want more information or more ways to pray that day. One island friend just lost his father unexpectedly— pray that our team could be a light to the grieving family. Next week we will have a doctor visiting the island as a possible location for future work— pray for last minute logistics and that we could make the medical connections so that he can see the people and places that will make his brief trip worthwhile.  Pray for our team as we learn more about and come in direct contact with some of the dark things of the islands— like calling on spirits and witch doctor practices.