Shocked!

When we returned to South Africa, we came back not expecting to set foot on American soil again for sometime.  Well, the Lord Who knows all things and directs the paths of those who fear Him... had other things in store for us...

In October of last year, I (Phil) entered South Africa on a 3-month visitor's visa.  I immediately set to work getting all the paperwork in place for applying for permanent residence.  As I dug into things, I realized that I first needed a two-year relative visa in order to apply for permanent residence.  So, I gathered all the necessary documents and scheduled an appointment at the Visa Facilitation Services on December 18th.  Upon producing my documents at the appointment, I was duly informed that I could not apply for a relative visa having only entered the country on a 3-month visitor's visa.  I was then instructed to go to the Department of Home Affairs Office to request a legalization certificate that would allow me to be in the country as an illegal alien, while making application for a relative visa.  Due to that fact that it was holiday season here in South Africa, and South Africa pretty much shuts down for a couple of weeks around Christmas and the New Year, we returned to Ladybrand and prayed.

Shocking News!

On January 3rd, Amrie and I arrived at the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) 45 minutes early, knowing that things might be busy after the long holiday.  Well... we had the right thought, but yet did not quite grasp how busy it might be!  At 7:15 in the morning, the line of people waiting to enter the building stretched around two sides of the big building!

When we arrived at the DoHA.

Two hours later...

After two hours of waiting in line, we were told that we could bypass the line, and go to a certain counter... Making a long story short - after talking to one official, being sent to a different department, sitting across the desk from an immigration officer, and then racing across town to do more research on line, and making more phone calls... it began to dawn on us that our plans had drastically changed.  Instead of returning to Mangusi to carry on with finishing our "house to be," starting formal language study, and beginning to reach out into the community, we needed to get back on an airplane and return to the States!

A Trip to the States!

Again and again, I was informed that I could not change the status of my visitor's visa, and my only option was to return to the States and apply for a relative visa from there!  (This is due to a change in the law of which we were not aware.  Sister Rose Blignaut entered the country some years back the same way I did, and found no complications.)  We cannot properly convey how our whole world seemed to be reeling from the sudden change of events... Not headed back to Mangusi?  Not going to be able to finally set up house and get back to a schedule after 4 months of our lives being so-to-speak upside down? Another trip?  More uncertainties?  Where are we are going to stay?  Well, after the initial shock, we are now somewhat more stable, and the Lord is helping us to rest in His providential leadings in our lives.

So, Lord willing on January 23rd, we will be flying to the States in order for Phil to submit an application for a two-year relative visa in order to return to South Africa.  While Amrie and the children do not really need to return, we felt it was best for all of us to return together - not knowing the length of time it may require or what complicates we might face.

How Long?

At this point we do not know exactly how long we will be in the States.  Phil needs to apply for an FBI background check, which can take a minimum of a week or two, and then the application for a relative visa is supposed to take three to four weeks.  Thus, it seems that we will be in the States for at least two months and possibly more.  Please keep us in your prayers!