in the Hands of the Potter: issues

Thursday, June 29, 2006

issues

It has been a few days since I've written, but lots has changed. Both of the teams from Kansas City and Las Vegas have left, Amy and Jimmie have left, Randy and Julie have left. So it's just Charis, Sarah, Jessica, Bobby, Kevin, John and me now. I realize that sounds like quite a few people still, but compared to 26, it's nothing. Life is very much quieter now, but we're still having fun. I miss Amy and Jimmie though! They're still flying back to KC ... hopefully not too bored. :)
I'm having a few issues, though, with my visa. Bobby and John came to the clinic today - and somehow whenever John says "Emily we need to talk" I feel like I'm about 2 feet tall and about to be yelled at. ;o) But anyway, it turns out that when I arrived at the airport in Ndola, I wrote student on my visa papers - and someone wrote "business visa" in my passport. Apparently, I was supposed to put tourist or visitor, but I didn't know that. OOPS. The visas are only good for 30 days, but they won't renew it now because it's a BV (business visa). So basically my visa expires tomorrow. We went through this whole big mess to try to figure out what to do; I tried to get my flight changed to tomorrow instead of next Tuesday, but all the flights out of Ndola are booked because it's a holiday weekend. Then we thought maybe I could fly to Zimbabwe or Botswana and come right back in, because then I'd be able to get a reentry visa. But we couldn't find any flights out of Ndola to anywhere. So Joseph talked to the immigration office in Ndola, and they said I could get a temporary work permit if I paid 1,000,000 kwacha. Which is about $275. Ugh. THEN Kevin thought he might have to drive to Botswana tomorrow anyway - we're having some issues with a container down there - and I could go with him just to go across the border. It's a ten-hour drive one way, but if he was going anyway, I'd save the money. If I don't do anything, I'll get arrested and won't be able to leave the country at all.
It turns out that he's not going to go down to Botswana until Tuesday, so I have to just get the work permit and pay the million kwacha. I'm praying that God would have mercy on us and soften the hearts of the immigration people when we go back to Ndola tomorrow. But ugh. It's been a mess all day, and I've been feeling kind of upset and emotional. I hate that feeling! I know God is ultimately in control and He will work something out. But it's still kind of nerve-wracking when it seems like no options are good ones.
Other than that, life is good. We got two puppies at the mission. Our dog, Grizzly, had puppies with another dog next door, and they're about 6 weeks old. So adorable!!! hehe. I've been playing with them every day, and I keep meaning to take pictures. Maybe I'll post some tomorrow.
My dad asked about nshima the other day, and I actually wrote a post about it - and then it got deleted somehow. So ... nshima is the staple food of Zambia. It's made from ground up maize, mixed with water and cooked. It looks similar to mashed potatoes, but really has no flavor. They'll roll it up into handfuls and eat it dipped in whatever is available - gravy, cooked vegetable leaves, or whatever ... if nothing else, they'll have salt. It has basically no nutritional value whatsoever, but it makes them feel full so they like it. Jessica and I have a bag of mealy meal, so we're going to try to make it one day before I leave. Just to feel like real Zambians. :o)
No pictures today, because I haven't taken any lately. And I haven't really done anything picture-worthy.
To leave on a happy note, I won both games of Farkle tonight. Yay for me. :-D

posted by emily @ 4:17 PM

8 Comments:

At 5:22 PM, Anonymous said…

Hi roommate...I'm sorry about the visa...am praying that all works out well & quickly!

I just sent you a ginormous e-mail! :-D

Will talk to you soon...

Love ya!
At 5:24 PM, Anonymous said…

Ok...so your e-mail isn't working, my assumption is that it's related to Bee's web host, per the post on LJ.

So...I'm sending the e-mail as a huge myspace personal message. So check that!
At 11:24 PM, Anonymous said…

Another day, another dollar...or two...hundred. We join you in prayer for the VISA issue to work out. These African games can take several hours and "extra" dollars. Hopefully someone wise in their ways can go with you.
At 11:31 PM, Anonymous said…

Dear Em,

Is it too much to hope that there is an American Embassy anywhere near that can help? This sounds like a "take advantage of the American" deal. Can't the people at the mission help? I am really worried about you.

Love, Grandma
At 1:15 AM, emily said…

Don't be worried! It will all work out. There are people at the mission who know what they are doing who are taking care of me. The US Embassy is 5 hours away.
At 7:25 AM, Anonymous said…

My advice is to do whatever it takes to fix the situation legally - I know that money is a problem for you right now. If someone can loan the money to you I can promise to return it to them whatever way it can be done. Let me know how I can help.
Love, Grandma
At 7:48 AM, Anonymous said…

Em, another thought. If the American Embassy is only 5 hours away, is it possible to have someone get you there? The purpose of the embassy is to assist U.S. citizens in situations such as you are in. At the very least, they can offer you sanctuary until you are able to get out of the country and return home. It is important that nothing is done to make your situation worse. Love, Grandma
At 9:35 AM, Anonymous said…

awww...I love you and am praying for you...visas are no fun :(

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