I'm Seeing Green

I am at a loss for words. A total miracle happened to us this morning. Those of you who have been reading this blog regularly know that I have been unable to work, drive, or travel for the past couple months due to a delay in processing of some very important documents. It’s been 52 days to be exact. Fifty-two beautifully painful days.

At the advice of Mr. Kimmel of Asbury Theological Seminary I wrote to my congressman, Mike Simpson, explaining my situation and asking for help. His office was phenomenal. Not only did they contact the USCIS office asking for an explanation, but they also asked that a letter be sent to me personally from the USCIS letting me know what’s up.

The letter I got from a USCIS agent explained that my file was in Memphis, TN, where I interviewed. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I didn’t interview in no Memphis, TN. It was Louisville, KY and why my file ended up in Memphis, I have no earthly idea. I know all those southern states tend to blurr into one giant ‘whatever’ when you get as far north as Idaho, but really, I was concerned about my file getting completey lost in the black hole commonly known as “The South.”

So I made an appointment with a local USCIS office. I wanted to find out what happened to my file and what I can do to help speed things along, etc. Now, what I really wanted was to walk away with a green card and never look back. That’s how Nathan and I prayed, “God, just do a miracle tomorrow, let us walk away with a green card.”

Of course we both realized it was a stretch. I knew that the card itself was stamped out in Nebraska and there was no way I was walking out of that USCIS office with the card in my pocket. I was being rational and reasonable. I was being human.

We also prayed that God would send us a person who cared. These agents and staff members see so many people on a daily basis and after a while, it gets hard to really care. You become a number and nothing more. Nobody cares if you have been unable to work, drive, travel, or be with your family for a while. It is how it is. That’s the system, and there is nothing anyone can do about.

Except for God. He sent us an office-full of people who really cared. I am not going to go into details, but suffice it to say, I can work starting today. I can travel and drive also. Go God! My card is going to take 10-14 days to get here. In the meantime, I have a stamp in my passport that says I have the right to re-enter the country and work effective immediately. Again, go God!

The big question now is should I fly through London or Paris or maybe Rome on the way to my parents’ house? That’s right, I am going to trot the globe, as they say. Actually, there is a job waiting for me at a Bible College that’s been opened this month in Estonia. This works out perfectly for many reasons too lengthy to mention here at this time (our marriage is better than ever, if you were wondering and the reasons in no way relate to our relationship).

So thanks to everyone who endured with me through these trying times. It’s been good and I learned a lot, but I am glad it’s over.