Exciting News
Dear Everyone,
We have some really exciting news! Thank you all for your prayers for us concerning Gilmer's papers to get back to the States. We said in the last email that we hoped somehow God would be glorified by our situation and we believe that He was today. Let me try and recap what happened at the Embassy this morning...
We went early and waited in line at the Homeland Security window, after talking to the man there he referred us to the US Border Safety (or something like that) since they are the ones that control the transportation Letter we were told to get. The security guard there said to wait outside, and when they came into office they would call us by who came first (there was a big stack of papers). Since we also needed to get Josiah's SSS number (Social Security) we did that while we waited. After that was taken care of, we were waiting outside and I went to check to see if there were seeing people yet, which they weren't. Gilmer, by then, had made friends with another guard inside and he asked Gilmer what we were waiting for. That guard (since they were friends of course!) told a secretary, who asked us about our situation. We explained a little and then said, "but don't we need to wait outside?" She said "No, no, come on in!" So we did! And met the American man in charge who took one look at Gilmer's Green Card, listening to a little of our problems, then proceeded to say. "But your Green Card is not expired!" "We know," we told him, "but they have told us that we can't get back without this re-entry permit." He then told us that we were fine and could travel whenever we want, we didn't even need this Transportation Letter. He even gave us his name and told us to have them call him if there were any problems. He apologized for the way we were treated on the phone (they have been very rude to us all the different times we called) and explained a little more about the whole situation. Which, by the way, would be too long to write here.
So altogether we were there only 2 1/2 hours and were able to really see how God just put us in the exact right spot to talk to the right person. I think we would still be waiting there had it not been for that "chance" meeting! We are now working on a schedule for going back to the States, getting tickets, taking care of our ministries while we are gone, etc.
We hope that through our story you might be able to see how God answers prayers and is faithful in all situations. We are sure that there were some reasons that we were delayed in our plans, and though we might never know for sure, (we can guess a few already) we are always excited to see how God can work out things that seem impossible to us! Again thank you for your prayers on our behalf, we hope that this might encourage you in your own situation to trust and wait on God to work out whatever you might be facing (and we are all facing something, right?).
We will keep you updated on when the exact dates we will be back in the States will be. Please remember that we would love to share with you in person about what we do here when we come back. So let us know if you what to schedule us to come and share with you and/or a group. We will have at least 4 weeks to do just that!
Your Partners in Christ,
The Paden's
(Gilmer, Julie, Nhaya, Caleb, and Josiah)
P.S. Oh yes, Nhaya! We are not back yet (we leaving in the morning) but many of you said you were praying for her too. She is having so much fun that she hardly has time to talk to us on the phone! It sounds like she's having a great time.
We have some really exciting news! Thank you all for your prayers for us concerning Gilmer's papers to get back to the States. We said in the last email that we hoped somehow God would be glorified by our situation and we believe that He was today. Let me try and recap what happened at the Embassy this morning...
We went early and waited in line at the Homeland Security window, after talking to the man there he referred us to the US Border Safety (or something like that) since they are the ones that control the transportation Letter we were told to get. The security guard there said to wait outside, and when they came into office they would call us by who came first (there was a big stack of papers). Since we also needed to get Josiah's SSS number (Social Security) we did that while we waited. After that was taken care of, we were waiting outside and I went to check to see if there were seeing people yet, which they weren't. Gilmer, by then, had made friends with another guard inside and he asked Gilmer what we were waiting for. That guard (since they were friends of course!) told a secretary, who asked us about our situation. We explained a little and then said, "but don't we need to wait outside?" She said "No, no, come on in!" So we did! And met the American man in charge who took one look at Gilmer's Green Card, listening to a little of our problems, then proceeded to say. "But your Green Card is not expired!" "We know," we told him, "but they have told us that we can't get back without this re-entry permit." He then told us that we were fine and could travel whenever we want, we didn't even need this Transportation Letter. He even gave us his name and told us to have them call him if there were any problems. He apologized for the way we were treated on the phone (they have been very rude to us all the different times we called) and explained a little more about the whole situation. Which, by the way, would be too long to write here.
So altogether we were there only 2 1/2 hours and were able to really see how God just put us in the exact right spot to talk to the right person. I think we would still be waiting there had it not been for that "chance" meeting! We are now working on a schedule for going back to the States, getting tickets, taking care of our ministries while we are gone, etc.
We hope that through our story you might be able to see how God answers prayers and is faithful in all situations. We are sure that there were some reasons that we were delayed in our plans, and though we might never know for sure, (we can guess a few already) we are always excited to see how God can work out things that seem impossible to us! Again thank you for your prayers on our behalf, we hope that this might encourage you in your own situation to trust and wait on God to work out whatever you might be facing (and we are all facing something, right?).
We will keep you updated on when the exact dates we will be back in the States will be. Please remember that we would love to share with you in person about what we do here when we come back. So let us know if you what to schedule us to come and share with you and/or a group. We will have at least 4 weeks to do just that!
Your Partners in Christ,
The Paden's
(Gilmer, Julie, Nhaya, Caleb, and Josiah)
P.S. Oh yes, Nhaya! We are not back yet (we leaving in the morning) but many of you said you were praying for her too. She is having so much fun that she hardly has time to talk to us on the phone! It sounds like she's having a great time.
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