Immigration

This week has been crazy! On Tuesday we found out that our application for two year work permits had been rejected. To appeal the decision we would have to go to Lusaka to the immigration headquarters... or else leave Zambia.

So we purchased bus tickets for Lusaka. On Wednesday, we packed a couple of bags and visited Headman Singanga to have him write a reference letter. He made it difficult but after two visits and around three hours of talking, we received the letters. We then had a party for Jake and Tammy who are heading back to the states after doing a little traveling (the party consisted of cooking a village goat!)

We arrived to the Livingstone bus station at 9:00 for our 9:30 bus departure. The company decided to change busses so instead of 2 and 3 seat rows, this bus was a 2 x 2... meaning 20% of the bus was unable to board. Despite being the first people to buy tickets two days prior and having pre-assigned seating, we were kicked off and moved to another bus. We finally started moving around 10:30 towards Lusaka.

The bus was very uncomfortable. There was no overhead storage and the seats did not recline. We made 6-8 stops along the way picking up and dropping off people before arriving in Lusaka. But after 8 hours, we arrived and took a taxi to Lusaka Backpackers for the night.

This hostel was a bright point on the trip. The cost was only $40 per night and the bed was comfortable and they had very good food to purchase for dinner and breakfast.

At 7:30 on Friday morning, we said our final goodbyes to Jake and Tammy and Jason and Leanna (they are all traveling to Zanzibar before Jake and Tammy continue heading to the States).

We headed to immigration in the rain. The immigration lady seemed to be in a good mood. She took our appeal letter from Love's Door, reference letter from Headman and one of the local school teachers, but she threw out our letter from one of our former Zambian directors and a letter on our own behalf (without even reading them). She told us to call her next week Friday to hear the decision and she gave us 7 more days in the country... which only gives us until the day that we hear the decision.

Now we are back on the bus heading to Livingstone after only a ten minute conversation at immigration! It has been a process but we are excited to be back in our little village house.

There will be a meeting next Thursday where our appeal will be decided upon. Please pray for favor in immigration and for this to all be taken care of before we head to Michigan on March 30 to attend the wedding of Allison's sister.