Deported!?
As the time continues its constant march many things change, seasons, plants, animals, people, buildings, cities. And with the gradual movement of time new things become old and many new things are made. With this passage of time a work visa for a young Elder would soon expire, requiring him to go the city's immigration office for an extension. What he did not know was what was in store for him there and that as often said "the time does not forgive."
It all started on Monday when we went to start the process, totally chill, totally normal. Well, things started rolling when they took the papers and my passport. After a quick inspection, I was quickly informed that there was another paper that I needed to get. We told the secretaries in Beira and while they were scrambling to get the document ready for me, we taught a few lessons. Then we came back with the new document, paid and were told to come back next week to get the visa.
Chilling right? No, when we paid they gave me a receipt, which I inexplicably lost on the same day (which technically made me a foreigner without documentation). So Tuesday morning we get there super early to tell them and find out what we can do. Long story short, you don't actually need the receipt because the office has 2 copies. Disaster averted, so we went to district council. During district council I got a random call from a unsaved number. It was the immigration office, they needed me to come back to answer a few questions. Darn, after district council we went back. After waiting a short time a lady took me to her office to do the interview. She asked me some questions about my time in Mozambique, my flights, work, some questions about leadership. She explained that they needed someone who lives in Quelimane who is "responsible for us" to come and talk to them. So now we had to arrange for a member to come to the office and talk to them too.
Now it's Wednesday, we get to the office with our Elders Quorum President. They talked to us for a bit then said they would call us when we needed to come back. After that, we left and studied at a member house close by. We waited and waited and waited. They didn't call, so we went back and they told us they needed to see our house. Then, they drove us out to our house right as the office was closing, these workers were super chill and probably just wanted to go home. So when they got to our house, we went into the front room where we had a table with two cups and they were like "you two only have two cups?" clearly joking, and we said "yeah there's only two of us." They looked around for a bit more and then left, saying that our house was in "good condition."
Thursday was a long one, we got there at about 8:30 and one of the workers had to write up a document so I had to sit there while he did so he could ask for information every 10 minutes. Then I had pay a fine because I violated some law. But they told me I would probably be able to get my visa in about an hour. My hopes were dashed when the lady that did my interview came back and told us "hey you told me about two Brazilians that are here in Quelimane with you, well, we don't have there records so they need to come here and do the paperwork, and we won't give you your visa until they do it." Dang. That was a rip. We would have to come back the next day
Friday, we came back with Elder Cavalcante and Elder Vieira and our member. And geuss what, the lady just wasn't there. So we waited for her to show up, started their papers, we left and made some pizzas, then came back. Then they told us we needed to make a document and bring it back on Monday. But they gave me my visa! After 5 days and roughly 20 hours in the immigration office I got my visa. It was a sour victory because we still have to go back and tie up some loose ends.
Some clarifications, roughly 10-15 missionaries extended their visas this week, I was the only one to do the process in Quelimane. I was the only one to have any major problems. It was exhausting. However, I'm not holding any grudges and honestly I'm just relieved that I have my visa.
Besides bureaucratic nightmares, the week was alright. We lost a lot of time doing visa stuff but Saturday there was a pretty solid ward activity. There was some problems with food and I learned that the fastest way to make Mozambicans upset is problems with food. To simplify a cake was ordered for the activity and didn't show up. When it didn't show up the spirit of contention quickly took hold of the people (mostly the adult women) and there was a decent amount of yelling. However, everything worked out and most everyone showed up at church the next day.
Church was good, we had a few families show up and some recent converts brought their friends to church. We had some solid talks and we ate the cake from the activity.
It all started on Monday when we went to start the process, totally chill, totally normal. Well, things started rolling when they took the papers and my passport. After a quick inspection, I was quickly informed that there was another paper that I needed to get. We told the secretaries in Beira and while they were scrambling to get the document ready for me, we taught a few lessons. Then we came back with the new document, paid and were told to come back next week to get the visa.
Chilling right? No, when we paid they gave me a receipt, which I inexplicably lost on the same day (which technically made me a foreigner without documentation). So Tuesday morning we get there super early to tell them and find out what we can do. Long story short, you don't actually need the receipt because the office has 2 copies. Disaster averted, so we went to district council. During district council I got a random call from a unsaved number. It was the immigration office, they needed me to come back to answer a few questions. Darn, after district council we went back. After waiting a short time a lady took me to her office to do the interview. She asked me some questions about my time in Mozambique, my flights, work, some questions about leadership. She explained that they needed someone who lives in Quelimane who is "responsible for us" to come and talk to them. So now we had to arrange for a member to come to the office and talk to them too.
Now it's Wednesday, we get to the office with our Elders Quorum President. They talked to us for a bit then said they would call us when we needed to come back. After that, we left and studied at a member house close by. We waited and waited and waited. They didn't call, so we went back and they told us they needed to see our house. Then, they drove us out to our house right as the office was closing, these workers were super chill and probably just wanted to go home. So when they got to our house, we went into the front room where we had a table with two cups and they were like "you two only have two cups?" clearly joking, and we said "yeah there's only two of us." They looked around for a bit more and then left, saying that our house was in "good condition."
Thursday was a long one, we got there at about 8:30 and one of the workers had to write up a document so I had to sit there while he did so he could ask for information every 10 minutes. Then I had pay a fine because I violated some law. But they told me I would probably be able to get my visa in about an hour. My hopes were dashed when the lady that did my interview came back and told us "hey you told me about two Brazilians that are here in Quelimane with you, well, we don't have there records so they need to come here and do the paperwork, and we won't give you your visa until they do it." Dang. That was a rip. We would have to come back the next day
Friday, we came back with Elder Cavalcante and Elder Vieira and our member. And geuss what, the lady just wasn't there. So we waited for her to show up, started their papers, we left and made some pizzas, then came back. Then they told us we needed to make a document and bring it back on Monday. But they gave me my visa! After 5 days and roughly 20 hours in the immigration office I got my visa. It was a sour victory because we still have to go back and tie up some loose ends.
Some clarifications, roughly 10-15 missionaries extended their visas this week, I was the only one to do the process in Quelimane. I was the only one to have any major problems. It was exhausting. However, I'm not holding any grudges and honestly I'm just relieved that I have my visa.
Besides bureaucratic nightmares, the week was alright. We lost a lot of time doing visa stuff but Saturday there was a pretty solid ward activity. There was some problems with food and I learned that the fastest way to make Mozambicans upset is problems with food. To simplify a cake was ordered for the activity and didn't show up. When it didn't show up the spirit of contention quickly took hold of the people (mostly the adult women) and there was a decent amount of yelling. However, everything worked out and most everyone showed up at church the next day.
Church was good, we had a few families show up and some recent converts brought their friends to church. We had some solid talks and we ate the cake from the activity.
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| Our Elder's Quorum President's solution for not having an adapter for his iPhone |
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| Elder Cavalcante sleeping after a long day at the immigration office (he has spent more days in the immigration office than working in the area) |
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| Elder Cavalcante and I |
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