Not long after finishing the last blog post I received an email regarding the credit card I wanted to use to pay for the Nigerian visa application. It stated: Your request has been rejected.
Reason
Rejected..[A.K.] Last four digits of card number is mismatch in card statement versus the card no. provided in card information. Please reapply with your scanned card along with card statement and a valid photo id.
I had double checked and the information was correct. Not only that but the rest of the email had all the details I had entered when uploading the information and the card statement so I’m not sure where THEY got it wrong!!! Then after retrying to upload the documents again I realised they were correct. The card had a different number to my account. I rang through to MasterCard and was told this was the norm. I then called the Nigerian Embassy in Pretoria and explained my problem asking “why if it was the norm was my card not accepted and was there another way I could pay?” The assistant apologised saying I could only pay online and I should contact the support team once again.
In the meantime while I waited on their response, I contacted my friend Vivian at the Wakisa Ministries in Uganda and asked her to find out if I can apply for a Nigerian visa in K
ampala.
During the week I also did a bit of homework re a visa to Uganda. I called in to a travel agent in Nelspruit to inquire if they may be able to apply on my behalf. They checked their information saying they could only assist if I were a SA resident or an Australian with a work permit in SA, then she told me that Australian passport holders receive a visa on arrival at the Kampala International Airport, Uganda. Now that was good news and worth celebrating! But my joy was short lived. Back at the house went online to check for myself as I’m not very trusting of other people’s advice these days having found many discrepancies in all sorts of things. I visited the Uganda High Commission website. Hhmmm yes there we go again, online there was conflicting advice. I googled the Australian Embassy in Uganda and found an email address to which I sent an inquiry re visas on arrival. Their response was “Please visit a Ugandan High Commission or consulate near you to obtain this information as it is not within our jurisdiction to advice on visas.” Hmmm not very helpful! I went back to the Ugandan High Commission website and only then noticed there was an area for comments and questions at the bottom of the page. In fact on nearly every page of the website they provided a comments box. I was really impressed to see the replies were from the Ugandan High Commissioner himself! Well it seemed they were from him personally. I read through the comments but none really answered mine so I added my queries in the box provided. It was then I noticed that the last question answered was dated 9th Oct. I prayed the commissione
r would be able to get back to me soon. Like this week! Yeah! Within 3 ½ hrs I received a reply but not the one I was looking for which was: “No. Australian PP holders need to apply for visas. Ask the agent to assist you.” Hmmmm that’s not the news I wanted. Still not convinced so I emailed a friend in World Share Australia as they sent teams in regularly and would know the latest requirements.
The next step was to make an itinerary of dates and proposed flights keeping in mind I could not book a ticket to Nigeria without a visa. This meant I needed to book a return flight from Uganda as I couldn’t enter without a return or onward ticket. Having been told I can get 3 months on arrival I planned my departure date to be a day or a week before I flew back to Perth from Joburg. A day would give me time to catch the connecting flight and if I made it a week I could return to Cape Town where I could unwind before taking the long 24hr flight home. Then if by any chance I didn’t get the visa to Nigeria I could stay on in Uganda helping at the Wakisa Ministries. If the Lord opened the door to visit Nigeria I could then book a flight from Uganda leaving just before Christmas and returning to catch the connecting flight to Joburg. With all this sorted I committed it all to the Lord and asked for His leading and guidance and perfect timing to be revealed.
Meanwhile life goes on……
Linette, who I mentioned and who helped out at the mobile clinic, had been talking to her niece, Moné who had been struggling with their four week old baby who had been diagnosed with reflux. She had suggested Moné contact me to see if I was interested in visiting them. I was delighted to be of help and arranged for Moné to pick me up in Nelspruit on Monday at 9am. Jenny was needing to go in early and was able to drop me at a shopping centre. Being dropped a few mins early I dashed in to a travel agent. This was when I received the information re visa on arrival for Australian PP holders to Uganda. I then waited with coffee in hand for Moné. We spotted each other around the same time. I knew who she was as she had her baby in her arms. Waving recognition we introduced ourselves and to Sista who is Moné’s new helper, she would also sit in and learn any tips I could provide.
We drove out to their macadamia farm where I was introduced to Roelof, Moné husband. Roelof explained that the whole family was very sleep deprived and at their wits end. He stayed with as for a short while so as to be part of the discussions before returning to his office. I went through all the information I usually do with my clients and helped them understand and implement some of the sleeping techniques which will help little Katryn recover from her sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep definitely exacerbates the reflux problem. None of us are able to handle things when we are overtired! It was a really productive day, Katryn began to sleep longer and mum was much more hopeful of better things to come.
I had spent a good part of the day with Moné, by three thirty we bundled Katryn into the car while I was driven back to ASM clinic. It had been a very fruitful time.
That night after Yvonne and Jenny returned from their meeting, Jenny changed my wound dressing. The burn from the Cobra was healing over well. I was really blessed to have such professional medical staff right at hand! Since I arrived I had become a patient at the clinic and was given several follow up sessions to check my wound which was healing well.
Poor Yvonne was once again head down in her study papers so was unable to join us on our Saturday outing. Jenny had asked if I would like to join her, Anne and one of the African ladies that works in admin with their display at a Missions day held at the ‘Mercy Air’ base. Here about eighteen Christian organisations including ASM, Youth For Christ, World Outreach and of course Mercy Air came together to promote their ministries. It was an interesting morning, I wandered around the stands, explored the grounds and sat at a table under a shady tree near the food stalls which were under a large tent. There was also a jumping castle and face painting for the kids.
Val relieved us in the afternoon so we could do some shopping on the way home as well as an all-day breakfast at Wimpies for $2.50 Aust. It consisted of two eggs, fried or scrambled, two rashes of bacon, half a fried tomato, a slice of brown or while toast and a small serve of chips. What a bargain! I also lashed out and had a cappuccino as it was not quite 1:30pm.
Sunday I wanted to visit an African church so Yvonne suggested I visit one of their outreach churches in the local community. She dropped me off and returned to ASM so that she could continue studying as her exams were the next day, Monday. I was early and sat at the back of the church, last row. The church slowly started filling up. I stood out being the only white face. An elderly lady signalled for me to come down the front. At first I didn’t realise it was me who she was waving at so ignored her. She then came, took me by the arm and insisted I follow her to the front row where she sat me next to another lady who I think was one of the pastors. This lady then shook my hand (African style) and gave me a hug. The music began and the visiting minister arrived, giving me a welcoming hand shake and hug, fortunately he knew English and started translating some of what he was saying to the congregation. That was until he began to preach which was after the praise and worship, which was of course in their native tongue.
Before preaching, some of the congregati
on came forward to give testimonies of things God had done in their lives that week. Then just before the minister started preaching he asked me was I comfortable with Swazi, which is pronounced Siswati. I misunderstood what he said and thought he had asked me if I was comfortable with sweating! He was perspiring as was the rest of the congregation who had been enjoying praising the Lord in dance with lots of energy. I was loving it too and joined in as best I could so was also sweating. It was after I said “oh yes, I’m used to sweating” that I suddenly realised he had asked if I was used to Swazi. Ooops to late now! I didn’t mind though as during my travels I had sat under the Word of God spoken in various languages I didn’t understand. The books of the Bible often sound similar as the English pronunciation so I could get the gist of what the message was about by reading the verses. Today was no different. The verse was from Joshua 6:1-6 the walls of Jericho. I even got the three main points. Prayer, Action and Believe.
The service ended with prayer for those facing a Jericho situation in their lives. The pastor then called me over for a chat asking how I knew about the church and then suggested I take the church bus back to ASM. Or that’s what I thought he had said.
I followed the ladies onto the bus explaining I needed dropping off at the end of the road leading to the ASM clinic. Little did I realise the bus only went to the end of the village where it dropped
me off before turning around to drop off other church members. Yvonne had just called me and I explained I was on my way then had to call her back but couldn’t get through. I started walking out of town as I knew it wasn’t that far and didn’t want to wait where all the taxi buses were. After walking about 15min I tried calling again, in fact several times and finally got through to let Yvonne know where I was and could she please pick me up as I was roasting under the heat of the midday sun. I knew I shouldn’t walk alone as it was not advisable for a white lady to walk alone but I wasn’t going to wait where the taxis were. I felt ok as there was quite a bit of traffic on the road. Yvonne came just as someone had pulled up he was waiting for me to come parallel to him and I’m sure he just wanted to know why I was walking alone and if I was ok but I didn’t stop to find out.
Pictures: 1. Tree at Mercy Air missions awareness day 2. Village where I went to church 3. Missions organisations displays in hanger 4. ASM table 5. Jenny and Anne talking to Mercy Air member 6. Boy waiting for face painting 7. Worship at church 8. Women dancing at church
Prayer & Praise Points:
Praise the Lord for His protection in all areas of my life. Praise Him for continual watching over me and delivering me from pending harm.
Praise Him for the work being done here through ASM and their faithful workers. For Yvonne and all the years of dedication and love for the people here.
Please continue to pray for Yvonne’s exams which are till 17 November. Pray that she has done well in all her assignments which were only just passed in on time.
Please continue to pray for me to know the Lord’s will regarding visiting Nigeria and Uganda. For His timing to visit both places, and any obstacles to be removed as I apply for the visas. May my applications be accepted and the visas go through smoothly.
Please pray for my safety while in South Africa both physically, online and for my few possessions.
Pray continue to believe the Lord for continual good health for my Mum.