How nice it was to meet most of you this summer at our reception. Unfortunately, we have not been able to spent time with everyone, but we hope you enjoyed it. We certainly did! It was special to see family, friends, colleagues, sponsors and acquaintances together. We look back on this day with a grateful heart.
Last summer, a few days before we left for Papua, we got a message from the IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service) that Kris is not allowed to stay in the Netherlands and that he had to be out of the country within 4 weeks. However, they could submit a notice of objection, but within 4 weeks. In 5 days time we have gathered all kinds of information and proof, but luckily all of that succeeded. An accountant, lawyer, family, friends and church helped us tremendously to have everything ready for our departure. One day before departure we were still with the lawyer and on behalf of us he filed a notice of objection. The IND has informed us that they will look at the notice of objection and that they will reconsider the decision before 8 January 2019 (!). Our lawyer has warned that it may take longer, because the IND is lagging behind with all applications. It takes a while before we get the results, but fortunately Kris can stay in the Netherlands until then.
While writing this paragraph, we got a message from the IND that the notice of objection has been declared well-founded and that he has received a residence permit for the next 5 years !!!! Kris and I are very happy and we realize that God has done a miracle. We realize very well that this miracle does not always happen.
I regularly visit the asylum seekers’ center (AZC) in Dronten. One of the guests there is Marolyn *, a young woman from China. She had to flee, because Christians in her province are still being prosecuted. When a number of people of her church were murdered, her parents insisted that she should flie and leave the country. To protect her parents she fled without letting them know where. For fear of their safety, she can not contact them.
Needless to say, of course, that she misses her parents, family and friends and she is sometimes very sad. She likes it when we come to her, chat, eat, read a piece of the Bible and pray together. She likes it best when after reading we tell each other what we notice in the piece and what we learn from it. In this way we learn from each other and we notice that where we come from has a big influence on how we interpret the Bible. While Kris and I were in Papua, Marolyn had received notice from the IND that her objection had been rejected. How sad, you do not feel welcome when you know that you can not return to the country where you come from.
Marolyn is allowed to go into higher appeal, but she can not wait for the verdict in the Netherlands … What a dilemma and what a difficult situation. Marolyn has chosen to flee again, she is in hiding with a family and now waits in suspense what the Supreme Court has to say about it. Would you like to pray for Marolyn and her lawyer?