"Where is your friend, the one that was sitting with you? He needs to come here."
Sophie, Mica and I looked back at our friend as he made his way to the desk at the Ministry of Interior. My heart sunk within me as he was asked to show his ID. Something told me we weren't getting our visas approved that day.
I watched as the woman checked the computer and scribbled something on my forms. She handed me my form back and informed us three girls that she could not issue another 3 month visa and didn't bother explaining why. We walked out of there discussing our options.
After trying the Ministry of Interior, leaving the country and coming back, and the Ministry of Interior two more times, it was clear that I was supposed to leave the country. But why? Why would the government employees not even give my renewal form a second glance?
It's because my passport number is now forever linked to the ID of a "dangerous missionary."
You see, my friend and his wife, who have lived in Israel for a number of years, were marked as missionaries a while back and have had trouble gaining their residency because of it. However, they took this matter into court, won the court case, and were supposed to rest easy as the Ministry of Interior deleted any "black mark" off their record. When my friend's information came up on the computer, though, it was found that the Interior did NOT do as the court instructed.
And now, every time they enter in my passport number into their system, my friend's identity also shows up. As long as I'm associated with him I can never get back into the country. The funny thing is they have no proof whatsoever that I myself am a missionary. I'm just linked to one. As far as they know, all I did was tour the country for 3 months and ask for a visa renewal.
But you know what? If I'm asked to leave a country because of a missionary status, what better reason is there to be asked to leave?
Here's the thing, though. The Ministry of Interior is a poor representation of the Israeli population. Every single Israeli I came into contact with outside of that office proved to be the friendliest, kindest, and most helpful individual I'd ever met. I'm talking from the bus drivers, the people working at the grocery stores, down to my fellow believers.
The injustice of the Ministry of Interior is merely a side aspect to the society, yet one that affects many believers trying to make aliyah and live in the land. Without having residency, many believers won't be accepted into nursing programs, or be allowed into the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), or be able to work. However, these believers have worked with the Interior and have done everything they know to do in order to gain their residency and are forced to wait off to the side for the government to do its part.
My part in the story was small, but it opened my eyes to the things that many people have had to deal with on a regular basis. I myself can do very little to change the system. The most I can do is let my story and the stories of those I know be told and hope that they open the eyes of others who might be able to work towards real change.
That is my hope and my prayer.
Sophie, Mica and I looked back at our friend as he made his way to the desk at the Ministry of Interior. My heart sunk within me as he was asked to show his ID. Something told me we weren't getting our visas approved that day.
I watched as the woman checked the computer and scribbled something on my forms. She handed me my form back and informed us three girls that she could not issue another 3 month visa and didn't bother explaining why. We walked out of there discussing our options.
After trying the Ministry of Interior, leaving the country and coming back, and the Ministry of Interior two more times, it was clear that I was supposed to leave the country. But why? Why would the government employees not even give my renewal form a second glance?
It's because my passport number is now forever linked to the ID of a "dangerous missionary."
You see, my friend and his wife, who have lived in Israel for a number of years, were marked as missionaries a while back and have had trouble gaining their residency because of it. However, they took this matter into court, won the court case, and were supposed to rest easy as the Ministry of Interior deleted any "black mark" off their record. When my friend's information came up on the computer, though, it was found that the Interior did NOT do as the court instructed.
And now, every time they enter in my passport number into their system, my friend's identity also shows up. As long as I'm associated with him I can never get back into the country. The funny thing is they have no proof whatsoever that I myself am a missionary. I'm just linked to one. As far as they know, all I did was tour the country for 3 months and ask for a visa renewal.
But you know what? If I'm asked to leave a country because of a missionary status, what better reason is there to be asked to leave?
Here's the thing, though. The Ministry of Interior is a poor representation of the Israeli population. Every single Israeli I came into contact with outside of that office proved to be the friendliest, kindest, and most helpful individual I'd ever met. I'm talking from the bus drivers, the people working at the grocery stores, down to my fellow believers.
The injustice of the Ministry of Interior is merely a side aspect to the society, yet one that affects many believers trying to make aliyah and live in the land. Without having residency, many believers won't be accepted into nursing programs, or be allowed into the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), or be able to work. However, these believers have worked with the Interior and have done everything they know to do in order to gain their residency and are forced to wait off to the side for the government to do its part.
My part in the story was small, but it opened my eyes to the things that many people have had to deal with on a regular basis. I myself can do very little to change the system. The most I can do is let my story and the stories of those I know be told and hope that they open the eyes of others who might be able to work towards real change.
That is my hope and my prayer.
Well, there are worse reasons to be deported!
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see how many Palestinian believers have had similar situations, and whether there is a difference between Israeli and Palestinian believers.