Permanent Residency, We're Almost There

Finally, we were able to file for my permanent residency, and just in the nick of time! It was quite the process.

It all started when we went to Vologda, our region capital, and asked the head of the permanent residency department in the Vologda region how to fix my name. Unfortunately, since Houlmiere is a French name, not only have I had to live with people not being able to pronounce it correctly, but when I got my visa two years ago that started the whole residency process the people in the Russian consulate translated it incorrectly, giving me what sounded like a German last name. To make things worse, I didn't notice the mistake until well into the process of getting my temporary residency. When we asked about it the person consulting us with my temporary residency, she said that it would be easy to fix when we would file for permanent residency, and we shouldn't worry about it. So we didn't.

In September, after coming back from America, we started working on getting everything together to file for permanent residency. But when we asked about changing how my name was translated we were told we wouldn't be able to. We were not happy about that! So we went to see the boss in Vologda. After listening to us she said that all we had to do was collect all the certificates I needed with my old name and to write a request to change it to the correct pronunciation and get a translation my passport with my last name translated correctly. So we left happily and went on doing exactly what she said. A couple weeks later, after coming back from our Moscow ICM Forum, we went to file for my permanent residency in Vologda. Of course the girl that was helping us had not been informed of our unique situation, and freaked out. She wouldn't continue till she could talk to the boss, who for some reason hadn't come in yet. We waited most of the day for her to finally show up. And when she did she decided that now she was going to change the name in my temporary residency stamp, and we needed to redo all our certificates and everything into my correctly translated name so that all the documents matched. This would not have been a problem if she had told us this from the beginning, but now we had to rush to get everything changed because the medical certificates that we paid good money for were going to expire on October 8. However, she was going to be nice and allow us to file our papers in Cherepovets, so we didn't have to travel to Vologda again.

So we got right to work, scrambling to all the places I needed to go to get my last name corrected. Finally, we were able to change everything to my correct last name on Monday the third. But before we went and tried to file, we wanted to make sure that nothing was going to change. We called the head of the department in Vologda and asked her to brief the person in Cherepovets about our situation, and make sure we still had the same understanding. All was well. So Wednesday we were able to go and file the papers. But of course every person thinks things should be filled out differently. The girl didn't like that my six pictures were different. When we had gone the first time we had only gone with four because that is what was on the list we were given from the boss in Vologda. But apparently, they need two extra. So they said just to get some other pictures taken and that will be fine. However, this girl thought they should all be the same. We had to fill out the papers a couple more times because she decided something wasn't correct that she hadn't noticed before. And in the end she said she couldn't take the papers until she was able to ask the head of the department in Vologda about what we should write on one line. The question was if we should write that my name had been changed or if it hadn't. So, she said that she would call to find out and, in the mean while, hold onto the papers while we went and got pictures that were all the same on Thursday, and we should come back on Friday, which was the last day we could file our papers before my medical certificates would expire.

On Friday we went with pictures and the same pen we filled out the application with. We were pleased to hear the the girl had been told to just write that the name had not been changed since it was only a correction in translation. So we wrote in the last few words on the application and left with a paper saying that in six months we should receive the answer to whether or not I am approved for permanent residency. So that is where we are now. We are waiting and praying that I would be accepted. I see no reason why they shouldn't, but still, prayer is a good idea. If you do remember, please do keep it in prayer for the next six months as we wait. This will make our life here a lot easier. I will be able to work without any problems, I don't have to do any paperwork for another five years, and can come and go as I please.

Moscow Forum 2011

From September 13 to the 17 Svetta and I were in Moscow at the annual ICM conference where everyone who shares with our mission in one form or another gathers from all over Russia and the Ukraine for a three day seminar. These are people who at one time might have helped do seminars, want or try to do seminars, or are pastors that teach inductively, or support us in prayer and, when possible, financially. Every year we are joined by a team from Northern Ireland, and for the last few years they have been leading us through John Maxwell’s Million Leader Mandate handbooks, training us how to be better leaders and raise up better leaders. We are a motley crew of Russians, Armenians,
Ukrainians, Americans, and Northern Irish. It is always good to get together and spend time with these people and encourage each other in the Lord to go out and continue in ministries.

Svetta and I drove to Moscow with Svetta’s mom on the thirteenth. We dropped Svetta’s mom off at her aunt’s where she stayed while we went to the seminar. Svetta and I had a great time at the seminar. We enjoyed the fellowship with all our friends from Russia, and the Irish. Svetta and Igor took turns translating as the Irish took turns taking us through the book and giving some messages separate from the book. It was a great encouragement. We learned a lot about ourselves and what we need to do in life and ministry. Lewis, the pastor of Jordan Victory Church in Northern Ireland, taught about the importance of showing love, how to show love, and the importance of encouraging people with our words. We also spent a lot of time in prayer and worship. The team from Northern Ireland loves to pray for people and speak words of encouraging prophecy. This demands as many translators as possible. So, Olga Prokopiev, a man from Vologda named Alexey, and I were all called upon to help translate. I am not yet comfortable
translating since my Russian is still not very good, but I did my best and tried to get the point across. This encourages me all the more to learn Russian, and I would appreciate prayer for that. Pray that the Lord would give the ability in the Spirit to learn quickly, and to have the motivation to study harder. By next year I would like to be able to translate better.

Everyone left the forum encouraged and ready to show people love in our ministries. Please keep us all in prayer as we seek the Lord and try to apply what we have learned. Loving is hard, but in the Spirit all things are possible.

After the seminar was over, Svetta and I spent the night at Svetta’s mom’s aunt’s apartment and drove home on the seventeenth. Please keep us in your prayers as now we are tackling the cumbersome job of working, remodeling our apartment, filing for my permanent residency, and somehow fit in ministry. In a week or so I should be able to give an update on the residency process, and the apartment, so stay tuned. Thank you for all your love, support, and prayers.

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