[As some of you may know, the national government had previously announced that they would not extend any visas of the type that Miriam has past September 15 of this year, in order to ensure that they could force most of the foreigners out of the country for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern nation. This meant it was necessary to consider leaving the country at that point and getting another visa in the US (which would be good one month, then have to be renewed again, then she would have to leave again, then it would be renewed again, etc.). The other option was to try and switch to another kind of visa, which would be more than twice as expensive (and legally shaky), but would be good for a year and not require her to leave. Here's the latest from Miriam, and some other good news.]

“Well, the officials have decided that this was a bad idea. Basically, there was tremendous outcry from the business community, which suffered a lot last year through the visa changes. Given the terrible economic situation, making it difficult or impossible for all small-business people to get in was not the brightest idea they had. Additionally, they are really worried about the flu you all have over there, and don’t want a bunch of people leaving and then coming back a month later infected.

“So, they have changed the policy, though they raised the prices. Every person who works in the visa field is telling me that if we want to renew the one I have now, we ought to do it immediately, as it might not be possible next month. They theorize that the officials have opened this window, and raised the price, to allow business people and others with legitimate business here to get the visa, but to keep out as much of the riff-raff as possible. I’m not in the riff-raff category, so I should be able to stay put!

“In other news, a really, really nice thing has happened. In recent months I have developed what we affectionately call the “Hack.” Everyone gets it after a while if they live here. It’s basically a smoker’s cough. Living here is supposedly the equivalent of a three-pack a day habit. The last time I tried to exercise outside, I was laid up for a couple of days trying to catch my breath. I have had mild asthma ever since getting pneumonia in college, and it crops up only when I’ve been ill with a chest cold or flu for a while, or when the air is particularly dirty. Thankfully, all my work is done at home now, and everyone I work with comes to me (though I do meet people for meals regularly). They come to me because the Father has so blessed us in the situation of our apartment: it is nearly smack-dab in the center of town, right off public transportation. Whenever more than one person meets me or us, like our ladies’ study or history class, they are always coming from their work or homes, which are all in completely different areas of town. For them to reach each other’s places would take half of them 2+ hours one way. But for everyone, our house is about 40 minutes to an hour away from their work or home. We also have such a nice big living room that we can fit a lot more than most people in there. So it works out beautifully, and I’ve been glad to stay at home. I work and exercise indoors, and am not out much except to meet people, and it helps with the asthma and all. Well, for my birthday, some local friends got me this really great, high quality air purifier for the house. It’s the best one on the market, and big enough to do the whole apartment easily. It is just such a thoughtful, kind gift. Since that’s been running, my cough is completely gone and breathing is perfectly easy.”

[We praise the Lord for his goodness to supply what Miriam needs to not only endure, but thrive on her field. Please pray with her as a new ministry opportunity has just opened up to train a new group of ladies in theology. More on this in future issues…. -Ed.]