DEPARTURE FROM PHILIPPINES

DEPARTURE FROM PHILIPPINES was very interesting and cause for considerable reflection. It is a testimony of the power of my Father in Heaven, but also source of considerable shame and humility for me.

I had stayed over my legal visa time by a week to attend April’s wedding. There is a penalty and other fees for extending visa, which in the past I have paid at the airport without hassle or problem. After I checked in this time and was going through immigration, however, I was not send to a cashier, but to an immigration office, where I was informed a new policy forbids visa extension and penalty to be paid at the airport. I would have to go into town to the main office. This would take several hours, just to get to the office, then a wait, perhaps all day, perhaps several days, who knows? Which is why I didn’t bother in the first place. The cost of air fare to Manila, plus the two or three days waiting was much more than the penalty. Their web site gave me the fees, including penalty: it did not say anything about not being able to pay at the airport. This was a new policy, and at 8 AM there were already 4 who had been sent.

Consider this: I had already checked in, so would have to book and purchase a new ticket. I may or may not be able to get out in the next few days. Unless a miracle occurred, I would miss my next appointments in Indonesia, plus be out much more than the $100 I had planned.

My Father did provide the miracle. While I was waiting (I am not sure for what or whom) a young immigration staff officer engaged me in conversation about why I was in the Philippines and why I had overstayed. I told him about the work I had been doing in Romblon and Manila, and about April’s wedding being the cause of my overstay. He said to me that I might be in luck, maybe there was someone who could and would help me. Long story short, the head lady showed up a bit later, asked me similar questions, grilled me on scriptures to ensure my story was true, and told me to go to my gate. I asked what about the fees and penalty, and she replied rather shortly that she would take the penatly on her own shoulders. The rule about not being able to pay at the airport was quite evidently not a move to extract extra money (as one might assume in any of the Asian countries I frequent) but a serious move on the part of Philippine Immigration for whatever reason. Perhaps a response to the U.S. tightening of immigration policies? At any rate, she had just put me through illegally, and perhaps there would be a penalty for her to pay.

This is why the shame and humility for me. I am ashamed that I would cause any person to be put in a position to make such a decision. I can boast about my God providing miracles, but never before has it been at other’s expense (other than Jesus paying the ultimate price at Calvary). I do not rejoice when others lose for my gain.