I Am What I Am...

The immigration attorney just gave us a copy of our Form 20, which allows us to stay in the country while our residence papers are being processed. I love the title of this document: "Authorisation for Illegal Foreigner to Remain in Republic Pending Application for Status". Nothing like being an "illegal foreigner" who is "pending status". The question is, since we have "authorisation to remain", how can we be illegal? We have, as far as I know, always been "legal"!

You've got to love immigration. People complain about the Dept. of Home Affairs in South Africa, but in their defense it took us four years to obtain Benjamin's US Citizenship, so what's a few months over here? Immigration is not for the faint of heart, however, and there are days when I want to pull my hair out. Yet once the initial frustration has passed, it usually makes for a great story that we can laugh about later.

"But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect." - I Corinthians 15:10

I am what I am..... I love that phrase. Whether I am a US Citizen or an "illegal foreigner," I am profoundly affected by the grace of God. I only pray that my life shows it - that people might see something different in me. If they don't, then there is no point to "remain in Republic pending application for status."

I love the Afrikaans translation of this verse: "Maar deur die genade van God is ek wat ek is, en sy genade aan my was nie tevergeefs nie." It literally means, "But through the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain." May it be even so with me.