It’s the little things, people say. It sounds trite but that doesn’t mean it isn’t often true. Big events stand out more. We anticipate them more. Spend more on them. Expect more out of them. But it’s the little things that fill each day of our lives and can make those days and those lives better or worse, easier or harder, happier or sadder. Often in terms of which little things we focus on and populate our memory with most frequently.
One of the little things of international work is visas. Our US identify us to the world, but visas identify us to the places we go or live. Are we visitors or more long-term residents? Tourists or business people? Navigating the process of visas is an ever changing one.
When I started my work traveling throughout Southeast Asia nearly two years ago (as opposed to when we arrived in Southeast Asia, which was almost two and a half years ago!), visas were intimidating. Now they’re routine. For my trip to Singapore and Malaysia this weekend I know I need to fill out the online forms that declare my arrival and departure, the purpose of my visit, and where I’ll be while in their countries. I do that every time I visit these countries. Some countries don’t require this. Others require much more.
And for Indonesia where we live, I am blessed to have an Indonesian work visa, also known as a KITAS. This is a certificate from the government of Indonesia stating I am allowed to live in their country. The KITAS is good for one year and then must be renewed. I first received a KITAS a year ago so I have had to renew it. Thankfully we have a partner church who arranges those details. They tell me when to go to immigration. They tell me what information they need from me. And they coordinate with an agent in Jakarta to ensure all the paperwork is in place.
Thankfully, we just received our passports back with our new KITAS information in them. This means for the next 11 months we’re free to come and go from Indonesia as needed, and live here in between those journeys. It expedites things and relieves us of the burden of filing paperwork every 30 days, or every six months. It makes our lives easier.
It’s just a little thing. A stamp about the size of a postage stamp on one of our passport pages. But it makes our lives so much easier. We give thanks to God for a relatively smooth renewal process and another year of service!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 