Disappointment
After a year of planning and lots of arrangements made for our team to come to the U.S. from Indonesia, the U.S. Consulate denied their visas. They were coming to share their stories and Indonesian cultural dance.They went to the U.S. Consulate in Surabaya on January 23. The team was Hendra, the principle of Hohidiai School, Fani, a Hohidiai School teacher, and four students; Tison, Esther, Feron, and Tessa. The plan was to start in L.A. where they would share with several groups and Tison would get to see Dr. Grossman, the surgeon, who helped with reconstructive surgeries of his burn injuries. These are amazing young people and then they were going to Idaho for more meetings at churches, schools and youth gatherings. Then to Alaska for our IFC Family Dinner on March 1 and many other meetings. IFC has brought several children and the adults escorting them to the U.S. We have a record of being responsible with the visas rules for our visitors. I shared that to say we were optimistic that our team of six would be able to come to the U.S. for the five week tour.
The team went to the Consulate and were given their interview. They were denied the visas to come to the U.S. That in itself I can accept but they were treated rudely and the interviewer would not even read the letter I wrote to invite them and explain their activities while they were in the U.S. It was upsetting to the young ladies who were treated rudely. I know there are lots of people who want to come to the U.S. but the lack of professionalism was shocking. I normally would not say anything but our children were rejected children from birth and came into our care. These children are amazing–to have them treated like this is very disappointing.
The children were very upset. Hendra had to spend the evening talking to them about what happened. I had to cancel engagements from L.A., Boise and Alaska. We will try to followup on this in the future. My hope is our children will be O.K. and that we can try again in the future.