In my last blog entry I said that it was an interesting week. Well this week was even more so. I'm in a computer lab and again this entry will have no photos. It's been snowy the last couple of days here in Tokmok. Yes...I'm still in Kyrgyzstan for an unexpected extended stay. For those of you not on my Face Book list here's what happened.
On Saturday I checked in at the airport and when I got to the passport counter the passport police refused me on the flight and asked the airlines to cancel me flying. Let me back up a bit: With Kyrgyzstan's new visa laws Canadians can stay 60 days without needing a visa. Anything longer requires a visa. When I was booking my airline tickets in July I was thinking 2 months instead of 60 days and miscounted the days. When I got to the passport counter it was on day 61 - 6 hours past the deadline of day 60. Every country I've ever heard of would have put me on the plane with a stern warning to get rid of me. But not here...they told me I that as I was now illegally in the country that I had to go buy a visa - after asking how much money I had on me. Apparently I didn't have enough money to buy the "exit visa" at the airport.
So this past week everything was a scramble. I had to find new accommodations and get everything fixed - pay a fine, buy a visa, pay for the forms to process things, pay the airline penalty, police stations, visa office and so on. So long story short I'm in a new apartment now and I have a new visa and airline ticket. Right now if all goes according to plan I'll be in Kyiv December 3rd.
The apartment I'm in is the same one that I stayed in last spring when I was here. The landlord is letting me stay there with no charge (but I'll pay for the electricity). Since they were not expecting anyone to stay there for a while they had already had the gas shut off. So all I have to cook with is an electric kettle and toaster and my diet this week has been mostly cereal, toast and noodle packs (the same thing as Mr Noodle but better). I'm not a salad person either.
So this week pretty much ate up any spare money I had on top of having a dead computer to replace - oh yeah and a van driver from Bishkek to Tokmok who took advantage of my non Russian speaking and ripped me off. I'll take stock again once I get to Krivoy Rog but right now it looks like I'll have enough just to get back to Canada in late February and pay a few living expenses in the meantime. Not fun since I don't have a salary. But I know that God did not call me to this work and not plan for any provision and equipping - and I could lose 20 Lbs any ways. Anyone have any "tent making" ideas?
I would like to say a big THANK YOU to those who literally dropped everything to help me get this fixed and to make arrangements for my extended stay here. We have good family here in Kyrgyzstan.
My experience did have some good things. I was able to do some sight seeing in Bishkek while waiting for my visa. I also got another visit in to the baby orphanage today. The apartment is also much warmer than the last one. (Really good since my winter clothes are in Ukraine.) I also get to look at those beautiful mountains a bit longer. God has a plan and a purpose even if I don't realize what it is right now through all of this and I have so much peace with that.
So please keep me in your prayers and thanks for your support. And as I say so often, thanks for seeing my heart. Till next time...Я люблю тебя!
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