In and Out of Brazil within a day

Getting a visa to travel is not that easy and it is costly these days, even with a US passport. Many countries apply Reciprocal diplomatic policy: Country A charge people in Country B $150 for a tourist visa of 6 month, the Country B will charge the same $150 for the Country A to get a tourist visa of 6 month. I got my 5-year visa to Brazil in June. However, we could not go due to trip conflict with another trip and increased concern regarding N1H1. We decided to postpone Brazil trip to December. We can tag along my husband's business trip and have a weekend family time at Rio, Coppercabaña, one of most beautiful white sand beach in the world. Also, more importantly, we can visit my daughter's grandparents and other relatives in Sao Paulo.

I have been to Sao Paulo and Rio few years back while I was working. I was not that much impressed with this country, for the reasons of lack of safety, the summer weather is very hot and humid, things are very expensive, and I do not know the language. My dear husband determined to convince me that Brazil is a great country, it is a place where he spent his teenage years, and it shaped him to be a multi-language Latin-Chinese. The bountiful supply of tropical fruits is mouth watering when he describes, and of course the abundant supply of beef everywhere. Plus, Brazil has becoming one of the largest mission sending country.

After total of 19 hours of flight, and layovers, we arrived Sao Paulo around 7:00 am local time. To our surprise, the immigration officer asked us to sit outside and wait for further instruction. My husband translated the conversation; my 5-year visa that was granted in June is invalid because I did not travel within 1st 90 days of visa issue date. So, I cannot enter Brazil. But, I am in Brazil! We were given instruction to contact the US embassy in Brazil and ask for a waiver so I can stay here for 7 days. Only an hour late, another officer came and told us that the option was not available anymore. We were moved to American Airline Admiral lunge. I wish that American Airline would check this out before we boarded the plain! Three of us joined hands to pray continuously for open doors. My husband contacted all possible leads that could help the situation: his office in Brazil, Brazil government officials, and US Embassy consulate. Around 4 pm, the outcome became clear: US embassy consulate refuses to issue request for a 'waiver' due to 'political' reasons. Another person who was held up gained his freedom at 4:00 pm, because his father is a US diplomat in Brazil. We later learn that this kind of things happen more frequent lately due to ‘Reciprocal’ treatment between the two countries.

We made a very difficult decision: send my daughter to her grandparents for 3 days, and my husband will join her to return to the US. I will fly back to the US on very next available flight, which is 11:45 pm on the same day. Tears streamed down my face knowing that I had to be separated from my family for few days, and had to fly back all by myself. My daughter wanted to come with me initially. But, I know how much her grandparents miss her; they have not seen her for 2 years. So, it is best for her to spend few days with our relatives in Brazil.

While we were waiting outside of ‘immigration’, a young girl who sits there all by herself asked us if we speak Chinese. I learned that she was refused to pick up her luggage from one airline to another for her transit through Brazil, as Brazil officer insisted that she needs a visa for taking out the luggage. The Spirit in me reminded me to pray for her. So I asked my daughter to join my hands with her and prayed for her for God’s blessings onto her, and she is able to fly to home safely, and for her to know the Lord Jesus. Her face was very red when we finished the prayer. She told me that many of her school classmates were believers. Then Brazilian officers separated us. Maybe, this is the encounter that I am here for? I pray that she will know one, and only savior.

We learnt a valuable lesson: we need to ensure travel within the 90 days of visa issue date. God is good all the time. He is worthy all of our praises. He has plans to prosper us, not to harm us. He allows us to be benefitted from an unpleasant circumstance because we love Him. We thanked God for providing us a place to stay to go through this ordeal, and a comfortable lunge with food and drinks. One corner became our family corner with a phone dedicated to our use. We are so thankful that so many people from my husband company made time to call to help.

Psalm 103
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;