The Latest News

I called Trac this afternoon. It was just 5 minutes after she'd heard the news herself, and was just wondering how to contact me.

The news was all fairly bad.

1. Trac's bad news: she's not coming to Japan. In fact, she cashed in her ticket today. The re-entry permit will, they told her, take from 1-6 months to issue! Until she has one of these permits, she can't leave Russia. SO... no emergencies in Australia Please!!

The positive side: now we know that we need to apply for multiple re-entry permits as soon as we get a long term visa. They put the paperwork for Pete, Trac and the kids in today.

2. My bad news: the passport office told Bishop Peter (who has been applying for my letter of invitation since the beginning of September!!) that it won't be ready for another month.
I had a little tear when Trac told me that. Ok, there were several.
I don't want to be in Japan for Christmas!

But the conversation ended on a positive note. We agreed to get Kate (our interpreter) to ask Pastor Peter (our Pastor) to ask if there are any more fees we need to pay for a faster issue. If there are, we'll pay them, and hopefully get the letter by tomorrow.

If that doesn't work, Trac will apply for another tourist invitation for me- that shouldn't be too hard to get. And that visa shouldn't be too hard to obtain. It does mean that I'll have to leave Sakhalin, come to Japan and do all this again in 4 weeks time...

at least I have friends in Sapporo now.

So I'll call Trac tomorrow at midday and ask for the news. If she has the letter, it'll be all go- I'll hop over to the consulate as quick as my little legs will carry me and start filling out forms. If she doesn't have the letter, I'll have to change my return flight. Please God...