Sovereign over Passports

Let me tell you about the events surrounding my passport renewal. As I am leaving for Cameroon soon, I decided it would be a good idea to renew my passport, which was due to expire at the end of March. So, in January, with plenty of time to spare, I sent in my renewal application, the appropriate fees, a couple of passport photos, and my old passport. I was a little nervous about getting the new passport in time, but I had 8 weeks before I was due to leave, and passports usually take about 4 weeks to be renewed.

I didn’t start worrying about my passport until I realized that I was missing my Cameroon residence permit. You see, since I lived in Cameroon before, it was easier to just apply for a residence permit than to constantly reapply for a visa (Cameroon graciously allows their missionaries to do this). So, when it came time to return to Cameroon, I didn’t need to worry about a visa, since I am already a recognized resident of Cameroon. I keep this residence card inside of my passport (for safe keeping). I remembered removing it from my passport before sending the renewal, but suddenly I could not find it any more. After turning my house upside down a couple of times, I finally decided it must still be in the passport and it was time to try to contact the passport agency, and pray.

I first tried to check online if my passport had been processed yet, without success. So, I proceeded to call on the telephone. Keep in mind that the passport agency has been flooded with new applications for passports since the new travel regulations. I tried and tried, and after about a half hour on hold finally got to talk to a human being. She was very kind, but insisted that the passport agency had not yet begun processing my application (after 3 weeks!). I was told to call back next week. I called the following week and got the same results. This time, however, I was told to check my bank statement, and to call back once my check cleared. I checked my bank statement every day for a couple of weeks and was sincerely surprised when I finally saw the check clear about 5 weeks after the application was sent. The next day I called the passport agency once more. The kind woman on the other end was able to confirm that my application was received, but broke the news that it would take several more weeks for it to be processed. She was unable to tell me if my residence card was with my passport. I left my phone number with her and requested that I be called if my residence card was found. I also paid the additional fee to expedite my application.

About a week later, I received a phone call from the passport agency. My fears that my residence card was lost were confirmed. The woman on the phone also stated that I would likely receive my passport only 3 days before my departure. When I mentioned that I would need a visa in the absence of a residence permit, she was sympathetic to my situation and said that I would get my passport back “much sooner.” I determined that night to search every square inch of my house once more, even if it took all night. By God’s grace, I found the residence card!!! I immediately got on my knees to thank God for helping me find it. Ah, but God was not yet done. When I was at work the next day, I got a phone call from Mom. She said that she was at my house doing some artwork and the FedEx guy came with a small package. The passport came the very day after I spoke to the kind woman on the phone. I know that God wants to build my faith, but sometimes I question the methods He uses. Well, I guess God really is sovereign over the passport agency tooJ