Hello,
This post seems to be a bit related to both the speed limit thread and also the pastor on trial thread.
This week I went to town from the jungle to renew my visa. It normally takes maybe an hour at most. I was told that I was to be questioned, however. I had to come back the next day. I waited all day. Then I was brought in to go through a special 6-page report on me. I was under investigation. I have a spiritual visa but am doing medical work as well. Hard to get a healthcare visa and if I did then I wouldn't be able to preach maybe. So I came to this country as a pastor. But 100% of interior missionaries also treat the sick. We have to, there is no other choice really. You cannot turn people away if they are brought bleeding to our door. And that literally happens all the time.
BUT....a measles outbreak broke out to our South and over 100 died. So I arranged my own vaccines (with help) and vaccinated 8 villages and over 500 people before the government organized and vaccinated our 9th village. Later the #1 provincial doctor thanked us and said there was not the health disaster in our area like to our south because of our actions. Not a single person died in my area due to measles.
That immunization program became proof this week that I was disobeying my visa, not just for occasional emergencies but for coordinated large scale immunization programs. I reminded them that a state of emergency was called and the army called in to our south, but we had no such help. So it was still an action borne out of an emergency necessity.
I was told that I disobeyed the law and this was malpractice and was subject to almost a 10k fine. I told them that I could not promise to stop because there is no other healthcare in my area and I cannot ignore the sick.
I was told to come back the next day and sign my report (and hear the results).
So I had locals wanting to help me when I told them to pray.
The next day I returned with a lawyer, a legislative member, and 8 reporters. My case suddenly became a misunderstanding and a miscommunication and they were never going to fine me anyway. I was just blowing things out of proportion. Another person later claimed it was clear that immigration was just joking with me. And I was "just" under investigation, they were not taking this to the courts. ONLY being investigated. They stated they had no intent to prosecute. This did not comfort me much. Being told that, "I was not saying that I WOULD...I was only saying that I COULD" is not all that comforting. The lawyer is convinced that I would have had to pay the fine if I did not bring these allies.
I told them I was willing to report all activities to local government (as I am doing now) and I was willing to be tested for my competency, and they agreed. But, such a change in tune when I came with allies was strange. A very disheartening day.
I suspect that I have gained enemies (more enemies) because I am also trying to report illegal gold mining in my area. They are attacking me indirectly trying to silence me I think. Or I am just conspiracy-minded. But my country has a good track record of true conspiracies. Also, I think the government is a bit embarrassed by our activities because it demonstrates their own deficiencies when foreigners are doing the immunizing.
So please pray. Also pray that illegal gold mining would be investigated and stopped. Maybe all their investigative personnel have been diverted to track down foreigners trying to help the sick so that they could not investigate the mining?
This is a clear example of the dilemma of obeying the strict letter of the law or helping the sick. A moral dilemma. We chose to help the sick when needed and try to recruit the government to be present in the villages. So we knowingly went outside our visa because nobody can let somebody die or bleed unattended.
Also, I expect backlash saying I overreacted. After all, I was ONLY under special investigation, not yet under definite prosecution.
This post seems to be a bit related to both the speed limit thread and also the pastor on trial thread.
This week I went to town from the jungle to renew my visa. It normally takes maybe an hour at most. I was told that I was to be questioned, however. I had to come back the next day. I waited all day. Then I was brought in to go through a special 6-page report on me. I was under investigation. I have a spiritual visa but am doing medical work as well. Hard to get a healthcare visa and if I did then I wouldn't be able to preach maybe. So I came to this country as a pastor. But 100% of interior missionaries also treat the sick. We have to, there is no other choice really. You cannot turn people away if they are brought bleeding to our door. And that literally happens all the time.
BUT....a measles outbreak broke out to our South and over 100 died. So I arranged my own vaccines (with help) and vaccinated 8 villages and over 500 people before the government organized and vaccinated our 9th village. Later the #1 provincial doctor thanked us and said there was not the health disaster in our area like to our south because of our actions. Not a single person died in my area due to measles.
That immunization program became proof this week that I was disobeying my visa, not just for occasional emergencies but for coordinated large scale immunization programs. I reminded them that a state of emergency was called and the army called in to our south, but we had no such help. So it was still an action borne out of an emergency necessity.
I was told that I disobeyed the law and this was malpractice and was subject to almost a 10k fine. I told them that I could not promise to stop because there is no other healthcare in my area and I cannot ignore the sick.
I was told to come back the next day and sign my report (and hear the results).
So I had locals wanting to help me when I told them to pray.
The next day I returned with a lawyer, a legislative member, and 8 reporters. My case suddenly became a misunderstanding and a miscommunication and they were never going to fine me anyway. I was just blowing things out of proportion. Another person later claimed it was clear that immigration was just joking with me. And I was "just" under investigation, they were not taking this to the courts. ONLY being investigated. They stated they had no intent to prosecute. This did not comfort me much. Being told that, "I was not saying that I WOULD...I was only saying that I COULD" is not all that comforting. The lawyer is convinced that I would have had to pay the fine if I did not bring these allies.
I told them I was willing to report all activities to local government (as I am doing now) and I was willing to be tested for my competency, and they agreed. But, such a change in tune when I came with allies was strange. A very disheartening day.
I suspect that I have gained enemies (more enemies) because I am also trying to report illegal gold mining in my area. They are attacking me indirectly trying to silence me I think. Or I am just conspiracy-minded. But my country has a good track record of true conspiracies. Also, I think the government is a bit embarrassed by our activities because it demonstrates their own deficiencies when foreigners are doing the immunizing.
So please pray. Also pray that illegal gold mining would be investigated and stopped. Maybe all their investigative personnel have been diverted to track down foreigners trying to help the sick so that they could not investigate the mining?
This is a clear example of the dilemma of obeying the strict letter of the law or helping the sick. A moral dilemma. We chose to help the sick when needed and try to recruit the government to be present in the villages. So we knowingly went outside our visa because nobody can let somebody die or bleed unattended.
Also, I expect backlash saying I overreacted. After all, I was ONLY under special investigation, not yet under definite prosecution.
