My Parents were due to come to the UAE for a holiday for which I was to get the Visas done since my brother and Shamin were on Holiday. Owing to the death of the Ruler of Dubai everything was closed till the 13th of this month. We applied for urgent visas on the 14th morning and everything was fine. Later that afternoon we got the visas in hand and I called and asked Shamin to collect the same. Since they are arriving via Sharjah, Shamin handed over the Visas to our family friend Noel on the 14th evening to submit the originals at the sharjah Airport.

The next morning I received a call from my dad in India who informed me that the current visa that we got was issued on his old passport number which had been cancelled and returned to him and hence the visa had to be changed. We had to cancel the visa the same day and re-apply for a new one as there was only 2 days left. So I called Noel who also happened to be going to the Dubai Immigration the same morning to do some of his personal work. Since the original visa was with him the previous evening I requested him to submit the visa at the cancellation counter of the immigration department. As he reached the counter the officer there asked him to bring a letter from the Company signed and stamped by the Sponsor requesting for a cancellation of the existing visa. At that point Noel read the sign and realized that the same counter was also for Visa Amendment and Re-application. He was inspired to approach the officer there who agreed to amend the existing visa with a copy of the new passport and a small fee. We did not even require any letter from the sponsor. Noel gave me a fax number and on receiving the new passport copies, submitted and got the visa changed. During this time he found out that the Immigration department was closing for the next two days that is the 16th & the 17th since another Sheikh had passed away from one of the Emirates. By then he already had my dads visa in hand. This was only the hand of our Awesome God who reigns and provides our every need when we depend on Him alone completely.

I Praise and Thank God who has perfect control of our lives. It was as if it was preplanned that the original Visa had to be given to Noel last evening who had to be at the Immigration this morning. He was the instrument that God had send to help us out with the parents visit visas. I pray that God Bless him and all such people who take the extra step forward and lend a helping hand to those who need and demonstrate the True Love of Christ through their acts.

My Jesus I thank You for the Awesome God that You are. Thank you for taking care of our every need even to the minutest detail. Thank you for choosing me to serve you and to be one among your flock. You are our Living God and I Thank and Bless Your Holy Name.

Praise the Lord!!

Rohini Mendonca
UAE
15Jan, 2006