So did we both get to Canada for our wedding on July 16, 1998? With three weeks to go and the belief that somehow everything was going to work out, we received a letter from St. Mary’s parish on Vancouver Island where we would be getting married. We needed to submit paperwork and take marriage classes in our home State. We were advised to go to our “home Parish” and speak to them about the necessary instructions. First of all, we did not have a Parish. We hadn’t been attending Church regularly since moving from Kansas City. Secondly, how were we going to get all this done in the next three weeks when most of our energy was spent trying to figure out how to get the permanent residency card?
I knew of a church that we had visited once called Spirit of Christ. We decided to call and see if they can help us. “Sure, come on in” said the receptionist. “You can meet with Deacon Mike”. Deacon Mike had Vietnam vet written all over him. With a Hulk Hogan mustache and a pronounced leg disability, he was the epitome of a regular- I’ve seen it all- type of guy. At our first meeting, he provided the necessary paperwork and scheduled the marriage classes. However, Deacon Mike did so much more. We had made it a habit of telling everyone about our immigration case. The thinking was that maybe, just maybe someone would know someone who knew someone that could help us. I explained to the Deacon our dilemma: “Sounds like you are going to make getting the necessary paperwork really easy. If only we can get her permanent residency card in the next three weeks. We have been waiting for two years and have not heard any news in months. We were told she can’t travel out of the country while there is an immigration case pending unless it was because of a terminal illness. We just pray that something comes in the mail very soon. Did I mention the Wedding is in three weeks? Our NY lawyer will not return our calls.”
“Well”, said Deacon Mike. “I’m glad you told me. I happen to be best friends with the ex-head of INS here.” I’ll make a call. I’m sure he can help” Within three days we had received a call from Deacon Mike’s best friend. He had already made the request for my wife’s file to be Fed-Exed from NY to our home state. “All you need to do is go to the INS office where they will conduct an interview” he said. “They will be expecting you. You will have your card within a week.”
We were able to make the flight and the wedding as planned on July 16, 1998.
I ask you: What is the statistical probability that with 21 days to go before wedding day after having waited over 700 days, we would meet at the first Parish that came to mind, the only person that could have helped us resolve the immigration case with such short of notice? So yes, the impossible is indeed possible. A poor Puerto Rican from the Bronx can get two masters degrees, leave a management career after eight years during a major economic recession and become a successful transformational author.
“Some men see things as they are and say why - I dream things that never were and say why not.”- George Bernard Shaw
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