November 14, 2001

Waiting at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Today was a day of unmitigated disaster. We had all of the papers in order from the Ministry of Religious Affairs - an extension of Elizabeth's work visa, an extension of Abuna Aktham's clergy visa, and a change of Marthame's status from work visa to clergy visa. We arrived at the Ministry of the Interior and were minutes away from paying the bill and heading out the door when the hideous beast reared one of its ugly heads - Window 3.

Window 3 wanted to know how Marthame was changing visas, how Marthame "suddenly became a priest", and informed us that it was forbidden to "work" with a clergy visa.

Not knowing that "work" translates to "draw a salary from an Israeli institution," Marthame pointed out that he was clergy and thus, as such, "worked" like any of the priests.

The paper-pusher pounced on the word "work" and then denied Abuna Aktham his visa renewal - "You said he 'works.' I heard you. You used the word 'work.'" - then denied Elizabeth hers, because spouses' situations are inextricably linked.

We called the Latin Patriarchate to see if we could find a solution - the priest in charge talked to Mme. Red Tape to no avail. He then consoled us and promised to write a letter saying Marthame "is not only a priest, but a bishop." We managed to crack a smile. Once the Ministry had the letters, we were told the whole affair could be expedited within a mere two weeks. Disaster.

We stopped shaking in frustration and anger about four hours afterwards, when we picked up a fresh batch of letters from the Latin Patriarchate (he didn't make Marthame a bishop - could've been problematic for the Atlanta Presbytery). That may be the one ray of hope for the day, that the Roman Catholic presence here has - in a roundabout way - acknowledged Marthame's ordination. That's gotta be a first...