We are pleased to announce that Cy has received her passport back from the Canadian immigration division in Ottawa with the appropriate permanent resident immigrant visa to Canada. This is a major breakthrough for all of us, not just Cy, because it provides the long-term solution for her expired passport. The next step in the process is entering Canada and establishing the appropriate roots there.
Here’s the plan:
- Enter Canada (May 29, 2021)
This event initiates a legal process for Cy to get her Permanent Residency card which is essential for many things, like getting other legal documents in order. It’s also the document necessary for her to re-enter Canada every time we travel. - 14 day Quarantine (May 29-June 11, 2021)
Currently Canada requires all people entering Canada to quarantine for 14 days, whether or not we test negative on the necessary COVID-19 tests or have a COVID-19 vaccine (which we both do; Elias is still too young). - Rob’s Masters Degree Intensive (June 20-July 3, 2021)
A requirement for Rob’s masters degree is to participate on-site at 5 “intensives” throughout the course of the 2 year program. This first intensive is in Orlando, Florida. Cy and Elias will stay in Canada during this time. - Rob’s Second 14 day Quarantine (July 3-17, 2021)
Rob will have to quarantine again after traveling to the U.S. - Reconnecting Relationships (July 18+, 2021)
While currently Canada has strong restrictions on meeting with others at the moment, we are hoping that Canada could lift some restrictions in the summer so that we will have the chance to connect with as many as is possible. - Return to Kona, Hawaii (middle of August, 2021)
Elias will be starting the new school year in a school this coming August. We’re all excited to be entering this new season for his education. For those who don’t know, Cy and Elias have been doing homeschooling since we arrived in Hawaii 3.5 years ago.
Trip-specific goals
There are very important things happening through this trip that are part of the long-term solution for Cy’s expired passport. They require time and miracles along the way.
- Get Cy’s Permanent Resident card
In pre-COVID times this process would take an average of 45 days to process. Now, however, the current timeline for Cy to get this card is 120 days. We’re trusting that God will speed it up for her so that we can return to Hawaii for Elias to start school on time. - Visa to the USA
Rob and Elias don’t need a visa in the passport to enter the USA, but Cy does. We have already made an appointment at the earliest possible date at the consulate in Vancouver (September 17th), but we have been advised to request an earlier date because of the school year. We will try this once we arrive in Canada. - Connect with Family, Friends & Churches
Every opportunity we have to build relationships we try to take it. It’ll be challenging in the COVID-19 season, but we’ll try.
Both of the legal documents are vital for our family to remain as long-term missionaries. As we fight to stay true to our calling to the nations according to the Great Commission, we believe that God will make a way for us to follow him. Your prayers and support are welcome and needed.
Trip-specific needs
This trip is a challenging one for our family in many ways, but financially it’s a mountain that we believe God is going to move. While we’re in Canada we must maintain our rental/utility payments for our Hawaii residence, so we’re expecting God to miraculously provide for everything that is before us… like He ALWAYS does. Here are a few things that we’d like to invite you to consider helping with:
- COVID-19 tests ($750 USD / $950 CAD)
We’ll need to have negative COVID-19 tests when we arrive at the border in Canada. Rob will also need them for his Masters degree intensive trip. - Travel from Hawaii to Canada ($1,500 USD / $1,850 CAD)
- A vehicle for our time
We’re praying for a reliable vehicle that we can use during our time in Canada. If you live in B.C. and don’t have a need for one of your vehicles, we’d be happy to help keep it in use over the summer. We can come up with the necessary insurance for it as well. - Monthly living costs ($825 USD / $1,000 CAD per month)
Because we’re maintaining the rent/utilities of our current Hawaii residence the amount of regular monthly budget that we can use in Canada is quite limited. We’re considering the costs of fuel and insurance for vehicle use, groceries, phone plans, etc. - Rob’s Master’s degree trip
2 Weeks Room & Board ($1120 USD / $1,375 CAD)
Travel ($600 USD / $750 CAD)
Prayer Requests
Sanity with joy
I think everyone on this planet has done some sort of quarantine by now. You all know what that can be like. We ask for God’s grace to sustain us, especially Rob who has to do multiple quarantines. We also know God’s joy is our strength and so we ask that you would pray for joyful times with Him and as a family together.
Financial provision
Jesus told us to ask our Father in heaven for anything that we need. We are doing that and we would invite you to join us in that. We believe that He will provide this for us as He always does. Our total goal is $6,445 USD / $8,025 CAD (plus use of a vehicle). To give towards this, please click the following flag buttons, depending on which country you’d like a tax-deductible receipt:
Timely Processes
Like we mentioned above, we’re praying for both Cy’s PR card and her visa to the USA can be processed quicker than expected for the sake of getting Elias back to start the school year on time.
Wisdom to connect
We obviously want to walk in wisdom with regards to the protocols to keep everyone safe and healthy, but at the same time we eagerly long to connect with people in person, face to face. We ask for wisdom from God to do that in creative ways while in Canada.
Thanks for journeying with our family through this exciting adventure of walking with God! There’s never a dull moment.
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