Hope dawns on Vox Congo this Christmas

This past 48 hours have been a massive emotional rollercoaster for me. Not only have I been saying goodbye to Vox Congo as their manager but I am saying goodbye to ministry with the Knoxfield Church of Christ and to Melbourne. Vox Congo held a dinner for Verity and I and the church has said their farewell last Sunday. But the all the emotion began for me on Saturday night the 16th of November at around 8pm.
If you notice the time on this post it is very early in the morning. While I have not had a chance to sit down at a computer since I found out this great news, I can now no longer sleep properly until I tell the world what is happening. It's around 5:30am and the sun is rising on a new day, quite powerfully symbolic for one of our members of Vox Congo and his family.
On Saturday night, Etienne so casually leant over to me as we were eating dinner and said,
'did you hear, Papy got a letter from immigration and few days ago.'
'Well what did it say', I said excitedly and impatiently.
'It is very good news, he's not an asylum seeker anymore.'
As you could imagine I nearly fell off my seat. Papy and Rebekah were sitting just a few spots up the table from me. I got up out of my seat and went straight to them, I wasn't sure whether to just throw myself at them with a huge hug or calm myself just for a moment to confirm the news with them. I chose them latter, then threw my arms around them.
People hear this, PAPY IS NO LONGER AN ASYLUM SEEKER!
Is that loud enough! Go and shout it out your window right now, tell the world.
After 5 long years of seeking asylum here in Australia, finally one of the 4 has received the news he had been longing for. Papy is the first to receive such news as his timeline with immigration was slightly ahead of the others. This has given the other 3 guys a huge dose of expectation and renewed sense of hope. What I find most amazing is how they all take it in their stride, like they really expected this to happen. Their faith in Jesus never faltered, they never gave up praying and the never gave up hope. The Good News 'Kinanga' this Christmas is that God reveals himself in suh ways. The journey with the guys has taught me a few things, like what' the use in hoping if you don't expect the thing hoped for to be realized? These guys have helped me realize hope in a new light.
So I bet you're wondering where to from here? Well they're not out of the woods yet. Even though papy is on the other side of the asylum seeker line there is still a long process to come. He now officially has the status of 'tourist'. he has a 6 month tourist visa and within this time Papy has to apply for a temporary spouse visa. I had the privilege of marrying Papy to Rebekah in 2004 and they brought their first little girl into the world almost one year ago today. As soon as I fill out a statutory declaration for them, thy can begin the process of applying for the next visa and the Wena family will be on their way to becoming a complete Aussie family. If they are successful in securing the temporary spouse visa then Papy becomes a temporary resident. It's another couple of years before he can then become a full resident and then another few years after that to becoming a citizen. I tell you what though, no matter where I am in the world I will be attending that citizenship ceremony.
Your prayer works in amazing ways. Keep praying for the Wena family and for Martinse, Adolphe & Etienne and their families. We hope the others will hear soon.
By the way, I was so caught up in the excitement that I nearly forgot to tell you that Etienne sent me an SMS yesterday to say he has received study rights. I've been trying to get in touch with him to find out what this means. I will be posting again soon after I catch up with him.
It's all happening for Vox Congo! Watch this blog over the next few weeks as I expect it to be active with posts. If you have questions or comments please post them in the comments section and I'll do my best to respond.

God Bless
Mark Riessen

Great News

There has been some change in the status of the Bridging Visa E for Etienne, Adolphe, Papy and Martinse.

I will do my best to give you as much information as I can as I haven't had the opportunity to be present in the immediate conversations and immigration won't share a whole lot of information with me over the phone. However I have had some great conversations with Etienne and Adolphe about this and immigration did confirm this much. You ready for it...?

Etienne, Adolphe and Papy have been granted the right to study! Martinse wasn't interested in applying to study but I'll let you know where he's at in a minute.

This might not sound all that exciting but it is a huge move on immigrations behalf to allow them this right. They are applying for study in various courses at the Melbourne capmus of RMIT. RMIT are now offering full scholarships to successful applicants who are asylum seekers on brigding visa E. Vox Congo found out about this when they bumped into some people form the university at the Asylum Seeker Independance Day gig. Gig's for Vox Congo pay off in many ways. Opportunity for study is helpful in so many ways, it creates opportunities to learn a skill and will be more assured of ongoing employment if allowed to stay in the country. This is favorable for the process of immirgation.

In case you are unaware I officiated over the marriages of Papy to Aussie wife Rebekkah and Maritnse to Aussie wife Carmen in recent years. Martinse and Papy have recently applied to immigration for Spouse visas. Applications have been received and we are awaiting a response.

There is lots of hope and good news here and the 4 guys are in good heart. So now I bet you want to know what you can do to help.

You can pray. Please pray for the guys that they will be confident in undertaking tertiory studies. Pray for the processing of spouse visas for Martinse and Papy (Both now have baby daughters). Pray that the ministers office for immigration will be moved with compassion to change their response to these 4 and grant them asylum in Australia. Please don't underestimate the power of prayer for this situation, the 4 guys believe deeply that this will make a difference and that God will hear these prayers and be faithful in response. Their faith has undergone trials but has not wavered one bit. Their testimony in this difficult time continues to amaze me as they testify to the wonders, faithfulness and grace of God over their last 5 years of fleeing their country and seeking asylum in Australia. Prais God for what is happening.

I know you all want to do more and I'm working on that. Some people in the system are a bit cagey about releasing information as to how we can practically help. I remind people to please not write to the minister for immigration. This may cause the guys to lose work and study rights as their case becomes active again for processing as your letter is considered. However you can visit, email or call your federal MP and help influence policy on asylum seekers. Believe me the more people lobby politicians on issues the more likely they are to change policy. Never believe you can't make a difference, you can! Please remember to be polite yet honest in speaking with your MP.

I will let you know if letters and petitions are going to be necessary or helpful and will explain that process if we come to it.

I'll try my best to keep in touch.

Shalom
Mark Riessen

Vox Congo at the Drum Theatre

If last Tuesday night was a bit of a dull night in, the people from the department of environmental health certainly had a ball at Vox Congo's latest concert. Well it wasn't exactly a concert, it was a conference for the Australian Institute of Environmental Health, but by the time Vox Congo hit the stage...what conference?

It was entertaining to watch as 160 people cleared to the back of the room, not quite too sure what to make of these guys. By the time we were into the second song the floor began to fill with the movemet of bodies to Vox Congo's amazing rhythms.

I was most impressed by the guys with new material, some Vox Congo classics and excellent audience patricipation. Vox Congo were much loved, not only teaching people classic vox Congo dance moves bu even audience participation in the band teaching them to play basic instruments. It's probably the best I've seen from Vox Congo.

The function was held on the stage of the Drum Theatre in Dandenong. The catering and staff were amazing and they looking after the guys very well. Thankyou Drum Theatre and the organizers of the AIEH conference. Special thanks to Tammy Goodwin, Team Leader Environmental Health, Glen Eira City Council, for taking a punt on Vox Congo to play at your function. Thanks for looking after Vox Congo and making them feel so welcome.

Cheers,
Mark