On September 30, 2016, at exactly 6:00AM, 4 days after Glenn's heart attack, I was standing in front of the Qatar Embassy (in the Philippines) holding 4 things: my passport, Glenn's medical certificate from Hamad Heart Hospital, a few pictures, employment contract, and a plane ticket scheduled to fly off on the same day before midnight.
I did not have a visa yet. I was only given two names of people who would help me talk to the Consul to allow me to have a visa in Qatar.
I did not know that Qatar Visa in the Philippines can only be applied either online or via mail and that when approved, it will only be sent via DHL in a span of 14 days. I only learned about this when I tried to talk to the guard.
I took a breather, prayed harder, and look for another way to enter the building.
This time, they were two guards.
I talked to the first guard and he said, "Ma'am, wala pong ganyang empleyado dito." I gave him the second name but still, it was unfamiliar.
Then the second guard came to us and asked me, "Ma'am, ikaw ba ung may appointment kay Ma'am Jill?"
I said yes, even if I didn't know her. The first guard looked at me and let me in.
Inside the embassy, I was scolded by Ma'am Jill. She asked why am I inside, who allowed me to get in, how did I know her name, and finally why am I there. I did not answer any of her questions. I only begged her to let me talk to the Consul because I needed a visa.
She was surprised that I wanted to talk to the Consul.
"Sigurado ka, sinabi sa iyong kakausapin mo ung Consul? Hindi pwedeng kausapin basta basta and Consul. Kami ngang staff di basta pinapapasok." sabi nya habang binabalik sa akin and employment contract.
"Sige na po Ma'am, kasi po naatake po ung asawa ko, kailangan ko pong makapunta ng Qatar." sabi ko sabay pakita ng medical certificate at ng picture nya sa hospital habang nagdadasal.
Binasa naman niya ung medical certificate at tinignan ung picture. Tapos tinawag nya ung kasamahan nya at sinabi sa masmababang tono, "May sakit pala asawa nito. Sige na nga payagan na natin."
Tumingin ulit sya sa akin at itinanong kung may flight schedule na ko. Pagkakita nya ng plane ticket tumango sya at muling nagtanong kung may 700.00php ba ko para sa tatak ng bisa. Ipinaliwanag nyang i-a-advance nya ang date ng resibo para mag match sa bilang ng araw ng tamang pag proseso. Kinuha nya ang passport ko at pinabalik nya ko ng 4:00PM. Biyernes noon, at may ritwal pa daw ng dasal ang Consul mamaya. Ipinayo nya din na dalin ko na ang gamit ko pagbalik para diretso na kami sa airport at makaabot ako sa check in time na alas syete.
Lubos akong nagpasalamat sa kanya at tahimik na umusal ng dasal ng pasasalamat sa Panginoon dahil sa compassion na binigay nya sa babaeng iyon upang mapagbigyan ang dasal ko.
May visa na ko papuntang Qatar. Apat na araw lang. You are amazing Lord.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
-Hebrews 11:1
Notes:
-all documents, medical cert, plane ticket, company contract, and pictures at the hospital, were provided by Glenn's company, AMTC
-I intentionally changed "Ma'am Jill's" name
-I was accompanied by my sister, her husband, and my college best friend in going to the embassy
-during this time, our kids were in Bataan with my youngest sister, mother, father, and mother-in-law
-my short post about this experience in 2016 can be viewed here
https://honeymom101.blogspot.com/2016/10/angels-without-wings.html
