08 Jan The General Conference Visa Drama

Donna Hollopeter spent a good share of Thursday trying to obtain travel visas for Theresa Musa (from Sierra Leone) and Aaron Lim (Philippines) for the General Conference meeting in Honduras January 10-14.

Very disappointing news today: the US Consulate in Manila, Philippines, denied a transit visa for Aaron Lim, son of Superintendent Prudencio Lim. He had his visa for Honduras, and just needed a visa to pass through an American airport on his way to Honduras.

Global Ministries made heroic attempts to procure this visa. They met all of the requirements, jumping through every hoop, plus all the hoops that kept being added. Yesterday, a letter from a US Congressman was sitting on the desk of the consulate officer in Manila when Aaron came for his interview. The officer’s reason for denying the visa: the letter didn’t include the cost of the hotel in Honduras. Huh?

The denial applied only to Aaron. His father, Prudencio Lim, had all the necessary documentation, having traveled before (he came to the US in 2005 for General Conference). Nevertheless, neither of them will attend General Conference, which is a big disappointment to them and to the General Conference.

Meanwhile, the Honduran consulate in New York City said Theresa Musa’s information was in order. The officer said he would grant the visa…if Theresa was sitting there in his office. He needed to see her personally. Unfortunately, Theresa was in Huntington, Ind., in Donna’s office.

So Thursday night, Theresa flew to New York City and stayed with friends there. This morning, she will meet with the Honduran consulate officer who promised that if he could see her in person, he would grant the visa. Then she’ll fly back to Indiana in the evening. The flight to Honduras begins at 6:30 Saturday morning.

Let’s hope and pray that Theresa returns to Indiana with a visa in hand.

UPDATE (10:55 am, Friday): Theresa got her stamped visa! Praise the Lord for that!

07 Jan Sierra Leone to Indiana to Honduras

L-r: Alan Simbo, Theresa Musa, and Billy Simbo. They arrived in Huntington today to begin the journey to Honduras for General Conference. On Saturday morning, they’ll travel with the United States contingent. Billy is Bishop of Sierra Leone Conference, Theresa is the other delegate, and Alan, Billy’s son, is tagging along as an observer.

Donna Hollopeter is working on getting a visa to Honduras for Theresa. Likewise for Prudencio Lim and son Aaron, from the Philippines. Phone calls are being made to Congressmen and government agencies. A little prayer couldn’t hurt.

07 Jan UBs Leaders Worldwide Head to Honduras

Honduras Conference started Wednesday, January 6, in La Ceiba, Honduras. This will be the first conference presided over by Rev. Juanita Chavez, who was elected superintendent of Honduras Conference in January 2009.

The conference will conclude on Sunday morning at the Bethel UB church in La Ceiba. Then, a service on Sunday night will kick-off the international General Conference.

Each national conferences can send two voting delegates–the highest leader in the conference, plus one other person. Here is our list, albeit incomplete, of delegates.

Canada
Rev. Brian Magnus, bishop of the United Brethren Church in Canada
Paul Plato, layperson and Missions Team Leader

Guatemala (applying as a new national conference)
Rev. Francisco Najera Ventura, superintendent
Rev. Rolando Valenzuela, pastor

Honduras
Rev. Juanita Chavez, superintendent
One other delegate

Hong Kong
Rev. Ajiax Wo, superintendent
Karis Wong, pastor of Living Water church in Macau

Jamaica
Rev. Winston Smith, bishop
Rev. Isaac Nugent, pastor

Mexico
Rev. Denis Casco, bishop
One other delegate

Nicaragua
Rev. Juan Pavon Pavon, superintendent
Rev. Henry Osorio, pastor

Philippines
Rev. Prudencio Lim, superintendent
Mr. Aaron Lim, layperson (son of Prudencio Lim)

Sierra Leone
Rev. Billy K. Simbo, bishop
Mrs. Theresa Musa, layperson

United States
Rev. Phil Whipple, bishop
Rev. Jeff Bleijerveld, Global Ministries director

Several invited guests (without vote) will also attend.

• Donna Hollopeter, Associate Director of Global Ministries
• Steve Dennie, Communications Director
• Jeff Dice, Global Ministries staff (currently in Costa Rica doing language training)
• Jason Hollopeter, Donna’s husband
• Rev. Oliam Richard, superintendent of Haiti (our Canadian churches, who have primary oversight of Haiti, are working to get Rev. Oliam Richard to the meeting)
• Rev. Erik Gonzalo Roas Ramirez, superintendent of Costa Rica, a mission district of Nicaragua Conference.
• Mr. Carlos Quesada, a layperson in Costa Rica.

Brian Magnus, as chairman of the International Executive Committee, will preside over the General Conference meetings.