4 of 5 visas denied

On Tuesday, May 20, four of five Tanzanian travelers were denied U.S. visas. Only Pastor Fue was approved. Both Gaspar John Mtaita and Simon Simon, chair and secretary of Kirangare's Companionship Committee, were denied visas. So were the two travelers from Ivuga Parish, whose companionship is with St. James Lutheran Church in Johnston, Iowa.

All four were given the same form letter, which offered two general reasons for denial. Even though neither check box was checked, it seems the second was the relevant one: "You have not demonstrated that you have the ties that will compel you to return to your home country after your travel to the United States."

The denials came after face-to-face interviews in the U.S. Embassy in Dar Es Salaam. Simon Simon reported he was asked two questions, one about his work and the other about his marital status, and he felt confident about his answers. Their applications also included formal invitations from Zion and St. James, with descriptions of the trip's itinerary.

This is of course a major disappointment. Zion and Kirangare are seeking help that could lead to visas being approved, but it seems like a long-shot. Pastor Fue could travel on his own. We don't know yet if he would. Airline tickets have already been purchased, of course, but the dates of travel could be changed. In short, every option is possible, even if certain options are more probable.

So we pray and we wait.