Important Prayer Request

Dear Friends,

Today, Lisa and I went to see our local immigration officer for our annual registration renewal and were informed that we could no longer renew through the usual process but would have to request permission from the Department of Justice to remain in Ireland from this point forward. Our officer said that he received an email memo informing him that "the goal post have been moved" with regard to the immigration process. This memo stated that missionaries, religious and volunteer workers can only stay in Ireland for up to three years. After this, an appeal must be made to the Department of Justice. At this point it appears to be a case by case decision. One missionary has already had to leave the country due to insufficient "evidence" to maintain his stay which resulted in him not ever getting registered, another has gotten a one year extension to "get the paper work in order" and was aided with the help of a solicitor, and another was told about a month ago that he would have to be approved by the Department of Justice to stay after next year. We will be filing our information and paper work tomorrow. We ask that you be praying that the Lord's will be done. Our desire is to be able to remain here in Ireland as missionaries. There really is no other option to stay here in this country. You can not come to Ireland and simply get a job and stay in the country. This requires a work permit and is available only by invitation and very few select categories such as medical, etc. So, please pray fervently over the next days and weeks the we would get a quick response to our request.

May the Lord find us faithful,

Don and Lisa Thatcher