I just got back from waiting in line for over 3 ½ hours.  Yes, I was doing paperwork.  Paperwork is one of the dreaded “missionary” things that comes with the territory.  For us, it has been a really difficult process, however, we are able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

Today, I had to get my fingerprints done which is the final stage before I receive my residence card.  It was a pretty easy process except for waiting in line for over 3 ½ hours.  But, I am back in our piso (apartment) and I have a little piece of paper that says to come back in 40 days to pick up my card.  Deanna and Aaron have the same piece of paper and will be able to pick theirs up in about 2 weeks.  What a relief to have this done.  Just in time to start helping Deanna’s parents with their paperwork.  They will be arriving in 9 days.  

I tried to get some pictures of how long the lines were, but these pictures don’t give the true reality of the amount of people that were there.  The crazy thing is, it is like this everyday.  There are so many immigrants in this country.  

Below are two pictures.  The first picture is of the building that everyone is waiting to get into in order to do their fingerprints.  Once you get in that building, if goes fairly quckily.  You only have around 20 or 30 people in front of you.  

The picture below it is the line waiting to get into the building.  What you don't see are the people inside the white tent to the left.  The line you see are people waiting to be filed throught the white tent.  There are probably 100 to 150 people inside that tent.  Also, if you notice the metal roof in the back ground, there are more people wating there to get into the line that files through the tent.  There are probably 50 or so people back there.  AND THEN, I couldn't get a picture of it, but to the right outside of the gate, there is a line of people as far back as a football field and a half (150 yards), waiting to get inside the gate to wait in line again.  It is pretty depressing when you first arrive and see the gobs of people.  Luckily, because of my amazing charm, wit, and good looks (yeah right)  :)  I was able to bypass the line outside the gate and get right in to wait in the line inside for 3 1/2 hours.   Just think if I had to wait in the line outside too?  I would still be there.  :)