When Missions Break Immigration Laws
I would believe in the sincerity of the Church's commitment to following the law for our undocumented Church members if it weren't for how that commitment falls apart in other countries with respect to our missionaries serving abroad. I went home 6 weeks early from my mission and still overstayed my visa to Brazil by 33 days. I incurred a fine at the border as I was leaving the country because the mission was breaking the law. I'd had no idea that my visa had expired and hadn't been renewed until I was leaving Brazil. To say I panicked is an understatement. I had no money. I had no access to a phone to get money. I thought I was about to be detained in Brazil until someone showed up to pay the fine for overstaying my visa. I think the Brazilian federal police agent at the border saw the panic in my face. She told me that if I didn't pay the fine, I wouldn't be allowed to reenter the country until it was paid. Nothing bad was going to happen to me. I had been...
