THE article below is lifted from my book, My Dearest Children. I hope you like it.
Over 30 years old, and had never been to see Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy! This man had a simple wish! Disneyland was America to this businessman who had always dreamed of being in that happy place of cartoon characters.
With eight siblings of his wife in the “land of milk and honey” waiting to bring his whole family around in their adopted country, this man anxiously waited in line for his turn at the US embassy along Roxas Boulevard, Manila.
Everyday, people lined up under the scorching sun. “Hundreds of people wanting to go to Disneyland, too?” After a series of questions and honest answers, “Sorry, you might not return to the Philippines,” was what the consul said. That hit him like a log as the consul handed him back his family’s four passports.
Up in smoke went his dreams of Mickey and the fun rides. His wife shared the same frustration. Thank God, the children were too young to know about shattered dreams. And that was supposed to be just a leisure trip!
What about the thousands of others before him and after him who were not granted a visa to work in or migrate to America? They must have been discouraged! Or did this man feel worse because he was denied a visa because of a wrong presumption? No visa. No trip to America. No Disneyland. Period.
My Dearest Children, in life, you will face disappointments, challenges, and trials. But let not initial setbacks stop you from pursuing your dreams.
We have heard of people being denied their visas countless of times. But I have not heard (although there could be) of anyone being denied more than 15 times! The time-honored saying of “try and try until you succeed” has never failed.
In the same way that the quote should be posted on the wall of many US embassies worldwide, post it in your hearts and minds!
With this in our hearts and minds, we tried again! And by God’s grace, the consul who interviewed us gave us our visa to Disneyland!