America the Beautiful

1. What does the Constitution do?
2. How many amendments are there to the Constitution?
3. What is the “rule of law”?
4. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
5. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
6. When was the Constitution written?
7. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of its writers?
8. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

These and 92 other questions are what immigrants need to know before becoming citizens of the United States. Let us know how well you did on this sampling of U.S. civics! Did you pass or do you need to be deported?!

Since half of our family hails from foreign countries, we wondered about the logistics of traveling and living in a different country. We learned that getting U.S. citizenship for Travis was the most efficient way to move about the globe together as a family. In other words, he would lose his permanent resident card if we lived out of the United States any longer than six months. So we filled out the lengthy application and paid the $675 (ouch!) in October. Knowing how long government processes can take (they estimated Travis’ at 10 months), Patti prayed over the application and sent it out on the 12th.

Just to let you know what a mighty God we serve, Travis had his interview and testing on January 5th and passed with flying colors (he says, “Mostly red, white, and blue!”). He was sworn in two weeks later on the 20th at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The whole process only took three months. That’s the power of prayer!!! That’s what faith can do!

Another step in the Nielsen journey has been taken. God knew this had to happen long before we did. And He knows the many steps that have yet to be set forth. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

Please pray with us as we seek citizenship for Joshua and Tia. When Travis was looking into getting his citizenship, we learned that they were not granted theirs at the time of adoption. The forms for them were not nearly as lengthy and not quite as expensive but were sent out along with Travis’. The estimated time of processing for their citizenship is 12 months. Our prayer is that we can obtain the certificates of citizenship before we go to Kenya so that we won’t have to return for them to be sworn in.

Representatives from the post office were at Travis’ naturalization ceremony and we were able to apply for his U.S. passport immediately. We should receive his new passport in 4-6 weeks. At that time, we can pursue Kenyan visas (with yet more forms!) for our entire family. Pending the sale of our house and more monthly support, we are praying in faith that we will be on that jumbo jet flying to Kenya on August 8, 2010. We can hardly contain the excitement as the culmination of almost three years of walking in the “desert” will lead us to the “promised land”. We have grown and learned so much and are ready to serve!

Extraordinary thanks to those who have persevered on this journey with us and believe that “faithful is He who calls you who also will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:24) We are so blessed!

Travis, Patti, Kylea, Joshua, Tia, and Levi Nielsen

Answers:

1. Sets up the government, defines the government, and protects basic rights of Americans
2. 27
3. Everyone must follow the law, leaders must obey the law, government must obey the law, no one is above the law
4. 435
5. John Roberts
6. 1787
7. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Publius
8. Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness