Good news!

We had some great news this weekend. What we didn't say publicly a couple of weeks ago is that our debit card also got stolen on the matatu that day. However, we specifically had our account set up to NOT allow overdrafts. After the theft, we immediately emptied out the little bit of money that was still in the checking account, so I figured we'd be OK..Besides, Kim had a few weeks longer in Kenya, so we planned to just close out the account when she got home.Unfortunately, we had a huge miscommunication over a year ago about what "No Overdrafts Allowed" meant.

A series of transactions cleared between the time when I was leaving Kenya and getting settled back home. Grrr. Long story short, the thieves were able to work the system and completely emptied our savings account....plus putting us another $500 into the hole. I vascillated between feeling extremely angry and extremely dumb. And usually both simultaneously.
However, we held out hope when our credit union believed us and did not even appear to suspect we were scamming. Particularly given recent events, this was a huge relief and breath of fresh of air. After a few days of paperwork exchange, the money got posted back to our account on Friday. Every last penny! We felt like the guy in the parable of the lost coin.

So, the morals of the story are twofold:
1. Just because you don't have overdraft set up doesn't mean that your related accounts with the same prefix are safe. Cancel your card immediately no matter what other backup security measure you think you have in place.
2. Somewhat shockingly, VISA actually does back up what they say about fraud protection. And APGFCU is a really good credit union.
I thanked the woman who helped me profusely. We even joked that it sounded like the perfect VISA commercial........Couple completes a long and arduous adoption process, then thinks they are in the clear. But the next week their son has a botched minor procedure. On the way to get more medicine for his son, the father is robbed of his cash and all his savings..... But VISA was there. We both got a good laugh.

Well, whether it is VISA or anyone/anything else that has met our needs, we still thank God for His faithfulness. However, if anyone out there is praying for God to "teach us patience", we respectfully request that you stop immediately!

Baba Sundi