Rich Kao

In 48 hours, I'll be taking my test to become a Canadian citizen!  I just finished studying the official 47-page "A Look at Canada" publication which prepares immigrants for the citizenship test.  I really enjoyed it (as well as my 7th and 9th grade girls who helped quiz me; "Dad, you should just study our civics notes.")  Got a wonderfully synthesized summary of Canada, it's people, heritage, values, government, and way of life.  While not over challenging, it's fun to have to study for something you're going to get tested on.  I duly took the online practice test, and got a feel for how hard the test will be (the Canadian gov't is very considerate; they want you to pass; no trick questions). 

So if I pass the test, I can be sworn in as a full-fledged Canadian citizen.  I won't be giving up or forfeiting my US citizenship.  I'll be multi-national; both - no need to convert from one citizenship to another. The US gov't allows US citizens to have dual citizenship.  (For those that want some more details from the US Dept of State, click here.)

Why am I doing this?  For several reasons:

Philosophically

1. Being a church planter / missionary, it's another concrete way for me to be missional, incarnational, and identify with those I serve. 

2. There is a dying to self that occurs which I think is healthy.  I have a deep love for my own home country of the United States of America, and yet, I don't want that love to block my even deeper love for the Kingdom, which inspires me to this step.

3. The great apostle Paul was a citizen of Rome and of Israel, and he was able to use it for great purposes.

Practically

1. I'm getting more and more involved with humanitarian work around the world.  Traveling on a US passport, while still the preferred global document,  can sometimes raise unnecessary ambivalent feelings in our post 9/11 world.  With Canada's international reputation as peacekeepers and preference for non-violence, being able to carry a Canadian passport  reduces that kind of sentiment, making things more peaceable.

2. My entire family has dual CN-US citizenship, except me.    So for symmetry sake, it'd be nice to complete the picture!

3. I get to vote in Canadian elections and help determine who gets into office and who doesn't.

So there you have it!  An Asian-Chinese that will have three citizenships - US, Canadian, and the Kingdom.

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