Bob Jones Middle School Student Rejoices at Citizenship

A Bob Jones Academy Middle School student and her family from the Phillipines has a lot to be thankful for after being recently granted U.S. citizenship.

On Nov. 10, Abigail Marasigan, her mother Moonyeen and her father Rey were granted citizenship by the U.S. government.

Abigail, 14, was greeted at lunch at Bob Jones Academy by a "citizenship" party, which included a red, white and blue cake and greetings from her classmates.

"The things I like about living in the United States," Abigail said. "(Are) four seasons of spring, summer, winter with snow, and fall, unlike the wet and dry seasons in the Philippines; the rights, freedom and voting privileges as a citizen; the high standard of living even in the middle class; and the great Christian education that provides the opportunity to develop talents such as art and music for Christ."

Abigail's family moved to the United States by way of New Jersey five years ago, she said. Her mother took a position as a registered nurse at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway, N.J., starting a long wait for citizenship.

"We were praying to come to the United States for a long time when the Lord opened the door of opportunity," Moonyeen said. "God answers persistent prayer. We are just excited to be U.S. citizens."

Moonyeen originally came to the United States in 2004 without Abby from their natives Phillipines. Rey spent the next year flying back and forth from the United States to see his daughter until her entry into the country was authorized by the U.S.

In 2007, they moved to Greenville, where Rey studied to prepare for his entry into the Christian ministry at Bob Jones University.

"My parents applied around July, and they waited for a long time, and when they got a reply, they had an interview and testing, fingerprinting and they passed that," Abby said.

"At first I didn't know that it was this big. But everybody told me it was a really big deal. Everyone was so happy."