Thursday, July 23, 2009
Here, But Not Without Trouble
Here I am. The power went out the first day back, and I have had little access to the internet. It definitely is Africa.
My trip started last week on Monday. I traveled with family to Denver, CO to spend the night there. We all hurried off to the airport just before seven in the morning. The check in lines were so long that I just had time to get in the check in line and then into the security line. I felt really bad, because I did not have time to say a prolonged goodbye to anyone. I was even running to catch the tramway to the correct gateway. I just made it in time.
The ride all the way to Dulles International Airport was really bumpy. The plane landed safely, but the pilot apologized for the rough ride. I was in Dulles for a few hours, and I met some Angolans, and was happy to get a chance to speak Portuguese again.
After lunch, it was off to my transfer flight with South African Airways. This flight was also rough. At one point, I was unable to keep my coffee from spilling, even by drinking it down. The plane landed to refuel in Dakar, Senegal. It was raining.
Then, my flight went to Johannesburg. This flight was also long and rough. When I landed in Johannesburg, I was able to easily make some phone calls, and arrange somewhere to stay. I had the pleasure of meeting some pastors who are very involved in outreach and I also attended a Bible study that is part of a church planting effort. It was neat to see God at work.
I also visited some friends out of town, who have a ministry with college students. It was really cold, below freezing, but once again, I was seeing God work.
On Saturday, I had my scheduled flight for Nampula via Maputo, both cities of Mozambique. At the gate, I saw that the plane was not even around. Boarding time came and left. Then, here came the plane, taxiing to the gate. It left about forty minutes late.
When I got to Maputo, I saw that my residency permit had expired. The immigration folks were real helpful in getting me a tourist visa to make it safely home. The only problem is that by the time I got out of the gate area, the overbooked flight was already leaving.
The ticket people and the airline personnel were not very helpful, and told me I would catch a later flight. That flight came and went, and they did not let me board, telling me that my ticket did not count, since it had been for an earlier flight.
Fortunately, I have friends in Maputo, who helped me out with a place to stay and some food. I was at the airport all day Sunday as well, with no help. The airline refused to help with my lodging or food. They accused me of lying and told me that I needed to buy a new ticket. They kept telling me to go home and try again the next day. I was told my Mozambican friends that I should stay and make a good hassle, and that not all hope was lost. I stayed until the whole counter closed down with no further assurance of service.
The next day, now Monday, I arrived early and started the whole process over again. They refused to give me a seat for about two hours. Finally, since I would not leave them alone, the sent a person to try and find me a seat. This time, they held the plane until they sorted out my name in the computer system and gave me a boarding pass.
The flight came as a relief, though it too was very rough with storms in the area.
It is good to be here.
I have some paperwork to figure out with health insurance, and some supplies to get set for a trip down to my house.
Please pray for a safe trip, and an easy time settling back in.
Please pray for good retention of language and that I would settle in to a good language learning routine.
Please pray for the Bible teaching that is happening that people would have their ears opened to hear God's Word.
My trip started last week on Monday. I traveled with family to Denver, CO to spend the night there. We all hurried off to the airport just before seven in the morning. The check in lines were so long that I just had time to get in the check in line and then into the security line. I felt really bad, because I did not have time to say a prolonged goodbye to anyone. I was even running to catch the tramway to the correct gateway. I just made it in time.
The ride all the way to Dulles International Airport was really bumpy. The plane landed safely, but the pilot apologized for the rough ride. I was in Dulles for a few hours, and I met some Angolans, and was happy to get a chance to speak Portuguese again.
After lunch, it was off to my transfer flight with South African Airways. This flight was also rough. At one point, I was unable to keep my coffee from spilling, even by drinking it down. The plane landed to refuel in Dakar, Senegal. It was raining.
Then, my flight went to Johannesburg. This flight was also long and rough. When I landed in Johannesburg, I was able to easily make some phone calls, and arrange somewhere to stay. I had the pleasure of meeting some pastors who are very involved in outreach and I also attended a Bible study that is part of a church planting effort. It was neat to see God at work.
I also visited some friends out of town, who have a ministry with college students. It was really cold, below freezing, but once again, I was seeing God work.
On Saturday, I had my scheduled flight for Nampula via Maputo, both cities of Mozambique. At the gate, I saw that the plane was not even around. Boarding time came and left. Then, here came the plane, taxiing to the gate. It left about forty minutes late.
When I got to Maputo, I saw that my residency permit had expired. The immigration folks were real helpful in getting me a tourist visa to make it safely home. The only problem is that by the time I got out of the gate area, the overbooked flight was already leaving.
The ticket people and the airline personnel were not very helpful, and told me I would catch a later flight. That flight came and went, and they did not let me board, telling me that my ticket did not count, since it had been for an earlier flight.
Fortunately, I have friends in Maputo, who helped me out with a place to stay and some food. I was at the airport all day Sunday as well, with no help. The airline refused to help with my lodging or food. They accused me of lying and told me that I needed to buy a new ticket. They kept telling me to go home and try again the next day. I was told my Mozambican friends that I should stay and make a good hassle, and that not all hope was lost. I stayed until the whole counter closed down with no further assurance of service.
The next day, now Monday, I arrived early and started the whole process over again. They refused to give me a seat for about two hours. Finally, since I would not leave them alone, the sent a person to try and find me a seat. This time, they held the plane until they sorted out my name in the computer system and gave me a boarding pass.
The flight came as a relief, though it too was very rough with storms in the area.
It is good to be here.
I have some paperwork to figure out with health insurance, and some supplies to get set for a trip down to my house.
Please pray for a safe trip, and an easy time settling back in.
Please pray for good retention of language and that I would settle in to a good language learning routine.
Please pray for the Bible teaching that is happening that people would have their ears opened to hear God's Word.
