I finally have one of those perfect flight schedules –
6:00 a.m. from Barquisimeto to Caracas
9:00 a.m. from Caracas to Miami
3:30 p.m. from Miami to Tampa
4:30 p.m. - My wife and family picking me up at Tampa Airport
5:30 p.m. – Walk in my front door – Glory
So Ted and I got up this morning at 4:00 to go to the airport. I had to be there by 5:00. We made June sleep in and I forbade Fernanda and Bro. Samuel Rodríguez to come to the airport that early in the morning because we said our good-byes last night.
When we got to the airport, there were only about six or eight people in line, so within fifteen minutes, I was checked in, had my boarding pass, paid my airport departure fee, and still had time for a cup of coffee before boarding time at 5:30.
As we were waiting in line for coffee, an announcement came over the intercom that the airplanes flying out of Caracas were all delayed because of fog. But we were assured that as soon as the fog lifts, the airplane to take us from Barquisimeto to Caracas (one hour flight) would arrive and we would be on our way.
Ted went up to the information desk and told them that I had a flight from Caracas to Miami at 9:00 and that it appeared I might have difficulty making that flight now due to the delay. He was told that since it was another airlines, there was nothing they could do about it.
After waiting for another thirty minutes or so, I persuaded Ted that there was no need for him to stay with me at the airport. After he left, I went to the gate and waited with everyone else for the plane to arrive from Caracas.
I waited one hour, two hours - Still no plane. I waited three hours, four hours – still no plane.
Suddenly I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. It was Bro. Samuel Rodríguez, the Missions Director and another missionary, Bro. Diaz. They had heard that the plane was delayed and came to check with me.
Bro. Samuel immediately phoned June with all the particulars of my 9:00 flight from Caracas to Miami (it was now 9:00). She phoned American airlines in Caracas and explained the situation but they said there was nothing they could do until I finally arrived in Caracas and spoke with them in person.
So Bro. Samuel and Bro. Diaz sat with me at the airport making phone call after phone call. Here is the reason why.
When June spoke to American Airlines, they said that every plane out of Venezuela to Miami was totally booked until Saturday. Today is Monday. That means that I am going to have to stay another six days in Venezuela.
American Airlines makes two flights a day from Caracas to Miami – one at 9:00 a.m. and one at 3:00 p.m. and every seat is sold out. That is amazing. They did say that I could come to the airport every day at 9:00 and 3:00 to see if I could fly standby and I might get out before Saturday, but they doubted it.
So phones calls began to be made back and forth from Barquisimeto to Caracas. June phoned the Youth With A Mission base in Caracas. They have a missionary guesthouse so June wanted to know if there was a vacancy so I could stay for up to six days. It seems that the guesthouse is not far from the airport. So YWAM took all my particulars – passport number, flight number, physical description, etc.-so they could meet me at the airport in Caracas if and when I arrived.
Then there was the phone call to a man who owns a taxi in Caracas and picks people up at the Caracas airport for Youth With A Mission. It was arranged that I would meet him on the sidewalk outside the airport terminal when I finally arrived (Bro. Samuel would call him when I left Barquisimeto). I was told to look for an old, beat-up, blue Chevrolet, with a guy driving it that spoke perfect English. He would be looking for me and would call me by name when he arrived but I had to meet him outside. He could not park and come in to get me.
I have never had such VIP treatment. They arranged everything right down to the taxi. They thought of everything.
After waiting for seven hours, the plane finally arrived and I took off for Caracas with the instructions to go to the American Airline desk first to see if I could get on the 3:00 flight before calling Youth With A Mission.
I went to the American Airline desk and found almost everyone that had traveled with me on the flight from Barquisimeto all lined up ahead of me trying to get on the 3:00 flight as well. Apparently, most of us had tickets for the 9:00 flight.
The prospects of not seeing my beautiful wife for another six days began to dawn on me. What a predicament. But at least I had arrangements for a place to stay at YWAM.
Everyone had instructed me that whatever I did, I had to be out of the airport terminal by 10:00 p.m. because it becomes a very dangerous place for passengers stranded overnight.
So I waited and waited in line. It was now 2:00 and the 3:00 flight would be boarding in 30 minutes and here I was still waiting in line.
When I finally got up to the counter, the man listened to my story very sympathetically and then said, I think I can get you on the 3:00 flight, but it will cost you US$ 160 to change your ticket.
Without hesitation I said, Do you take American Express? He did and I purchased a ticket to fly standby on the 3:00 flight. After I paid him the money, he said, You have a place guaranteed on the 3:00 flight. I said, Praise the Lord. He took my luggage, put it on the conveyor belt, and told me to go stand at the end counter where all the people from my flight were waiting to flight standby as well. He said, when they call your name, take your ticket and run for the plane.
I stood in line for another ten minutes and began to get very suspicious. What if I had just paid $160 to fly standby and there was no room. Will they keep my money and make me pay $160 two times a day until I finally get a place on Saturday?
But suddenly, they called my name and handed me a boarding pass. I make a beeline for the airport departure tax line, paid my departure fee, and was standing in line at the immigration desk when the departure board began to flash that the 3:00 flight was boarding.
I made it to the gate as they were loading groups 1 and 2. I was group 7, right in the last seat in the last row, so I quickly found a phone, called my wife and told her that God had performed a miracle and that I would be arriving in Miami at 7:00 and would call her from there to see if I could get a flight from Miami to Tampa that late at night. She said that if I could not get a flight, they would drive down from Lakeland and pick me up (five hour drive each way).
I arrived in Miami, waited for my luggage, and finally made it to the American Airline desk and told them my problem. I waited for their response, which I was sure, would include, You can fly standby but it will cost you $160.00.
Instead, the lady said, I am so sorry you are having such a hard day. We have a flight that leaves for Tampa at 11:00 and you are now booked on it. Have a nice flight. With that, she gave me a boarding pass, took my luggage, and pointed me to the gate.
I had two hours before my flight left Miami, but I am really going to get home in one day, not one week. Glory.
I phoned my wife and told her that I would arrive in Tampa at 12:00 midnight and she said they would all be there.
By this time, I was starving. I did not have any breakfast. I did not have any lunch. I had an airplane meal on my way to Miami, but it is now 8:00 at night. Since I had two hours to waste, I walked down the terminal to Pizza Hut to get me one of those delicious personal pan pizzas only to discover that it was already closed for the night. I started walking and walking and discovered that everything else was closed as well. Luckily, I had some sunflower seeds in my carryon so I feasted and feasted on sunflower seeds and made trip after trip to the water fountain to wash them down.
When I arrived at the Tampa airport, I collected my luggage from the baggage claim area and was waiting outside on the sidewalk when my wife and family arrived. I thought, this is much nicer than having to ride with the guy in the old, beat-up blue Chevrolet and wait six days to get home.
The grandkids had been waiting to see me since 4:30 that afternoon. On the ride to the airport, Kylie (the three year old) zonked out but made my daughter promise her that she would wake her up when I got in the van. Jessica (the five year old) was still awake and just hugged and hugged me. I tried and tried to wake up Kylie but without success. She was sound asleep.
On the one-hour drive to Lakeland, Jessica wanted me to tell her all about my trip to Venezuela but she wanted me to speak in Spanish and then translate it for her. So I began to tell her in Spanish about my trip and then translated it. She was in Heaven. But within a few minutes, she was fast asleep. It was precious. I spoke in English the rest of the trip telling all the things God had done in Venezuela.
When I crawled into the bed at 1:30 a.m., I remembered the many times I had said, A person can fly just about anywhere in the world today in 24 hours. I had just proved that statement again with two and a half hours to spare. I just love missionary work.
To all you guys in Venezuela reading this email, thank you so much for a fantastic time. I love you guys. Fernanda, thank you for your hard work translating for me, for your friendship, for your zeal for God, and for your mission vision. Bro. Samuel, thank you for everything, not only for the opportunity to work along side you, but also for staying with me at the airport until everything was in place. Ted and June, you are great friends and great missionaries. I am much the richer for my trips to Venezuela.
To my wife Gerry and to my kids and grandkids, thank you for allowing me to globetrot while you keep the home fires burning. I love you all.
To my faithful supporters, thank you for making everything financially possible and for your faithful prayers. Eternity will only reveal everything that was accomplished for God during this trip, but I assure you, it will be big.
