About three months ago I received an email from a teammate
on the World Race telling me that he was getting married! (Congrats Brandon!)
So immediately I thought… now how can I make it to the wedding? Obviously I’m a
long ways from Dalton, GA and I don’t exactly have spare money to make an
unplanned long trip back to the States. But regardless of these things, in my
mind, it was already a done deal… there’s no way I could miss this wedding!
So I began looking online for airfares. I found some pretty
good deals. At first I was planning on heading straight to GA and then straight
back to Manila; but Jeff (our director at K.I.M) convinced me that I should
stop in at home to see my family, church, and supporters as well. So I ended up
buying a ticket with Philippine Air to LAX at a really good price! Then my dad
was able to get me a roundtrip ticket from California to Nashville with his
reward points on Southwest Airlines. The closest airport that Southwest flies
into is Nashville… but the wedding is in Georgia, not Nashville. So then I
began to brainstorm how to get to Georgia. Cue Laine, my friend I met here in
Manila. Actually, when I was booking this ticket we weren’t even friends yet,
she had just recently arrived in Manila. Yet she offered me a place to stay and
a car to use when I got to Manila. What a blessing!
So everything was working out great…. I got a good priced
ticket to California, a free ticket to Nashville, and a place to stay and car
to drive once I got there. Then I ran into a few speedbumps…
About six weeks later I suddenly thought, hey, what about my
visa? I didn’t even consider it when I made the ticket. So I texted Myles, our
travel agent… when does my visa expire?
October 7th she tells me. I check my ticket I purchased.. October 14th,
a week after my visa expires! So I
begin asking what my options are. Will I have to renew my visa for another 2
months just for that one week extra that I will be here? I find out that not
only will I have to renew for 2 months, but I will also owe a 6 month fee,
because that same date marks my 6 months of consecutively being in the
Philippines. So I ask the inevitable question… Magkano? (In Tagalog… means “how much”). About 170 DOLLARS!!!
Sheeeeeesh! For one week!
So that’s when I started contacting Philippine Airlines. I’d
rather spend $150 to change my ticket than $170 to do nothing. Besides, I
started thinking about it, and I realized that I made my ticket for 2 weeks in
the states, only 8 days of which will be at home in California. I realized that
really wasn’t a well thought out decision. 8 days at home, after being gone for
6 months, isn’t really enough time. Instead of a restful trip, I will probably
return to my ministry more tired than when I left!
And that’s when I received the bad news. Apparently I had
booked some kind of a promo fare… meaning that no matter what, I cannot change
my ticket, not even for a price! I spent a good two weeks trying to argue this
rule. I worked my way up the Philippine Air chain of command, only to be shot
down time and time again. I was stuck!
first task was to still get out of the $170 fee. In order for that to happen, I
had to leave the country before
October 7th, so that my visa would re-set and give me another 3
weeks of free visitation. So on September 25th, I flew to Hong Kong!
For the price of $130 I purchased a ticket, stayed at a ministry friend’s
house, and was able to have an enjoyable 3 days in the city. I actually SAVED
money by going to Hong Kong! And I was extremely blessed by the people we
stayed with in HK. They took great care of myself and Marilyn, another ministry
partner, and provided great fellowship as well… two angels in a time of need!
But there was one more problem. I was still only going to be
at home for 8 measly days. And the more I thought about it, the more it irked
me and consumed my mind. 8 days just wasn’t enough! And the closer I got to my
6 month mark, the more I realized I needed a decent break at home. I needed
rest! Cue the next angel! Last May I met a group from Sabetha, Kansas, who were
part of the number one supporting church for K.I.M. On that team was a man
named John. I was able to spend some time with John here in Manila, as well as
at the children’s home in Malaybalay. After their group went back home, we
became friends on facebook, a way that many groups keep in contact with us
after they leave. Well, John saw my cry of frustration online, and he answered
it. He asked for all the details and he began looking for a way to help.
And last weekend, the answer came. John spoke to the Sabetha
Church on my behalf, and asked that they would help in getting me a one-way
ticket back to Manila, so that I could stay at home longer. Wow! If that’s not
an angel, than I don’t know what is!
So now here I am… 12 days from going to visit home, and
everything… I mean everything… has worked out perfectly! I have been blessed
throughout this whole ordeal. Blessed by the church stepping out and helping
me, giving of themselves, their finances, their homes, and their time.
for the free ticket to Nashville and for picking me up at LAX!
Thank you Laine for
the ride and the place to stay in Nashville…. And fun times!
Thank you Lapp for the
ride down to GA!
Thank you Marie and
Dave for the incredible weekend in Hong Kong, for taking care of me and
Marilyn, and blessing us with good food, good times, and great fellowship!
fighting for a way to extend my time at home. Thank you for speaking to your
church on my behalf, and for making a way!
Thank you to Sabetha church for purchasing a ticket for me to extend my time at
home. Thank you to all members who have given of their finances to make this
possible!
Thank you two 3
generous people (who I know would like to remain anonymous) who have approached
me to donate money to make this all possible. Your giving hearts amaze and
humble me!
everyone at home in 12 days!!!
