…is probably not what I would have said if I saw the person who stole my backpack; I actually don’t know what I would have done, but I doubt I would have turned into Dora the Explorer.
But who knows, right?
I’ve never had something stolen from me before, but I figure if someone really wanted to have my backpack, they would have done whatever they had to do to get it. Luckily, whoever took it was super sneaky – so no one was threatened or harmed in the process! I’m super thankful that things went down the way they did, there were so many little blessings!
——
My team and I had planted ourselves at a Starbucks in Madrid, Spain. We just finished the Camino, had spent 2 days recovering, and were waiting until it was time for our overnight bus to Paris, France. We were in the corner by the bathroom with all of our things: big packs, backpacks, and everything else spread out over a big table.
It was lunchtime.
Across the street was a McDonalds (which is better literally everywhere else in the world). We decided to go in shifts, two of us would go eat and when we got back then the other two would go. That way we could leave our bags in our little corner at Starbucks and not risk losing our table since we really did have hours before our bus.
I was one of the two to go get food first. I put some postcards I had just purchased in my backpack, grabbed my phone & wallet, and we walked across the street. After maybe 30-45 minutes, we went back to switch with our other teammates. When they left, I reached for my backpack to grab the postcards…but my backpack wasn’t there anymore.
My stomach dropped.
Maybe I moved it before I left. Nope.
Maybe it’s under the table. Nope.
Maybe it got put in a chair. Nope.
Maybe it’s in the bathroom…I don’t know. (still checked) Nope.
Maybe it’s behind all of our big packs. Nope.
Someone took it…
Are you serious…
Yep.
Little Blessings #1 & #2
I looked at the table. There was my iPad, plugged in and charging. There was my phone, my wallet, my headphones…
Why didn’t I put these in my backpack before I left?
Wow, THANK GOD I didn’t put these in my backpack before I left.
What was in my backpack?
…my Nikon, Polaroid, makeup, rain jacket, water bottle, all of my other chargers (except for my phone!), a deck of cards…
Okay, not a huge deal. I can replace most/almost all of that, and some of that stuff really doesn’t matter. I bought my camera super cheap in case it got lost – wise move, nice job.
…my letters…
Nooooo, all of my letters from my people back home, some I haven’t even read yet. One friend wrote me a letter with a specific word for every country, another friend wrote encouraging notes for desperate situations, and now I’m never going to know what they say. In those envelopes were so many bracelets from South America to give my friends when I got back home.
Words & letters that I’ve gotten from squad mates & my previous team – gone. All of my souvenirs in general – gone.
…and, my passport.
Crap. We’re leaving the country in literally HOURS. Do we have time to run to the embassy? Probably not. Crap, it’s going to be expensive. I can’t afford that.
Anyway, I waited for the other two team members to come back from lunch, and then we started figuring things out. We asked Starbucks if we could look at the security cameras – we couldn’t, only the police can. So two of us walked to find the police station.
We waited. We filed a report. We asked them about our travel to Paris.
“Will I be able to travel without my passport?”
“Do you have a driver’s license?”
“Yes.”
“That will get you through Europe, no problem.”
We walked back to Starbucks with relief that I could travel and the promise that if the police find my backpack, they’ll mail it to my mom.
Little Blessing #3
At the bus station, I handed the driver my ticket and driver’s license…
“I need your passport.”
You’ve got to be kidding me…
I explained the situation and showed him the official police report I had. The driver informed us that if I don’t have my passport, then when our bus gets stopped at the Spain/France border I’ll have to get off. There was a long conversation, another woman that works for the bus company got involved as well, BUT he still let me on the bus!
Little Blessing #4
Once I got on the bus, I texted my mom and some others who I know would pray hard. A couple of my team members also texted their families, and I updated our squad via group text to pray as well. I needed insane favor.
After hours of alternating between horrible sleeping positions and long, internal conversations with God, our bus was stopped at the Spain/France border. I kept praying & assuring myself in my head, Jesus, do your thing. It’s going to be alright.
When the officer got to me, I handed him my driver’s license and the official police report. He took one look at it, glanced at me, said, “Merci beaucoup,” and moved on. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM! I made it to France! Final destination: Paris.
Thank you, Jesus. If we get stopped again, do it again. Amen.
Little Blessing #5
Annnnnnnd…we got stopped again, only 40 minutes outside of Paris.
I looked out the window and police officers were pulling bags out from under our bus, mainly just suitcases so our packs weren’t touched.
Ooh, maybe we’re off the hook.
They had some dogs smell all the bags, and then the officers requested everyone get off the bus, grab their bags, and stand by them. So, we got off the bus, grabbed our packs from underneath the bus, and waited.
I watched as police officers went down the line towards us, opening each bag or suitcase, checking passports, and asking questions.
Please, Jesus. Let my driver’s license be enough.
The officer took one look at the four of us standing with our bags…and moved on.
He didn’t ask us to open our packs.
He didn’t check ANY of our passports.
He didn’t ask us any questions.
The person next to us? …Mr Police Officer did it all.
Y’all – I MADE IT TO PARIS.
The Best Blessing EVER
When we got to our little Paris “home”, I posted on social media the super short version of what happened to my backpack. I reached out for help in replacing my backpack, my passport, and hopefully some of the things that were in it. I estimated there to be about $600 worth of stuff lost, but absolutely didn’t expect to receive that much back.
I posted before I went to bed, which is pretty much the middle of the day for everyone back in the USA. I woke up the next morning with messages and notifications. Y’all, I received above and beyond any expectation:
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” – Ephesians 3:20 (ESV). Some translations say “immeasurably more” – and that’s exactly what I’ve seen!
I’m able to replace my passport (which is another blessing – that process only took an hour!), my backpack, rain jacket, water bottle, and am steadily getting the rest of the little things.
The Lord, and every single person He has put in my life, is/are SO AMAZING.
——
So, that’s what happened. A lot of people have asked me how I’m processing the whole thing…
I’m not going to lie – losing those letters and my souvenirs from South America & Spain hurt me the most. Everything else was replaceable, even my passport. I’m a huge sentimental person, so all of those letters, especially with their connection to my Bests back home, meant SO much to me. And then, I felt so bad for losing all of those gifts! I’ve been so excited to bring things back for my people back home, losing all of them was just has heartbreaking.
But on the bus ride to Paris, the Lord & I had a really great conversation. I thought about how upset I was over those letters, and how disappointed I thought my friends were going to be because I lost them. I thought about those souvenirs…I love giving gifts and I had purchased the best! I thought about how disappointed I thought my friends were going to be because I wasn’t going to bring them back anything.
His response?
“Grace, you may have lost those letters, but you still have those people..they don’t care about what you bring home them, they just want YOU.”
The response from my friends when they found out what happened?
“Are you okay? Is your team okay?”
“I’m praying you have crazy favor!!”
“I sent you money so you can make it home!”
“I might not remember what I wrote in those letters…I’m gonna have to text you fresh words all over again!”
God was right.
In the words of my favorite philosopher, Chance the Rapper:
“When the Praises go up, the Blessings come down.”
