|
Missed Plane |
 Have
you ever missed your plane because you got there too late? It is no fun
trying to set up another scheduled flight. After completing our work in Astrakhan Russia, we were on
our way home. ( July 1994)
|
| I began to weep when I saw it was too close to be sure and catch our flight. I prayed that God would please, please, please send us help. A lady nearby was watching from where she sold little souvenirs. She motioned she would help us change dollars to rubles and get on a bus. I feared the bus would take us to the wrong place and I could never figure out which port I was in. Language was such a barrier. She arranged things and then brought a man in uniform over who spoke English to describe to me the plan. The bus went into town and there was a transfer involved. He would take us to the next bus and put our things on it. We were to stay there till it left for the other airport. It was very time consuming and we were arriving at the very minute our plane was scheduled to leave the ground. I was thankful for the help but could not hold back the tears. I was through being brave. How would we pay for new flights home? |
| The bus driver took pride in pleasing his customers and
was very distraught that I was crying. He found someone on the bus who
spoke English and could explain. A curly haired black man stepped forward
and politely asked the reason for my tears. He commanded his traveling
partners to take our bags with him and he ran with us to try to catch our
flight. He took our documents and disappeared, jumping over all blockades
and running to different desks till he discovered we were on the wrong end
of the airport. Then we ran to the other end and jumped over all barriers
till he was at the desk of our departing flight. He came back to us
stating it had just left the ground. Our friend Dr. Perry was on that
flight. The kind man, touched my elbow, and pleaded with me not to shed
one more tear. He would take me up to the offices and we would get the
next flight. Up on 6th floor in a small room, he spoke forcefully in
Russian with the men in the room. Later he told me what he said. He told
them they had a terrible system of connecting flights. They owed me a free
ticketing for the next flight. They quickly did this. Then this kind man
took me to the basement with our bags and paid for us to check them into a
guarded location for the night. In the morning I was to gather them early
and be ready to leave. He showed me where we could sit up all night and
sleep waiting for our flight to depart. Before he disappeared, he
mentioned if we needed anything, he would be in the building. We never saw
him again. He said he was a dentist from Morocco and was doing some
training sessions in Siberia. He said his name was "Omar".
Several times he had said he was an African.
We found a place to change a few dollars and get bread and water. |
  We
had heard of robberies in the airport, my anxiety was high as I though
about how dangerous it could be for us that night while we slept. I could
not understand why God had not helped us catch our plane. We wondered if
we had seen an angel. He was so kind and paid for our luggage storage. Why
was he so nice to us? As I looked out the window wondering what we would
do for all the hours we had to wait, I saw a rainbow. We thrilled as we
saw a triple rainbow for over an hour. Its colors were so bright. It reassured
us that God had heard our prayers and would never leave us. The anxiety
left me like a big weight off my shoulders. I had not been rejected by
God. He knew right where we were and He had sent all the help we needed.
Our fears were quieted by His symbol of hope and love. Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. |
 We
noticed a family that seemed to be moving. Their bags were hand made and
sounded like pots and pans and everything they owned were in them. The
grandpa sat down by Lloyd. He shared his water with them, they looked
exhausted and were dripping with sweat as they ported in load after load.
They appreciated the kindness. Soon it appeared we were part of the same
group. During the night, as Lloyd was tossing in the chair trying to be
comfortable yet too tired to be awake, the kind grandpa kept lovingly
reaching over to cover him back up. The men in their group took turns all
night pacing around guarding the pile of bags and the family as they
slept. We benefited from their watch care because of the kindness of my
son in offering them the last of our water. There seemed to be many other
people who were content to sleep in the chairs waiting for the morning
flight. I guessed they could not afford motels or it was inconvenient. |
 God
had us cared for. It was reassuring to be guarded. As soon as it was
morning, we got our bags and boarded on time. During boarding a fellow
passenger told us that taxis with any luggage on them were targets. Many
had been robbed. That is why they charge such a high fee. They are taking
a risk of even being killed by offering to take us. She told of several
she had seen. She had also seen dead people in the tunnel she had walked
through. It made me shiver to think of what could have been our fate. I
know I have a guard of angels that God has promised will help me in every
emergency. God has never left me or forsaken me.
I pray that I will never grieve HIM by lack of faith in HIS power to do
the impossible. Every experience is a stepping stone.
I have nothing to fear for the future except I forget what He has done in
the past. As I share this with you, I am preparing my heart to receive
even greater blessings and miracles. |
There are five airports in Moscow. They are at distance from each
other. We had to transfer from our airline and leave out of another
airport. What a challenge! Our evangelist assured us he had telephoned
ahead and brothers at the headquarters promised to meet us and move us to
the other port in time for our flight. We trusted they would be there. But
no one came. We had signs we held up. Many taxi drivers offered to do it
for over 150 dollars. I had exactly what they were asking for, but did not
want to give them every dollar fearing another expense would pop up and
prevent us from departure. I refused them.