Sorry for not posting in a while! I have been enjoying my time back in the states with friends & family & have not been on the computer much! I will try to fill you in on what has been going on!
(Dec. 23-24)
Our world really is a small world. On my way home from Mozambique I met some really neat people. When I landed in Jo'berg, South Africa I had a long lay-over. I met a Mozambican lady who was actually born & raised in the USA. She has an education degree & works with my bible study leader! We had lunch in the airport & shopped a little bit together. It was so nice to talk to someone while waiting on my flight. It was interesting to talk to her because she has lived in America and now lives in Mozambique, such a contrast!
I had no problems on my flight from Jo'berg to London. I sat next to an Irish man who was going to flight school in South Africa. He was flying home to surprise his wife & kid!
I made it to London EARLY in the morning (5:30am) & had some breakfast & found the internet cafe. I boarded my next flight about 11am. As I was standing in line I noticed a girl with long hair extensions who was carrying a patch-work bag. The bag looked very African so I was anxious to ask her where she got it. It just so happened that she was sitting RIGHT behind me on the plane! I asked her where she got her back & she said, Africa! She had been in Guinea Bissau (West Africa) teaching for 6 months! We exchanged info & she had about 100 bags with her to sell back home & said she would send me one! Then a girl in front of me over heard our conversation & told me that she had graduated from Baylor ! Small world.
I was really tired so i sat back and waited for take off....and waited...and waited....
The captain came on & said we were having technical difficulties. Um...ok cool. So we waited. Then he came back on the speaker & asked all of the crew members to come to the front. Awesome. A little bit later the captain told us that there had been a small engine fire but that it was under control. (Really!?) I then noticed all the firemen, policemen, etc outside. He told everyone that we were to exit the plane quickly but to leave everything. They were very adamant about us keeping our things on the plane because we would be back shortly. I took my bag however (it had my passport & tickets inside!) They warned us that there was alot of security awaiting us at the gate & they did not lie! There were guards & police everywhere making sure we stayed in a certain area! I have no idea what all was going on, but we sat at our gate until further notice. After about an hour we had to go back and get all our belongings while they tried to find another flight for us! We were given food vouchers in the meantime.
During all of this craziness I was able to talk to Erica, the girl who was sitting behind me! We shared Africa stories. It was so great to have someone talk to and wait around with. We also met 3 other college girls who had been in Kenya doing part of their student teaching there! We took turns watching each others belongings so we could go eat. Erica & I ate together & talked like we had known each other forever. We did not end up leaving until after 8 pm that night! We were all so thankful that we had each other to talk to while we waited in the airport. We thought we were going to have to spend Christmas in the airport!
My African airport friend!
The flight from London to Chicago was great. I had 3 seats all to myself so I was able to lay down & sleep for most of the flight. When I woke up before we started to land I was expecting them to serve us breakfast & was confused when they gave me a sandwich. It was 9 pm.
My connecting flight was supposed to be at 7pm. I found out it was delayed until 9:30. It was going to be close. It was snowing when we landed in Chicago. It was SO EXCITING to be in America finally! The majority of flights had been canceled due to bad weather & our flight's delay. There were about 700 people on my flight...so it was kind of a nightmare! Two of my bags did not make it so after waiting for about an hour, Erica & I finally went thru customs. I did not actually realize it was customs so I did not re-check my bag at that point (BIG mistake!) I still had hope my flight was going to make it out that night so I left Erica at customs to go to my terminal. Her flight was for sure canceled & she would have to re-schedule. I was kind of confused why I still had my big suitcase, but I was just trying to make it to my flight. It had been delayed until midnight so I had some time! It was about 11:30 at this point.
I made it to an AA desk & thought I would be good to go but the lady could not & would not check my bag. She told me that I should have re-checked it at customs...the step I forgot to do after baggage-claim. UUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHH. Are you kidding me!? I felt so dumb & defeated!! I lost it there & cried asking if there was ANYTHING I could do to get on that flight. She had NO sympathy for me. So.....she got me on an early flight the next morning. I was given a hotel voucher. I ended up following an Irish family to the shuttle pick up who were going to the same hotel & who had been on the London flight. There was no room on the first shuttle & the next pick up could be another hour or so. It was 1 am at this point.
I decided to walk across the street to the Hilton & hang out in the lobby until 4:00 am or so & then head back to the airport. As I sat in the lobby talking on my phone I see Erica walk in! It was about 2 am at this point. It had taken her that long just to get a hotel voucher from British Airways! She let me share her room with her. We did not get any sleep though b/c after we talked and each showered, it was already 3:30 am & we had to catch the shuttle at 4:45! We had a great time exchanging African goods (I got some bags & she got some jewelry I had with me) and talking about our experiences. After standing in line for over an hour we finally made it past check in & security & had a quick bagel together & said our goodbyes. We were both so thankful we had each other to keep company! It was a stressful time in London & Chicago, but we were able to laugh & keep things in perspective! God was taking care of us the whole time. He put 5 young females who had just been teaching in Africa on the same flight... all within 2 rows of each other. We were able to enjoy ourselves during what could have been a very stressful & sad time for each of us. Thank you Jesus for loving us so much that you planned for 5 teachers from Africa to keep each other company in the airport all day!
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