We are experienced travelers! This is the sixth consecutive year Darlene and I (Wayne) have traveled to Burundi in central Africa. Before arriving at our Rochester, NY airport on December 11, 2012 we had everything well-planned. We had even gone out to the airport a month earlier, to make special arrangements for my travel. (I had a hip replacement on October 11, 2012 and--although having been cleared for travel--was subject to certain restrictions and limitations.)
We checked in early, and went to our gate. Before long, it was announced that our United flight to Washington, D.C. was delayed by almost two hours (within 30 minutes, it was cancelled altogether). That meant we would miss our overnight connecting flight to Brussels, where we were scheduled the next morning for our day-long flight into Bujumbura, Burundi. (This flight is available only twice per week, on Wednesday and Sunday.)
We had to wait about 30 minutes for United to make rearrangements. We were transferred to Delta for an overnight flight to Brussels via JFK airport in NY. However, we faced two new challenges: (1) all of the special arrangements for my travel—aisle seating, and wheelchair assistance in the big airports—were void; (2) our inbound flight to Brussels was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 a.m. and our outbound flight at 10:30 a.m.
Darlene was worried sick that “we would not make it.” I tried to comfort her, by reminding (myself, as much as) her, “Dear, we have many people praying for us.” She responded, “I know. But where is God when we really need him?”
As it turned out, God was with us. Our flight into Brussels arrived 45 minutes early! We had plenty of time for the long walk—and I had no difficulty—through the airport to our next gate. So “we would make it,” but what about our luggage? That problem was solved when our outbound flight, from Brussels to Bujumbura, was delayed for 45 minutes! (It was announced that this delay was required “to load the last remaining luggage”—probably ours!)
All is well that ends well. God is good…all the time!
We checked in early, and went to our gate. Before long, it was announced that our United flight to Washington, D.C. was delayed by almost two hours (within 30 minutes, it was cancelled altogether). That meant we would miss our overnight connecting flight to Brussels, where we were scheduled the next morning for our day-long flight into Bujumbura, Burundi. (This flight is available only twice per week, on Wednesday and Sunday.)
We had to wait about 30 minutes for United to make rearrangements. We were transferred to Delta for an overnight flight to Brussels via JFK airport in NY. However, we faced two new challenges: (1) all of the special arrangements for my travel—aisle seating, and wheelchair assistance in the big airports—were void; (2) our inbound flight to Brussels was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 a.m. and our outbound flight at 10:30 a.m.
Darlene was worried sick that “we would not make it.” I tried to comfort her, by reminding (myself, as much as) her, “Dear, we have many people praying for us.” She responded, “I know. But where is God when we really need him?”
As it turned out, God was with us. Our flight into Brussels arrived 45 minutes early! We had plenty of time for the long walk—and I had no difficulty—through the airport to our next gate. So “we would make it,” but what about our luggage? That problem was solved when our outbound flight, from Brussels to Bujumbura, was delayed for 45 minutes! (It was announced that this delay was required “to load the last remaining luggage”—probably ours!)
All is well that ends well. God is good…all the time!
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