What an adventure it was trying to get here though! At least for our little family. The rest of our team arrived with virtually no problems on Monday of this week. We were also set out to arrive Monday. We left with one other student early in the morning apart from the rest of the team, because that's just how our flights were due to some other issues. We arrived in Munich at 6:00am only to find out Elijah was unable to board the plane. Because we were flying through New York, and he holds a German children's passport which doesn't have an electronic chip in it, he would not be allowed to fly to the states. Even though it was just a stop over, they couldn't risk it and there are no exceptions. He would either have to get a new passport or a special visa. To make matters worse, we found out our tickets were unchangeable and restricted. This meant, they couldn't even book us a different flight a few days later so we could get the required documents. Either one of us could go, or none of us and we'd lose the flights. So we prayed to see what we should do, and it was pretty clear that Simon should just go. Since we were also responsible for the student with us, someone needed to go with her.
This was heart wrenching for me because I saw no other possibility but staying in Hurlach alone for a month, Christmas alone, and no apartment because we had given up the room we were staying in the Castle for other people to move it. So one hour before boarding Simon checked in and left his very distraught, unhappy wife, and little boy. It was an unhappy situation for everyone.
But I am very blessed with a wonderful DTS Team, and the Castle community. So in no time, two people from our staff were there to rescue me and my load of luggage to bring back on the train and to help with Elijah. I was feeling very depressed on this day and all I wanted to do was have a huge pity party. I didn't understand why God would give us the money in the first place to fly out, and then all the sudden to have everything mess up. This was very challenging for me. It was a miracle in the first place to receive the money, so I felt hurt and confused. When I arrived back at the Castle I was greeted by a beautiful sister and a bed made up in one of the girls dorm rooms that Nara and Taylor did. They set me up a colourful, comfy little bed, with a fruit basket and a lovely little card. It made me feel very loved, and I realized despite my longing to lock myself away from the world and be sad, it was much better to be around people who could love me, talk to me, and help me through a difficult moment.
At this point, I still had no thoughts of actually being able to get to Aruba since we had no money, and our tickets were garbage. But it was obviously the thoughts of others that they would figure out a way to send us there. The community and our team prayed, as well as whoever saw my facebook status :) Later on that Monday afternoon, a visitor approached me and said that they wanted to bless me, and after looking up some direct flights to Aruba, they gave me enough money to cover a whole new set of tickets for Elijah and myself. But this time via Amsterdam. This way I wouldn't have to wait to order Elijah a new proper passport, or however long it would take for the visa. So plans were made, I contacted the travel agent and organized as soon as I could another flight.
This 2nd miracle flight took place yesterday!! Praise God. Even when my faith is little, and my hope is weak, he astounds me with his goodness. Besides a little hiccup at the beginning, where I forgot all of our passports, and tickets at the Castle and realized first when we were at the airport... but thankfully, Raphi, who was my chauffeur that morning was able to quickly drive back and and organize a pick up. He was able to get it to me right on time, and I was even able to reserve seats for Elijah and myself without any ID! My concern was that I would have to sit in a very crappy seat for 10 hours with him, so I wanted to be there extra early to reserve something better. So I was blessed for both flights. Travel was long, but Elijah was good, and sometimes I feel really pregnant :)
We arrived in Aruba last night, and unfortunately my luggage was left behind.. but it should come tonight.
As of yet I haven't seen much of the island, but it's warm here : 30 degrees. It's very humid and sticky, so I'm looking forward to jumping into the ocean as soon as my bathing suit is here. It's rainy season, so there are a few periods of rain. The rain fills up the roads since there is no proper draining, so we were driving through little lakes this morning.
As of yet I haven't seen much of the island, but it's warm here : 30 degrees. It's very humid and sticky, so I'm looking forward to jumping into the ocean as soon as my bathing suit is here. It's rainy season, so there are a few periods of rain. The rain fills up the roads since there is no proper draining, so we were driving through little lakes this morning.
We're staying with the family of our wonderful leader Erick, and we will be looking for somewhere else to move to by Sunday.
The students did their first "outreach" activity today which was a prayer walk where they met many people, were invited into homes, and picked up by strangers. It's an exciting beginning. People are friendly and open here, and we look forward to what God has in store for us in this little country.
Be blessed!
-Dani
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