August 11, 2011
We are on the ground now in PP, yesterday and the day before behind us. What an incredible two days it was. Beginning in Dallas—the airport experience was no less than supernatural. We managed to pack twenty three Home Depot storage bins, weigh them, tag them and then organize them according to weight. We each had a wheel-on suitcase(weighed for strict EVA airlines requirements), a backpack and either a purse, camera bag or in Bill’s case—both a HEAVY camera and his C-Pap machine to boot. Jada had her stroller, carseat and her effusive attitude. I had my wheelchair, cane, Crazy Creek chair AND our 3 Boston Terrier puppies. Phew!
Get the picture?
Bill and I preceded the seemingly unending line of family, which included 7 of our dearest friends. Poor Carlos, the American Airlines check in person God had sovereignly appointed to the task of checking us in. We had prayed for favor just a half hour before and there we stood looking at Carlos. His eyes were bulging in disbelief, he gulped back and took in the scene before him.
Then the miraculous happened, Angela the supervisor arrived. She was at the top of her form. She began by opening up another check-in counter, ordered our girls behind the ropes with all of their carry-on luggage to make the cluttered mess into some semblance of order. This freed up the other passengers to flow into the other lanes and diminish the obvious high blood pressure concerns sprinkled throughout the forming line behind us.
Angela opened another check-in counter to assist Carlos and then the bins began to be tagged and flung onto the conveyor belt and chugged back into the luggage abyss. Meanwhile the dogs were still and quiet in their bags, as the two hard side crates for the overseas portion stood nearby.
Then we got the news that the hard side dog crates would cost an additional $250 EACH!!! I would have normally been in an uproar about it because I was running on very little sleep for the couple of days prior but the Holy Spirit descended upon me with such grace that my heart just pumped out peace! (Now some of the other portions of this experience were another story, two of my brothers in Christ stood by giving me glances and I know they were praying for me!)
Then someone suggested disassembling the crates, stacking them and then zip-tied them together so we would only have to pay for one. We crammed the crate doors and empty dog water bottles into the girls wheel-ons for the US portion of the trip.
Then we were finally through the check in portion. Our girls toddled their way through security weighed down with their bags. We caught the SMILES of more than one security agent. God had showered us with such favor thus far.
Once at the gate, the gate crew greeted us. The lead agent smiled and told us they had been “warned” that we were coming. I was pre-boarded because of my wheelchair. It was a blessing to be wheeled at this point from all the packing the previous week.
A kind young man wheeled me onto the plane and hoisted all my stuff into the overhead compartment and Kobe (our male Boston Terrier) was gently slid under the middle seat in front of us. Elizabeth boarded with me for assistance bringing Koda, one of our female Boston Terriers with her.
We waited for the rest of our family to board. The attendants on the plane were all smiles too. I couldn’t believe their kindness. Again the Lord’s favor poured all over us. Once the rest of our gang dragged their wheeled bags down the narrow aisle we settled in and prayed. We thanked the Lord for his wonderful provision for us. Our friends were on their way home and we were on our way to Los Angeles for the first portion of the trip.
The flight went very smoothly. Once we landed, I was whisked away by wheelchair porter who led us to the international terminal in Los Angeles. Along the way, the porter led us to abandoned luggage carts the girls used to push the luggage they had been clumsily carrying and pulling behind them. This was another provision from God.
Upon arriving in the international terminal–it was vacant! Historically the terminal usually bustled with people. Then we discovered that we were the LAST ones to arrive and the flight was on standby for us. Then EVA airways demanded a travel document for the dogs that we were never informed to acquire. Even though I had contacted EVA and confirmed 3 pet reservations on a minimum of three occasions, they had failed to mention the document. I had never encountered this on any other flight to Cambodia.
Then the most amazing thing happened. At the last minute, the TSA were advised to standby to check us in. Taipei confirmed us to go through without the document. As a result, NONE of our bags were weighed or counted! This was definitely a first. Additionally, our soft-sided pet carriers were tagged for carry on as well. It was as if our excess luggage was invisible! We didn’t incur any additional charges. You must understand that it is usually $109 per extra bag and we had at least 6!
We were escorted onto the plane and assisted to our seats. I swallowed my sleeping pill and slept most of the way to Taipei.
This story just shows the gracious mercy of the LORD. It could have been so different. The attendants could have been aggravated with us, we could have lost our dogs in Los Angeles or forcibly delayed for a night because of the “document”. We could have incurred more expense because of the extra carry on luggage. None of that happened because God gave us supernatural favor—over and over again.
We praise His Holy name!
“Akemi in wheelchair checking in the “endless” line of black bins…”]
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American Airlines team working together to get us through!
Second lane opens.
Hinderliter and Rhea Girls behind the ropes...
Lets get the dog crates combined!
The Dog Crate doors are now stashed!
