Hi,
We arrived at Fort Lauderdale airport in plenty of time, thanks to Tom Bland who so generously allows us to park our old 85 Motor home. (Tom was telling us about the time he was almost in the eye of the hurricane and the winds were so strong it took shingles off his house. When he looked out the window a tree limb was bending and he was concerned it was going to fall on the RV. So he went out in the storm, cut the limb off and pushed it aside...God’s protection!)
We had two large check-in bags, two heavy carry-on bags, plus my back pack which held my lap top, the new Bible my niece had given me (large print!!), two books to read, my purse, a cloth bag with our lunch, a pound of cheese and a brief case with another computer. In other words, it was a little heavy! Tom helped us unload. We were going to check in at the curb but when we didn’t have our permits with us (stating that we were residents in Haiti) we had to go inside. Tom knew we couldn’t do it all ourselves SO leaving the car parked at the curb he helped us carry them in. What a guy…A GOD SEND! AND his car was still there when he returned, thank you, Jesus!
Finally we arrived at the desk. She looked us up on the computer, but because we didn’t have return tickets she said they couldn’t allow us to leave without proof of residence. They had never asked for them before, so we had left our Permis de Sejour at home. I dug out our E.G.O. brochure and showed her. She said that it wasn’t proof enough; the only thing to do was to buy a return ticket. My insides were churning as a million thoughts went through my head. Reluctantly, I had just found my Visa card as someone came up behind her. She then began telling her of our plight and asked us to show the brochure again. THE NICE lady, after looking at it, looked up and said, “Oh let them go! Then we were told she was the one who took care of things like this in Haiti. FAVOR??? Praise The Lord!
While waiting to board, everyone was asked to bring up their carry-on luggage. I think we were the first in line. That took a huge load off of us. Many people didn’t want to, they probably didn’t understand.
We sat for 45 minutes on the plane while they juggled baggage around. First, the people who hadn't had their bags checked when it was requested had them taken just before they boarded the plane. Then we waited... and waited... and waited. They asked everyone that had soft bags to take them down from the bins and put them under their feet. In the first place there was hardly enough room to even put your feet. Oh by the way we were on Spirit Air. Then after more waiting...... (Oh, they had explained that the plane was too heavy. They’d had to put more fuel in it because of the bad weather up ahead.) It seemed then that the plane wasn't balanced so they brought up some of the bags they had already taken and distributed them around the plane. Some were placed in the back because they were too large to put in the bins... and the story goes on.
Finally, after taking off while we were still ascending, the engines began making some funny noises. Dad said, “that's a different sound.” It just seemed like it could hardly pull all the weight. I said a prayer (I'm sure Dad did too) and reminded the LORD, that underneath the plane were HIS everlasting arms!!
Praise God, we landed okay albeit in a rain and wind storm. Poor Dad got stuck behind some women walking so slowly down the stairs. (They had told us to be careful.) I, with my 20+ pound back pack, was trying to hurry as fast as I could to get out of the down pour, through the puddles and all. Of course with no shelter to walk through, we got just a LITTLE wet.
Do you want to hear more???
Inside the airport, we began to wonder if our luggage would ever come. It did and just a little wet! When it finally arrived we remembered them saying about us picking up our bags, the ones we had given them upon our departure. Others were asking too and one girl said she would go and check, but we never saw her again. Finally, Dad went one place and I another and they came. We hurried towards the exit AS WAS everyone else. It was - - well I don't think there is a word to describe it; everyone, with their luggage hanging off of the side of their carts, running into everyone else. After making our way to the door,(pushing our luggage cart the way men drive their “tap-taps” [taxi’s] in Port!) a Haitian man that we recognized held up a piece of paper that read “Peavey”. He said, “Jack is waiting for you”. Poor Jack and Russ had been waiting all this time out there in the wind and rain. It must have been at least two hours, as we left the States 45 minutes late.
We didn't go home to EGO because the traffic was horrible. It must have been at least a ½ hour before we could even get out of the parking lot and then it was so bad in the streets that they steered us in the opposite direction........must I say any more???
The phones kept ringing as they had dinner ready for us and were wondering when we were coming. Bless their hearts.
But, we finally made it. God is good and so was the meal for four hungry people. We plan to leave early in the morning. Russ and Sherrie will be going up too and will spend Christmas there. We are so looking forward to that and also to be home again.
Thanks for your prayers!
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