So here I am, in Brazil. There is so much to tell you.
Well, here is some quick info.
I am here with Junior and we are helping out/working at his church. We are puting together a school of missions...more info to come!
I have eaten more meat in the last week than in my entire life (nearly)
The weather is extreme: one day it's 30c the next it's 8c
My surroundings are beautiful - full of colour
I am so happy to finally be here
Junior really was a black baby (In his baby pics, he looks as if he could have grown up to be of 'african' ethnicity...I have no clue of the P.C. way to say that!)
And he is almost famous here. Even the optition had heard of him before meeting him! (that makes me cool by association...!)
My trip down here was so good. Here is the epic story....
So I arrived at the airport and the guy who was checking me in said
that I needed a return ticket in order to get into the country....uh oh, I don't have one of those!!!
He took me over to the ticket desk and along with another air
canada person helped me find a ticket.(Many people have told me that Air Canada people are rude, my experience was quite the opposite!)
I had no money in my account,
only the 500 pound overdraught limit...And I don't have a credit card either.
So after about 1 hour we found a ticket to Buenos Aries for $444 which
was amazing b/c the ATM would only allow to me to withdraw
$400!!!!!!!! so i had just enough. (including the money that I had in my walet already)
The plan was to refund the ticket as soon as i got to Brazil.
The flight to Sao Paulo was fine, I slept for most of it.
I thought about what I was going to say to the person at the desk when I reached Sao Paulo. How would I explain my 'trip' to Buenos Aries without lying...?
At Customs they let me in, no questions, not even asking to see my ticket out!!!!
I tried to call JR from the airport but I couldn't get through. By this
time im obv. feeling emotional, tired, a bit scared - you know, new country, 'eu nao fala portugues' etc. etc.
The whole time however, even when I was stood at the ticket desk back in Toronto, I knew Peace, like a constant 'Everything is going to be alright. Trust me'
So I'm in Sao Paulo Airport. It's a little bit late 80's, early 90's there, with some 21st Century thrown in. My flight out of Sao Paulo is in 18 hours. Yep, that's right people, 18 HOURS!!!!! At this point Holy Spirit reminds me of something that I admire in Alyn Jones, Cathy Harris and Gillian Schuler. Their confidence to ask for what they want. These three people have really shown me how to simply step up and go for those things that you might be afraid to ask for: a refund on a shirt that you don't want, a discount when the quality of what you've been given isn't the standard that you expected, an earlier ticket to your destination when you have 18 hours to wait for your scheduled flight. (Clearly these amazing people have taught me so much more than this, but in that moment, this lesson was exactly what I needed. There is no harm in asking.)
I went to the TAM ticket sales. I asked for an earlier flight, even if it will cost me $ to change, it's worth asking. The lady behind the desk said 'Yes, there is a flight that leaves at 3.30pm' I ask 'What time is it now?'
'1pm. the plane leaves from the other airport. You can take a bus from just outside here. It takes one hour to get there.'
'Oh, how much will the bus cost?' (Thinking, this may all add up to be too much for me to afford)
'It's free'
'Oh WOW! how much will it cost for me to change my ticket?'
'It's free, here you go' She hands me back my ticket with a small piece of paper stuck on it.
'Oh WOW! (My tone even higher) so, am I booked on that flight now?'
'Yes you are.'
'THANK YOU SO MUCH'
I leg it up stairs to the internet cafe (one of the 21st Century hints) and send an email to everyone in JR's family who's email address I have to say I will be at Porto Alegre at 5.30 pm TODAY, not 6.05 am
tomorrow....I hopped on the bus, hopped on the plane.
So...I had no idea if anyone would be at the airport to get me, but knew that whatever happened, I would be ok. I just felt so peaceful. I arrived, went to
get my bag...turned around, and there, on the other side of the
window, was Junior!!! I didnt even have to wait for him!!! GOD SORTED
IT ALL OUT!!!!
I AM SO THANKFUL TO GOD FOR THIS TRIP.
SO, TO FINALLY END THIS STORY: God confirmed 2 major things in me:
1. I AM his daughter and He will take care of me
2. This is the right place for me to be, God made it happen.
I will write again soon....
