Having left the mountain top of Kodaikanal, India, I traveled by cab down zig zagging roads. Three quarters of the way down the mountain there is a car just ahead of us that went through a concrete barrier and down the side of the mountain. We got just past it and pulled over to see if we could help. I said my usual prayer of safety for those involved and gratitude for it not being us. Selfish I know... When we inspected the scene with the local crowd, the car was out of sight with only a hub cab and fender indicating a car was there at all on the steep drop off filled with lush vegetation. What I learned as I saw some locals tying ropes to get down the ravine to the people, is that there were 4 people in the car and all survived with minor injuries. The locals continued to work to get them up to the road with the help of others. We then continued the journey onward with prayers of gratitude for those involved.
After one really close call with the local green bus careening towards us in our lane, with both vehicles traveling at high rates of speed, I continued my gratitude for another moment, to live that day. All I am left to do at that point is pray. Nothing is in my control....
Maybe that is where I need to be? Totally dependent on God and recognizing his mercy and hand of protection. Hmmm...
We arrived at the airport in record time, 3 hours imagine that, even stopping for the car that went off the mountain. I am grateful to have another day. Now my flight is not until 11:30pm which means in India they do not let you in the airport but 3 hours early, because it is air conditioned and with facilities. I have 2 hours to spare. As I pay my driver and tip him well, in gratitude for not having to go any further and making it alive, I approached the armed guards who look at my ticket and say "Not till 8 Mam, do you have your passport"? I hand him mine and he says, "From the US, well right this way since you are a guest in our country, go have a seat. Blessing #3...
The room has AC and a restroom, what more do I need? My husband thought to pop me popcorn for me to snack on while I rested and waited. Blessed with a husband that is caring for my needs, blessed once again.
Being in India has made me ultra sensitive to the ordinary things I use to take for granted, or felt like at least they were in my control. Daily I walk amongst people who are begging for daily bread, sleeping on the ground, looking for clean water, walking barefoot and hauling rocks, wood and other assortments on their heads for work. Is it any wonder I feel so blessed?
I await my time patiently in the airport grateful for the air condition, soft seats and restrooms that are clean, not to mention clean drinking water. I get checked in, but I forgot to take the Swiss army knife from Istanbul out of my purse. Somewhere in India my name is now in a book with a charge, carrying a Swiss army knife into the airport. The guard shakes his head and says "This cannot go", but wished me well just the same.The journey continues without my knife...
I am tired and seats are small, but go to sleep I must! I have many hours of travel alone, that in itself makes me nervous because I have been blessed with a husband who guides me on all of my trips. Now it is just me and needless to say my closest friend, God. Thankfully, blessed once again. :-)
I settle in and much to my surprise there is a seat between me and the guy next to me. I stretch my legs and curl up tight and thank my God once again...
I arrived in Dubai, not knowing what to expect, but had to change planes to make my connect. Through the custom lines I go after an hour or so, I step up next and he says hello, all wrapped in his turbine and aks "First time to Dubai"? I reply why yes, he asks, "Do you know Arabic" and I say why no. He smiles and says "Welcome, enjoy yourself", without all the to do of the other guest, blessed once again....
I make it to my luggage and all is there, to not say a blessing would be remiss. I need to change money and not sure where, right in front of me is someone to take my wares. I give my 3000 rupees for $41. Wow! We are so blessed in the US, more than we even know.
Next after assistance at every turn, I am free to settle in and touch in with friends, with free wifi all throughout the terminal. Blessings continue to pour down like rain....
Next flight is on Emirates and I would highly recommend! I ended up with a window seat on a hedge request online and got a seat that is full of leg room. A gentleman that flies regularly says, "You have the best seat in the house, for an economy ticket"! I just smile and say yes, while I am thinking, you got it, blessed once again!
Food is served and by this time I am starving. Guess what, a full course meal. I would have to show you the menu, but needless to save we were fed the whole time so much so that I thought I was at a resort! Does life get any better than this?
Well, now we are in London, hustling to the terminal with limited time to spare, pushed to the front and assisted in every way. Window seat again, though this time I am in a small corner. My thought was, well Lord, you could keep the seat empty next to me. A young gentleman at least 6 ft tall, sits down next to me with knees to his chest. I thought well I have no room to complain. He laughed and was willing to make the most of it. As we settle in and get ready for takeoff, the stewardess asks if we are together? He replied no and was told he could switch to a bigger space across the isle. Guess that leaves me with 2 seats after all.....Thank you Lord!:-)
Now we are told there are delays taking off because the towers are down and everything is being handled by man. We are asked to wait patiently as they negotiate the take off terms, requesting to fly with radar instead by flying with the smaller planes until they can get clearance.
While we are waiting I am thinking how thirsty I am and the lady walks around and asks if anyone would like some water! Do I need to say it again? So yes, here we sit as I type, my legs stretched out over 2 seats, with 2 glasses of water to sip at my leisure as we wait for our takeoff!
Do I need to fret or worry about the delays? You tell me. Is God not in control. If he cares about my legs, my hunger and thirst, you can bet he cares about my safety and ALL things, even those we do not know that are for our good.
So for now, I am relaxing and chillin and waitin on God to do his thing in his time! Until then, blessings to all.....
Well less than an hour, we are in the air again. Coffee and biscuits have been served, and I am enjoying the ride.
Now we are heading into Dallas at the conclusion of our 10 hour flight with iced runways and expected delays, because only one landing strip is now open, while they work tirelessly to keep the ice off. Prayers are said for the pilots and planes landing. Surprisingly we are on the ground in less than 30 minutes and everyone is safe! Blessings keep falling down like snow!
Now I am late and have missed my connection. Prayers of thankfulness for his divine guidance knowing if I need to stay in Dallas, then that is where I needed to be, and grateful for his protection in the midst of the storm.
Going through customs and getting checked could not have been easier. Have you heard of all the horror stories of coming back into the US from being abroad and getting harassed? Guess what, I was put through a do it yourself checker! Punched a few buttons, answered a few questions, got my ticket automatically and handed it to the next gentleman and I said, " I am not sure what I am doing". He replied, "You are doing fine", with a smile, so I smiled in return.:-) He asked if I was declaring anything and I responded no, and he said, "Welcome to the US"! :-) For those who have been through customs after traveling abroad, you can say a HUGE blessing for me over here in the South! Or maybe that is just the “southern hospitality” shinning through in all they do! Either way, just blessed once again!
Now to get checked back in and see where I am spending the night? I hurry through and get assistance because I am clueless when traveling alone. Because of the ice, the airport is empty and plenty of people are available to give me the one-on-one attention that I need. I am happy to report the flight was delayed and if I hurry I may be able to catch it? My bag is checked again, so up I go and wait for the skyline tram that is automated to go to my departing gate. Once I am on, I have only 10 minutes before departure and it turns out I am at the last stop on the system. C-14. Did I say a prayer again? You bet. If God brought me this far, 40 hours into the journey, would he drop me at the last minute? Peace settles over like a river as I tell myself to relax. Either way God is in control, so enjoy the ride.
D,#1-20, D#21-40, E, A, B etc... It is now 8:50....Hmmm.....guess I am staying in Dallas after all. Another group gets on all bubbly and chatty and one of the passengers says, “Guess what, our flight is now 9:30 departure”. They all sigh a sigh of relief. My natural question was what flight are you catching? Their reply was somewhere else in Texas so I sighed...They naturally asked where I was heading and I said New Orleans, with an 8:50 departure, as I looked at my watch that rang that very time. They sighed in return and the door opens for C-14. As I go to depart the gentleman next to me smiles and says, "They are lying, you will be just fine". I smiled in return for the uplifting encouragement and scurried towards the expected gate, only to find 8:55 departed and no one there. Hmmm... could I have missed it by mere seconds? If so, God is in control and there is a reason why, but let me keep asking and make sure. With a quick call, the lady replies the plane is delayed to 9:15, but I respond there is no one here and the doors are locked, but I will keep trying.
As I start to leave to get some help, a gentleman walks up to the desk and I quickly pounce and ask about the plane. He says they have already left, but he says wait let me unlock this door and double check. He tells me to wait as he runs down the entrance and quickly returns in a hurry that they are going to open the plane for me as they are in holding because of the ice. A quick cursory look at my ticket to confirm and quickly they open the door and let me in. Do I need to say blessed? Overwhelmed is what I am!:-)
People sit in wonder and anxious for their flight, you can hear a pin drop as we start to take off for our flight. Now normally I get sick when flying, but you guessed right, prayers are sent up again for a smooth journey and gratitude for his provision. Guess I am going to the "Big Easy" tonight after all.
We start on our way and people are crossing themselves as they pray. I simply smile and think that is nice to be in America again... My thought is do not worry God is in control, I did not make it this far to have anything happen to me now. Thank you Jesus once again!:-)
We arrive safely with no delay, now to get luggage and find my hotel. Luggage appears after a little while and off to find transport to the hotel. Games are in town and hotels were few, so I had to book a cheap one a few miles away. Off to find if it has a shuttle, but turns out it does not. Now to hop in a taxi is my next lot. With assistance and guidance I proceed to the stand, the lady jumps out and says let me give you a hand. Right this way he will take you where you need and off in my private taxi, now in the Big Easy....
The smoothest ride I think I have had in a while. Ten minutes later I arrive with a smile, cheap fare is paid with a tip in return. Away he goes with a smile and a grin. I was greeted with a smile at this “cheap” hotel, that serves continental brek and wireless internet in the room! Check out is 12 hours later and I am giving a handicap room, no insult intended, it just made it easier with my bags, because cheap motels do not have elevators to carry your bags up the stairs. I walked in the room as big as I have seen, with a coffee maker, microwave and refrig. Now I can have my coffee and check in with my friends!
Yes you got it, blessed once again. What seems like a put-down is only a set up for God to bless us each step of the way. So when you are hardest hit, look up God is there, looking to take you and protect your way!
PS. To top it off breakfast had grits!!!! :-))))) God is awesome, down to the smallest bit!
Thank you to family and friends for your prayers and support. To travel alone is a daunting task for me, but when done with those closest to you through prayers, is more than I can ask, so thanks once again for your love and support!:-)
Friends I do not say this to do anything more, than to brag on God’s mercies, once again! So no matter your darkest hour or your biggest fears, turn to Jesus he is always near!
May you be blessed and encouraged, that no matter your “storm” know your God is in control and be as dependent on him as I have had to be, when traveling here!
Thank you Jesus for being my pilot, protector, guide and my closest friend!:-)))
Love and blessings to each of you, and may you be encouraged and blessed once again!:-)
DEC.7TH, 2013
Just before the midnight hour, 44 hours into the journey from beginning to end!
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