Not to Worry, God is in charge

This is the story of  LOST LUGGAGE, and God's provision for us.  First off, my name is Ken, and my wife Jan and I have been using these mission trips as an excuse for other travels.  Last year, she met me in Paris upon the way home, and we enjoyed a few days there.......So when the decision was made for me to travel to Guinea THIS year, we decided to travel to Europe again.  This time to London.

Most of the Guinea Eyewear Team 1203 departed the U.S. on March 16th., but Jan and I actually left on the 10th., and arrived in London on the 11th.  We had a good trip, but arrived short my two large suitcases--One containing exclusively eyewear and other supplies for the clinics, and the other containing mostly my personal clothing and supplies, BUT ALSO containing some additional clinic supplies.

The airport staff at Heathrow were very cordial, and informed us that no doubt our bags would be on the next available flight.....not to worry.  They took the information about our hotel.  We made our way to the hotel, where we were told that it is not uncommon for bags to arrive late--probably within a day...not to worry.

We began sightseeing, and praying,  and doing "tourist things".  Sunday passed.  Monday was nearly passed with no luggage.  Fortunately Jan had packed a couple of clean shirts for me in HER luggage, and I long ago learned how to wash my own socks.  My heavy coat and other cold weather items were in my lost bag, but the Lord provided great weather--even sunshine--in London--in the mornings--unheard of, so my traveling clothes and jacket proved very adequate.  I decided to email Debby at MOST to advise her of the necessity of "contemplating" packing another bag to replace the supplies missing.  Tuesday passed.  Hotel staff informed us that it is commonplace for luggage to take two days to arrive.  No bags.....not to worry.  More prayer.  It dawned on me that I hadn't taken my daily blood pressure meds since Friday, and also that my Malaria meds, which I needed to START were also in my missing bag.  More prayer.

We also engaged the services of Jan's brother in law, Bill.  Bill is a retired Air Force officer who lives near Washington D.C.  If there is bureaucracy ANYWHERE to be dealt with, Bill is your guy.  We put Bill and my sister in law Joy "on the job", supplying them with the missing bag numbers, and our flight schedules and particulars of the trip.  All done via Jan's iphone which works internationally.  My own cell phone does not.  I can assure you, however, that Bill and Joy's phones were working well.  My heart leapt every time Jan's phone chimed to note the arrival of a message.  I sent more messages to Debby.

By Wednesday morning, no luggage.  Hotel staff assured us that luggage often takes as long as three days to arrive.  Tourism continued, but my blue jeans were getting pretty "gamey", and some TRULY clean skivvies would be appreciated.  I was still using the little tiny toothbrush supplied by British Air, and borrowing items from Jan's kit.    It's amazing what a person can "do without" when crunchtime comes.  By Wednesday evening there were messages on Jan's phone that the luggage had been found in Atlanta, and was being shipped--both from British Air, and from Joy.  Returning to the hotel, we were informed by staff that it is not at all unusual for lost luggage to take FOUR days to catch up.  Time for more messages to Debby at MOST Ministries, and more prayer.

Some time on Thursday, the luggage arrived!  Hooray, clean clothes.  Medicines.  Clinic supplies.  I said my Thank You's to God, and all the other folks who were involved.  I changed clothes, and reshuffled items as Jan was preparing to head back for her return.  More tourism.

Friday came, and our trips continued.  We headed back to Heathrow airport on the "underground".  We were actually quite accomplished at riding the "underground" by now, having spent the week touring London.  But Jan's plane for Dallas left from Terminal 3, and my flight for Paris left from Terminal 5--a long ways away.  So were separated there, with no more communication to be had for a while.  Only prayer that trips would go well.

It was about 11:30 a.m. but I couldn't check in and check my two large bags until 3:30, so I just sat there waiting, and watching my two cumbersome suitcases.  Finally checked them in, and noted to the agents that although I was headed to Paris to join my teammates, the BAGS were to be checked thru to Conakry, Guinea.  Not to worry, said the agent.

I waited longer.....until my flight to Paris at 6:30.  All went well, and I was still rejoicing that the Lord had provided the luggage and supplies, and that it was out of my hands, and checked thru to Conakry.  Had a pleasant flight to Paris, knowing that I would have all night to spend in the terminal before joining the team, on Saturday MORNING.  I don't know why, but although I was traveling on, and my bags were checked thru, I somehow was led to follow the crowd of folks from my flight whose destination was Paris, and who headed to the baggage carousel to retrieve luggage......I guess, just so I could watch.  Hey, I had nothing else to do......and as I'm trying to find a way to recharge my ipad so I could email Jan, I glanced at the carousel, and THERE, playing "catch me if you can", was one of my large suitcases.  I dropped my backpack and other items, and made a dash and grab for the wayward bag just before it would have disappeared into the wall, and then sat there again for a long time, wondering of the SECOND bag might also have been mistakenly unloaded onto the carousel.  After about a half hour, I decided not..........back to the British Air agent, who didn't speak much English, and I, who speak minimal French, trying to explain that there were actually TWO large bags bound for Conakry, but THIS one had mistakenly been discharged onto the carousel, and I didn't know where the other was, but I wanted BOTH of them transferred to Air France for transfer to Conakry.  NOT TO WORRY, he would see to it "straightaway", and called for a man to come fetch my wayward bag.  I sat there watching for another half hour, until a total stranger with no visible nametag or ID walked by, picked up my suitcase, ignored my questions, and walked off with it.  Time for more Prayer.

Well, on Saturday morning, as I checked in for the flight to Conakry, I prayer once more, and then proceeded begin the process.  I mentioned all this trauma of the past several days, to the check in agent, who smiled, and asked if I would like to check on the bags once more.........and she did.  In a few more moments she informed me that BOTH bags were headed to Conakry.........where they finally arrived with all of our other luggage.  To God be the Glory..........All is well.      Ken