Update About my Flying Home
So, when I check in to the airport at Heathrow, I only get one ticket. The lady explains it's because I'm changing airlines and have to get next ticket in Madrid. It won't be a problem. Okay... If you say so. I haven't traveled enough to question this.
PROBLEM: She did NOT tell me that my luggage would not be taken to a connection flight. It didn't occur to me to ask. (I also hadn't had my coffee yet and it was barely 5am. I was half asleep.) Of course, in my defense it was her job to make sure I knew. Not wait for me to ask.
MADRID: I go to the counter and am informed that I have to get my luggage from the baggage area
and check it back in. Okay! Fine.
I get my luggage, and go to check in.... Airline closed terminals 15-20min before I show up. (It took 30min to get my luggage and get to check in.) Meaning, because of the luggage thing I was too late. And no. Even though my flight was not going to take off for another 1 1/2 hours, they would not allow me to check my luggage in even after I explained what happened.
THEY TOLD ME: Go to the original airlines I booked with and get them to fix it. Okay. Fine. I go.
***I need to pause right here to point out that from the moment my connection flight wouldn't let me board I had gone into prayer. I prayed to keep my cool, and ask that whatever they work out that it just be resolved. But I especially kept praying that if God really wanted me to get on that flight He could make it happen. If not, there is a reason He's allowed the situation. So, I'm constantly asking God to show me where He is in this situation (a DTS lesson), and help me to focus on that.***
I GO TO THREE DIFFERENT PLACES, and I am very hot, tired, sweaty and stressed. But I keep my cool as best I can. (God help me! I want to yell at someone! ...But I won't! I will love everyone I come in contact with and be patient cause it's not their fault... Unless they send me to another spot! Then heads might start to roll...)
FINALLY: A very nice man behind the counter bends over backwards to help me. He acknowledged it was not my fault what happened, and tried to call my connect flight airlines. They were still adamant that I was too late to check in. (Okay. Fine. I won't ever use that airline in the future if I can help it.) So, then he went to his manager.
THREE HOURS LATER: I am booked to go BACK to London Heathrow at 6am tomorrow morning, and then get on a connection flight to Dallas from there. When I asked him if I could stay at the airport overnight cause I couldn't afford a hotel room, he booked me a room at no cost. Including a free lunch and dinner for today, and breakfast for tomorrow.
Then he walked me over to the baggage check in, and had the lady check my luggage in tonight so I don't have to worry about hauling it around, but mostly to make sure that it got tagged for London AND Dallas this time. (I am so grateful for that man! He was literally a God send.)
TRYING TO REMEMBER HIS BROKEN ENGLISH INSTRUCTIONS OF WHICH BUS TO TAKE TO HOTEL:
I must have had that "I'm really confused" look on my face, because a lady asked if I needed help, I explained and she located my bus for me. Before we parted I found out she was from Israel. I told her I was a Christian and thanked her for Israel keeping God's Word throughout the centuries. I really meant it. She was completely amazed I did that, but she hugged my neck tightly. (I pray for any seeds to sprout there.)
On the bus to the hotel I meet a lady with her leg in a cast. She's Spanish, or course, and can't speak English. But you know me! We still carried on a conversation together, and I was pleased to learn she was going to the same hotel. I was able to help her get to her room, and apparently she doesn't go to hotels much, so I helped her get settled, and we have a dinner date this evening at the hotel.
***So, what am I learning right now? Did God allow me to miss that flight so I could see these two ladies? Was I supposed to bless them? Maybe....
But just maybe... Maybe He just wanted to remind me that He's always going to take care of me no matter what the situation, and no matter how it turns out. He's always going to be there right next to me the whole time: Before, During and Afterwards.
Anything else is just a bonus!
PROBLEM: She did NOT tell me that my luggage would not be taken to a connection flight. It didn't occur to me to ask. (I also hadn't had my coffee yet and it was barely 5am. I was half asleep.) Of course, in my defense it was her job to make sure I knew. Not wait for me to ask.
MADRID: I go to the counter and am informed that I have to get my luggage from the baggage area
and check it back in. Okay! Fine.
I get my luggage, and go to check in.... Airline closed terminals 15-20min before I show up. (It took 30min to get my luggage and get to check in.) Meaning, because of the luggage thing I was too late. And no. Even though my flight was not going to take off for another 1 1/2 hours, they would not allow me to check my luggage in even after I explained what happened.
THEY TOLD ME: Go to the original airlines I booked with and get them to fix it. Okay. Fine. I go.
***I need to pause right here to point out that from the moment my connection flight wouldn't let me board I had gone into prayer. I prayed to keep my cool, and ask that whatever they work out that it just be resolved. But I especially kept praying that if God really wanted me to get on that flight He could make it happen. If not, there is a reason He's allowed the situation. So, I'm constantly asking God to show me where He is in this situation (a DTS lesson), and help me to focus on that.***
I GO TO THREE DIFFERENT PLACES, and I am very hot, tired, sweaty and stressed. But I keep my cool as best I can. (God help me! I want to yell at someone! ...But I won't! I will love everyone I come in contact with and be patient cause it's not their fault... Unless they send me to another spot! Then heads might start to roll...)
FINALLY: A very nice man behind the counter bends over backwards to help me. He acknowledged it was not my fault what happened, and tried to call my connect flight airlines. They were still adamant that I was too late to check in. (Okay. Fine. I won't ever use that airline in the future if I can help it.) So, then he went to his manager.
THREE HOURS LATER: I am booked to go BACK to London Heathrow at 6am tomorrow morning, and then get on a connection flight to Dallas from there. When I asked him if I could stay at the airport overnight cause I couldn't afford a hotel room, he booked me a room at no cost. Including a free lunch and dinner for today, and breakfast for tomorrow.
Then he walked me over to the baggage check in, and had the lady check my luggage in tonight so I don't have to worry about hauling it around, but mostly to make sure that it got tagged for London AND Dallas this time. (I am so grateful for that man! He was literally a God send.)
TRYING TO REMEMBER HIS BROKEN ENGLISH INSTRUCTIONS OF WHICH BUS TO TAKE TO HOTEL:
I must have had that "I'm really confused" look on my face, because a lady asked if I needed help, I explained and she located my bus for me. Before we parted I found out she was from Israel. I told her I was a Christian and thanked her for Israel keeping God's Word throughout the centuries. I really meant it. She was completely amazed I did that, but she hugged my neck tightly. (I pray for any seeds to sprout there.)
On the bus to the hotel I meet a lady with her leg in a cast. She's Spanish, or course, and can't speak English. But you know me! We still carried on a conversation together, and I was pleased to learn she was going to the same hotel. I was able to help her get to her room, and apparently she doesn't go to hotels much, so I helped her get settled, and we have a dinner date this evening at the hotel.
***So, what am I learning right now? Did God allow me to miss that flight so I could see these two ladies? Was I supposed to bless them? Maybe....
But just maybe... Maybe He just wanted to remind me that He's always going to take care of me no matter what the situation, and no matter how it turns out. He's always going to be there right next to me the whole time: Before, During and Afterwards.
Anything else is just a bonus!
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