So my trip to America is coming to an end. I came here for a week for a wedding and to visit family and friends. Trevor was speaking at RPC the following weekend for FIGHT, so I stayed an extra few days. I was desperately in need of a trip home to rejuvenate me!!
My friend Fenley brought me to Orlando International Airport. We were running a little behind because I wanted to create a quick FIGHT Ministries document requesting that Spirit Air not require that I purchase a return flight to America. I had a feeling I needed it this time. AA let's me fly one way without documentation, but other airlines require it. This is just one of the reasons I am working on residency in the DR. If you fly out of America, you have to have a return flight booked before they let you out.
We got to check-in and the terminal lady asked if I lived in the Dominican. I said yes and she asked if I had a residency card. I told her that I do live there, but I don't have a card. She told me I needed to purchase a flight home. ::yikes:: I took out my ministry document that told her what I do in the Dominican. She had to wait for approval from her supervisor after she read the document. The supervisor was on the phone with a difficult customer and it was evident she was getting livid every second she dealt with him. I was thinking, "yea, this isn't good." She got off the phone, read it, and said "This isnt a card. This isn't a legal document. This doesn't mean you can fly there without a return. No, you cant use this. What is this!?" I thought OH MY GOODNESS. Honestly, I dont even have enough money in my account to BUY A FLIGHT. I felt a bit embarrassed as I was standing there with my friend. She began to read it again, I felt God telling me to pray. Pray for her to soften her heart to me and my plight. I said God you call me to fly back there, this is your problem, not mine. If you want me to fly back, then I need you to figure this out, I have no idea. It's your will, You say You will provide.
She told me to purchase the cheapest flight home and then get a refund for it tomorrow. Sorry, that's the policy. I'm thinking...Once again, I cannot afford a flight. There isn't enough in my bank account. I said, "I volunteer with this non-profit Christian organization called FIGHT. I do live in the Dominican; I come and go between the two countries, and do not know when I will come back here. Can you advise me what to do for future trips? My organization is only of 5 adults right now and we are working on residency to by pass these issues, but we aren't residents yet. I AM NOT asking you to go against your policies and procedures and do anything that will get anyone in trouble. I want to do it the way I am supposed to, I'm just trying to get help." She popped over the weight counter and got close to me and said, "listen, you can do this procedure to get around the need for a flight." I thought she meant I could go do it myself by the way she was speaking, so I said we will go eat and login to the website at dinner with my friend and come back. She said, "your terminal lady will do it this time, for you." My eyes welled up with tears, OF COURSE. And I thanked her for helping me out.
The girl said the internet was slow and it would be a minute... the supervisor took my passport to the back and did it herself and brought me this print out to get through customs control. She told me what to do in the future so my organization wont have any issues flying one way to Santiago. Seriously???
I walked away absolutely shocked at what she just did for me. Personally just did for me.
He grows my faith more and more.. teaching me that He is in control.
My friend Fenley brought me to Orlando International Airport. We were running a little behind because I wanted to create a quick FIGHT Ministries document requesting that Spirit Air not require that I purchase a return flight to America. I had a feeling I needed it this time. AA let's me fly one way without documentation, but other airlines require it. This is just one of the reasons I am working on residency in the DR. If you fly out of America, you have to have a return flight booked before they let you out.
We got to check-in and the terminal lady asked if I lived in the Dominican. I said yes and she asked if I had a residency card. I told her that I do live there, but I don't have a card. She told me I needed to purchase a flight home. ::yikes:: I took out my ministry document that told her what I do in the Dominican. She had to wait for approval from her supervisor after she read the document. The supervisor was on the phone with a difficult customer and it was evident she was getting livid every second she dealt with him. I was thinking, "yea, this isn't good." She got off the phone, read it, and said "This isnt a card. This isn't a legal document. This doesn't mean you can fly there without a return. No, you cant use this. What is this!?" I thought OH MY GOODNESS. Honestly, I dont even have enough money in my account to BUY A FLIGHT. I felt a bit embarrassed as I was standing there with my friend. She began to read it again, I felt God telling me to pray. Pray for her to soften her heart to me and my plight. I said God you call me to fly back there, this is your problem, not mine. If you want me to fly back, then I need you to figure this out, I have no idea. It's your will, You say You will provide.
She told me to purchase the cheapest flight home and then get a refund for it tomorrow. Sorry, that's the policy. I'm thinking...Once again, I cannot afford a flight. There isn't enough in my bank account. I said, "I volunteer with this non-profit Christian organization called FIGHT. I do live in the Dominican; I come and go between the two countries, and do not know when I will come back here. Can you advise me what to do for future trips? My organization is only of 5 adults right now and we are working on residency to by pass these issues, but we aren't residents yet. I AM NOT asking you to go against your policies and procedures and do anything that will get anyone in trouble. I want to do it the way I am supposed to, I'm just trying to get help." She popped over the weight counter and got close to me and said, "listen, you can do this procedure to get around the need for a flight." I thought she meant I could go do it myself by the way she was speaking, so I said we will go eat and login to the website at dinner with my friend and come back. She said, "your terminal lady will do it this time, for you." My eyes welled up with tears, OF COURSE. And I thanked her for helping me out.
The girl said the internet was slow and it would be a minute... the supervisor took my passport to the back and did it herself and brought me this print out to get through customs control. She told me what to do in the future so my organization wont have any issues flying one way to Santiago. Seriously???
I walked away absolutely shocked at what she just did for me. Personally just did for me.
He grows my faith more and more.. teaching me that He is in control.
I have goosebumps! Safe travels!
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