Today has been a strange day. What should I expect though when I pray "God show up!" Last night I prayed that God would show up during my travels, that He would surprise me with His Presence and signs. :-) This morning I prayed that again... but I might have rephrased it... "God show up in Paris today! (I have this thing with Paris-but then who doesn't right?) Now I sit and ask myself "why am I surprised on my strange day?" Maybe in the midst of all the confusion I had forgotten my prayer.
I got up this morning and began last minute packing to head back to the UAE, for my 3rd year teaching at Almaha Primary School. I packed everything all nice, neat, and orderly. Funny how packing to go back is a lot neater than it was to come. I had everything all packed by 11:00am and I had time to pray with one of my roomies for the upcoming year-new beginnings for both of us. How great it is to bless friends in prayer and receive prayer. Truly this is the family of God that I love so much, a praying family.
I then checked (through my phone) my flight departure time. Yes, I have to say that I'm a proud owner of a new iphone-4S. It has been my new toy for the week that has consumed only a little of my time. ;-) The departure time read 4:35pm, Aug. 30th. My other room-mate and I planned on leaving for the airport 3 hours before my fly time.
On the way to the airport, we lifted up prayers. :-) She specifically prayed for God to show me that I was not traveling alone. She also prayed for favor, favor, favor, and for new beginnings. I then lifted her up in prayer. My friend's car started acting funny as we were driving. All of a sudden I just had this peace in me. I said, "I'm okay if God has me not make it to the airport. I am okay if God has me make it to the airport. Whatever He wants to do, I am okay with. " Then her car stopped acting funny. As we pulled into the airport we ended our prayers and she helped me carry my very heavy luggage to the dock. I really honestly didn't think I came with that much stuff but as I pulled it all out of her hatchback, even as neatly packed & orderly as it all was, it was def. not light. Who knew that shoes & product could weigh that much! I will admit that I love my shoes & hair products. Although at times my heels seemed a bit inappropriate in KC, they may not have actually made it out of the suitcase in KC. 'sad-face' AnotherTime@AnotherPlace
At the "check in dock" at KC International Airport, I placed my bags on the dock and passed the man my passport. He looked at me strangely and said, "You should have been here 2 hours before for an international flight!" I then showed him my phone because I had not printed the ticket out. He told me my flight was departing at 3:00pm instead of 4:35pm. I then proceeded to the American Airlines help desk. As I was in line, there were some Arabs checking in as well. The man carried one of my suitcases up to the counter for me. It felt good to practice my arabic skillz again. "Shukran Jazilan" :-) As I showed the American Airlines Clerk my flight schedule via@iphone (while pointing to the time of 4:35), she reached out and touched the screen. It opened up the date which then changed the time to 3:00pm! No way I thought, "I missed my flight!" She then said that there was another flight leaving tomorrow for Abu Dhabi and she said the flight difference would be a 2,000.00 dollars! I immediately felt sick to my stomach and thought, "No way am I paying that amount for me missing my flight!" She tried to look for another flight but for some strange reason the computer system was not working properly to look for flight prices. She gave me the international number to call and we proceeded to the back to the car.
All the way home, I was in shock. Basically, I was thinking I was leaving the country and then a "suddenly" happened. I couldn't really blame it on the airlines and I couldn't really blame it on myself. It was just a mistake that happened. I got the time wrong but it wasn't really my fault. I prayed for favor with the airline price. I def. didn't want to fork out another 2,000.00 for a one way ticket! That was just out of the question. Immediately 1 Thessalonians 5:18 came to my mind. "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." I then just began to praise God and thank Him out loud. It went a little something like this... "Well I missed my flight, might have lost a lot of money! Praise God! Praise God!" We than began to claim Romans 8:28 over the situation. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
As we came into the house, I called the 800 number to reschedule my flight. I was put on hold, transferred, put on hold, put on hold, and then put on hold. All the while, praying for patience, favor, and questioning why this was all happening. The woman on the other line was trying to find me a reasonable fare because as it looked for the upcoming day the cost was still a 2,000.00 difference. I waited for approximately 45-50 minutes on hold. She came on and had found me a flight that would only cost an 80.00 difference for the beginning of next week! I praised the Lord out-loud and thanked her numerous times! I rejoiced more when getting off the phone. Then thanked "the Lamb" numerous times! My friend then asked me what time it was. I told her it's 5:33. "Oh wow!" I said. She said "does this number mean anything to you?" It sure does! 5 is the number for Grace and the 33 is the number that God always shows me when He wants me to know that I am right where I am supposed to be at! It's like He's telling me He is with me! She then proceeded to tell me something crazy! She said... "funny thing but today when I was paying rent, I added up my rent, plus the 22 days that you were here. The total ended up coming to 333.24. You gave me yours in cash and then I wrote the check for 333.24. Since you are staying another 3 days at 11 dollars a day, you will owe 33 dollars when you leave!" I couldn't believe it!
To give you all a history of this 33 thing. Ever since I left for the UAE 2 years ago, the Lord has been showing me 33's as signs to tell me I am in the right place or that He is with me. I had a dream of going through a door w/the 33 on it. When I opened the door I was in the ME. The street sign outside of our home-group home in the UAE was 33rd st. The house of prayer's address in Dubai is 33. When on a trip to S. Africa, my arrival time was 3:33. There are numerous other signs the past few years using the 33's that God has shown me. Today is another day that the Lord has shown up saying "Do not worry, you are exactly where you are supposed to be at. I am with you.
As I sit and type this, I look over at my luggage in the corner of the room. I can't help but say... "Wow, I can't believe I'm still here in KC!" For some reason or another, I am still here and I am okay with that-as I prayed earlier. Now I am reminded of all the other prayers... "God show up today. Presence. Favor, favor, favor. May she know she is not traveling alone." Wow did God ever show up today!!! I also have yet another REAL Sunday in America, on Memorial Day weekend (for those who understand the Islamic weekends). For this I rejoice and giggle... saying "I can't help but feel I should be on that plane right now... but then again, maybe not.
