The Lines, the Wallet and My Wardrobe

Greetings to all from Sts. Timothy and Titus in San Diego.  Our rector, Fr. Russell Martin is on his way to GAFCON and we just received his first journal entry and we wanted to share it with our brothers and sisters.

The Lines, the Wallet and My Wardrobe

Day 1 of My Pilgrimage to Israel and GAFCON June 16, 2008:

The day began like most travel days, early and in that mad rush of a fog to get the last few things packed. It was also dark, being only 3:30 a.m. when I awoke. After showering and shaving I gathered my bags which I had finished packing the night before, though against all odds, I had actually nearly completed packing the previous Friday.  So having finished packed those last few items I began my review:

1. Wallet, with cash
2. Passport
3. Tickets
4. Copies of Itinerary and other conference materials
5. Snacks
6. Cell phone etc.

Fr. Larry Eddingfield arrived, shortly there after, to pick me up at 4:45 a.m. and of course, he was right on time.  We loaded the truck with my bags did another review of tickets, wallet etc.

We arrived at the airport a few minutes after 5 a.m. Following a wonderful blessing, a prayer, and yes another “light” anointing with holy Oil, Fr. Larry release me with a hug and a tear. I proceeded to my first of many LINES that day as I checked my bag and received my boarding pass. During this process my cell phone dropped and hit the floor with an unhealthy thwack! As Dr. McCoy from the original Star Trek, “He’s dead Jim!” and so it was. I tried everything I could think of and it would light up for a second and then power down and just be dead, dead, DEAD!

My next line was of course the obligatory Security Check point, which surprisingly enough, moved rather efficiently and no real problems from my fellow line mates or me.

It was then I had my first real challenge of the day I went to the B. of A. ATM and as I went to pull out my Debit Card I was horrified to find it was not there and worse yet neither were my credit cards which I had planned to take. Yikes, “Holy Hamburgers Batman”, we have a real problem. I immediately began to pray and ask the Lord’s help and after a few minutes His glorious peace began to fall on me. Panic resurged as I realized that I had no phone numbers except Molly’s Cell memorized as I always rely on my Address Book in my phone that has now given up the ghost. I made change and tried desperately to find a pay phone, almost as extinct as a T-Rex. After a few minutes of searching and an inquiry to one Port Authority Police Officers I found a phone. I proceeded to call my wife who was by now fully ensconced in purveying Latte’s and Scones to the ‘Brew-o-philes” that faithfully migrate to Starbucks each morning. Suffice it to say, she did not answer her phone. The Lord reminded me that I had my laptop and I had an E-directory for the church. Thank Heaven I pack some change. I got Fr. Larry’s Cell and called him and bless his heart he went back to my house got my Credit and Debit cards, which were still sitting on the Scanner Screen from where I had copied them in case of an emergency. The only emergency was that I had not replaced them in my wallet; yet another thing to add to one’s pre-trip checklist—be sure you have your cards with you, you numbskull.

The next challenge came in coordinating a hand off with Larry for the cards, praying the whole time that he would arrive before I was forced to board my plane. After a few minor glitches and several circuits run between the security check point and the pay phone; we were able to arrange pass off with the help of a very nice woman from the TSA who hand walked my cards to me. Now the mad dash for the gate, only to find we were delayed for a hour-and-a-half due to some mechanical problem with the plane. Once again an opportunity not only to practice the old standard “Hurry Up and Wait”.

Our flight to JFK was generally uneventful, however after we got in the air we were rerouted twice due to weather and this further delayed us—no way now to make my connection to Zurich. Interestingly enough we flew from San Diego to New York via Toronto, Vermont and Maine, then out east over the Atlantic where we made a right turn (westerly) to land at the airport.

At JFK it was now 6 p.m. and I was informed along with several hundred other people that we would have exit the secured area and go to ticketing to be rebooked on another flight. After several miss leading instructions from stressed but courteous Airline employees I was sent running around to various lines only to find out that I had to go back and stand in the one in which I started. And there I stood for six hours, no kidding, with nearly three hundred of my now closest friends. Actually, I met several very nice people including one poor woman who had been waiting for two days to get rebooked and home to Miami. I chatted with another couple who, along with their two adult sons, were on their way to Rome to meet with their Church Choir for a tour of Italy. There were several other colorful characters as well as one gentleman whose temper went from worse to ballistic. The one nice part was we all took turns watching each other’s carry-on bags when one or another of us had to make a toilet break. 

Around midnight I was finally ticketed for a flight leave 24 hours after my original flight until then the Airline told me with a polite smile I was on my own—though I did manage to get $25.00 of food vouchers. I was then left to try and find a hotel room, which was not an easy thing given that I was one of hundreds who need a place to stay and most of the airport hotels were by now fully booked. This gave me a whole new appreciation for the Mary and Joseph’s ordeal with no room at the inn. Providence prevailed and with the help of a lovely New York City Airport Concierge I was able to get a room at a Sheraton hotel that had only been open for four days. Meanwhile, I was so incredibly thankful that I had packet some toiletries and several changes of clothes in my carry-on luggage, as I  was without my check bag (my wardrobe) which was somewhere in the nether world. I would just have to pray that it would eventually find me. Imagine trying to get a room without a credit card—whew thank the Lord my Larry got to me in time.

 

So my adventures to GAFCON began a day full of lines, a lost wallet and a disappearing wardrobe (suitcase). Now sweet sleep is calling and I cannot wait to hit the sheets. Thank you Lord for a place to stay and safe travel!