I am stuck in the airport here in Sao Paulo. I got here around 7:10 and stood around looking for my bags, but they had already been checked in. I did not know that. So I finally realized they had been checked in already and went to the Delta check in counter. They were closed. There was no way for me to get a boarding pass for Atlanta. The only way to get out of here is to wait until tomorrow at 8:35 PM. Therefore, I am here for the
night in a foreign land. I have held my own. I have been waiting for Gol airlines to get me a hotel without charging me for anything. They, apparently, have been trying for about 3 or so hours. They say all the hotels
are full already. I find it really hard to believe that, knowing that Sao Paulo is in the top five biggest cities in the world. Its all about money for them. It does not cost them a thing for me to stay here in the airport. The only thing they have given me is a meal worth 20 reias and false hope. At least that is what it feels like right now. They did, however, try to get me into the VIP Lounge, where I would stay until 1 AM while they try to call a hotel. But its closed, of course.
Now this... is South America.
BUT. I had two really wonderful conversations with two different people. They were both wonderful for totally different reasons. The first happened when I was waiting for my bags. A homosexual (I could tell for some reason) walked up to me and started staring. Then he started the whole airport talk. Where are you from? Where are you going? Where did you come from, etc. etc. I told him I had been living in Altamira for 6 months with a missionary family. When I said this it raised some interest in his eyebrows. He asked me what church. He didn't know it but was still interested. He then asked me why Altamira? Why do that? I told him, without hesitation, which is something I personally struggle with when speaking of Jesus things, "to spread Gods love." His eyebrows raised again. I found out he is a jew who lived in Isreal for a year and a half where he probably drank and partied with a bunch of American tourists. He even in a round about way told me to come over to his house tonight because he thought I needed a place to stay. (Kinda funny now that I do need one.) Anyway, I planted a seed in this guys mind. I do not know if it was a good planted one, but one none the less. I definitely need more practice with spreading the good news. Specially in another language.
The other conversation happened with a dude from Mozambique named Abel who speaks Portugues, English, and French. He is coming to Brazil to receive his Masters in Economics. Awesome conversation that I desperately needed at the time. I was really stressed out and it felt really good to just sit down and drink some expresso with a friendly stranger. We did not talk about Spiritual things but I think I demonstrated to him that not all people from America are mouth-shut to black Africans or any other foreigners for that matter. Maybe even he could see my Spiritual light shine through during our fruitful conversation in Portugues with a touch of English. It was a blessing.
I have learned I can survive on my own in a foreign land. But I also prayed a lot. Gods wisdom and peace filled me while I made decisions on what to do next to improve my predicament. Oh, and God provided for me. I have a hotel room waiting for me in the morning at 9:30 so I can get into a fresh change of clothes, shower, privacy, silence and a little time for relaxation in peace. Thanks God.
*So I wrote this as sorta a journal entry in NotePad because it was really fresh. Currently I am able to have internet connection in the VIP Lounge. It is 6 AM and I have bug eyes. I managed to sleep a couple hours in an office filled with Gol Airlines employees. I had a three seat couch that allowed me to spread out my legs, which was nice. I kept my ear phones with music going the whole time to drown out the sound of walkie-talkies and people speaking Portuguese.
I don't know if the hotel room is certain yet or not. The guy who was really helping me out last night a lot might have just told me that to get it off his chest. Either way, everything is good. I will be fine without a shower...
I have felt your prayers! Its awesome to be able to say that :)
Family--See you Friday morning if I can manage to catch the rest of my flights! ;) Love you guys.
