This past New Year I experienced two different New Years as I flew from Argentina to Bolivia, and although they are neighboring countries Bolivia is an hour behind. My first New Year was in the skies over Argentina where there were no fireworks, only the moon lighting the dark skies. It reminded me that I like the moon should be light in a dark world. My second New Year was as I disembarked the airplane and entered the airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. I could hear a countdown and then everyone celebrating at midnight as I walked towards immigration. And when I went to immigration that is where the human fireworks began. A few days before my trip a friend asked me if I was excited to see the missionary family in Bolivia who I am close to and expected to work alongside them in their ministry for the first few weeks in 2024. I responded that I am praying I have no drama. Well, I thought that was my response. My friend wrote back saying that I might want to review my prayer. When I looked at it again, I forgot the “no” and so apparently I was praying that I would have drama, and I got it.
On seeing my invitation letter from the pastor in Bolivia the immigration officer went to his supervisor. I was then brought to the side and told that the letter was not valid as it needed a stamp from the nearest consulate or immigration office. I have never read about that stamp even though I had been looking at the visa requirements for Bolivia for nearly two years hoping to one day visit my missionary friends. I told the immigration officer that this pastor had written similar letters to invite many missionaries to Bolivia. And he responded that they have rejected all these letters. It seems very interesting, that none of these missionaries told the pastor about this rejection of his letter, maybe because they were all allowed to enter the country. He spoke to his supervisor again and he told me that I would be given me a chance and I could come back to the country after an hour or a day. I asked him if he was joking. He responded, “No.” And he further told me that I was going back on the plane to Argentina. He also spoke to my friends on the phone who were standing outside and explained to them what was happening. The supervisor then came in very determined. I looked and there standing by itself was my luggage and I pointed that out. She hurried over and threw my luggage out to go on the plane.
Then a man dressed in army fatigue with a cap that said “Policia” came to escort me to the plane. Now this was getting even more dramatic. Why did I forget the “no” before the drama when I told my friend what I was praying for? In the midst of the madness I realized I was not given back my passport. I inquired about it and I was told they wouldn’t give it back to me and I would get it back in Argentina. And by the way, at this time a plane load of people was waiting for me. I was rushed through the security checkpoint and then brought upstairs to go to the plane where there was another police or soldier dressed in army fatigue, but the glass door was shut so we had to wait. I then asked the immigration officer who speaks English well, what was happening. He said it was a test. I didn’t understand what kind of test this was and obviously I was failing it. Then, he explained I was going to be sent to Buenos Aires to Rosario to Jamaica. So it was then I realized that they may have been trying to have Argentina deport me from South America. Now I am not sure why all this was happening. Nothing made sense to me. I don’t know if they don’t trust Christians or was it that I was a Jamaican, or maybe I didn’t look trustworthy. However, I knew that God was working in all this. Finally, the glass doors were open and the flight attendant who had my passport said he would give it to immigration in Argentina and he didn’t know what was going on. So there I was walking down the airplane aisle as passengers popped their heads out from behind the seats to see who was holding up the plane in this dramatic fashion. It was only me and I realized God had worked immensely on my pride as I walked down the long aisle to find whatever seat I wanted as people stared at me. I was not humiliated. I felt no shame as I knew God was working.
I should also state here that the airline representatives in both Rosario and Buenos Aires were doing their checks before letting me board the plane as the system stated I needed a visa which I would get on arrival. I had five representatives helping me in Rosario as it was a slow night. One even said she found a site where I could get a visa online before I went, but it wouldn’t open on my phone. They decided to send me to Buenos Aires for them to check me in for my international flight. The supervisor of the airlines there even called immigration at the airport in Bolivia to make sure I didn’t need photos. They read my invitation letter too because they didn’t want me to be sent back. But it seems I was destined to go back to Argentina. Before I disembarked the plane to be bused with all the others to immigration, the head flight attendant told me he had given my passport to a ground person to give to immigration. So there I was separated from my passport going to immigration, I went over in my mind how I could explain not having a passport in front of the immigration officer. But not long after a man with a manila envelope called my name and I went out of the line and followed him. He went to an immigration officer who sent him over to the supervisor. He explained the situation and she looked a bit annoyed. She took my passport checked two computers and without saying a word to me walked me over to an immigration booth and the man who was still holding the envelop asked her if she wanted the long letter which he now had in his hand. But she didn’t need it. It seemed the immigration supervisor in Bolivia sent a long document to the Argentine immigration explain why I am a nuisance. Thankfully, immigration in Argentina is different from immigration in Bolivia. The supervisor handed my passport to the immigration officer at the booth, and he was very helpful as he admitted me to his country with no drama. These Bible verses came to me.
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! Luke 10: 11-15
I believe these words would also apply to a country. Although I will continue praying for Bolivia, the poorest country in Latin America where more than 80% of the population live in poverty. I will also continue supporting the people through the missionaries anyway I can because they need a lot of support. However, as I walked down the concourse in one of the Buenos Aires airports, I saw many homeless people sleeping against the glass wall and I prayed inaudibly asking God how I could be of help to a country that has been so accommodating to me. Now, if you were to describe which country you would be more like, would it be Bolivia who rejected someone who wanted to bless the country or would it be Argentina opening its doors to a person in limbo? Sometimes the very person who will bless us, we shut out because they do not come in the way we would expect.
Well, I wish I could say my drama ended on arrival in Argentina, but no. After I got my boarding pass back to Rosario, I missed my flight because I was so tired I did not realize I was reading the wrong boarding pass until the afternoon. I had arrived in Argentina bout 5:00 am and was given a morning flight but thought it was in the evening. However, although I missed it, God was still working and was sending me helpers along the way. I had to figure what to do. I was told to go downstairs by an airline worker and then I approached a security desk and a nice police officer helped me, but I had left my phone behind and a security officer brought it to me. The police officer brought me to a very amiable airline worker and I could see that my luggage was standing there returned in front of his office. He gave it to me and I asked him if he believed in God and he said yes because God was blessing me even though I was having a lot of problems. I had changed into my shirt that said “Blessed” just before as I was in my clothes for nearly 24 hours. I was feeling really blessed in the middle of the troubles and I knew God was with me.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:2
I was happy to know God was with me through all that was happening as I went to buy a new ticket to get to Rosario. Thankfully, I was able to use the money that I was supposed to pay for the visa in Bolivia. When I came into Rosario there was no taxi, so I called my friend who tried to get an Uber for me and that didn’t work and so her whole family came to pick me up. Her parents are the pastors of the church I now go to. And on the way back to the apartment which I had just got that morning on Airbnb, Pastor Rodolfo said that there are no coincidences with God. So now I am seeking God to see where He is guiding me.
And if you think that everything went smoothly after that, well no. I came into the apartment with a little drama as I had to get the key from a lockbox with passcodes, but thank God I had friends who could help. And when I was ready to take a nice warm shower after a long 32 hours of travel there was no hot water, and so the new year continues. So my friends I am not going to wish you a drama free 2024, but I hope that you feel God’s presence in whatever you encounter knowing He is with you.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10
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