V.I.P.

a.k.a. - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Beijing

Shandong Airline VIP Lounge
Monday - December 13, 2004

Awoke this morning, looked out the window at the darkness and cloak of dense fog. Planes will definately be delayed this morning! D and I proceeded to drink coffee and pray for clearing in the upper atmosphere - J still sleeping as late as possible, dressing at the last minute and carrying the luggage noisily down three flights of stairs.

6:10 am - no driver - the usual promptness of their friend could be delayed due to the weather - at 6:30 J went back upstairs and called - he was SLEEPING. He woke in time - looked out at the weather and thought "no flights this morning". J said "come right away"

At 7:00 the driver appeared, looking at as like we were crazy to be attempting to go to the airport. We set off through Chinese "pea soup" while I kept my head bowed in the back seat repeating my original mantra "fog is not fog to you" over and over - the Father has gotten me safe thus far... now lead me home (via Beijing)

WOW

There were places the fog was so heavy it was difficult even to see the stripe in the roadway, and what makes the travel even more hazardous are the bicyclists and pedestrians. I tried my best to keep my "EEGADS" and screams to a minmum. At the point of entry onto the highway our driver missed the entrance and we proceeded to back up - horns blared, cars swerved and the passengers PRAYED!

Once on the highway things would clear periodically and the visibility improve, but then as we approached the river - visibility back to zero - it was horrible and very frightening. I was very thankful our driver cared so much for his car he drove with extreme caution (except for the backing up part).

"darkness is not dark to you - night is bright as day"

When we reached the airport - NOTHING - the terminal was invisible until we were right in front of the door. No chance the flight would be leaving on time (10 minutes from departure). Unlike delays at DFW - there was a strange absence of activity - like the cab driver I'm sure most have abandoned thoughts of air travel this morning.

D's student Mr. T, was not far behind us. He greeted us warmly with great apologies for the weather and said "no problem, I will take care of you while there is the delay". We left the airport with his personal car and driver and headed to the 4 star airport hotel - where we were treated to a sumptious combination breakfast (American fried egg, bacon and toast - Chinese vegetables, soup and dumplings).

Mr. T was very gracious to explain he typically has a meeting on Monday morning - but his supervisor at the airline felt this was more important - to host an American visitor who is so kind to Chinese orphans. Can you imagine - this would NEVER happen in the US (and frankly I can think of no other country where it would) where a simple undercover disciple would be treated like the Ambassador she really is!

We returned to the airport wading our way back through the still very dense fog, said my goodbyes and went through the VIP security check into the VIP lounge.

So here I sit, in the lounge complete with putting green, a hostess to keep my tea cup filled, and the bird's eye view of the tarmac (or the only 20 feet I can presently see). Phone calls have been made to alert my escorts in Beijing of the delay and Mr. T has assured me if I don't depart before lunch

he'll be back.