2008.01.19-When paths cross around the world

In August 2000, we were on our first visit to Mongolia. About the 7th day of our 10-day visit I (Jim) became very sick. I could barely get out of bed except to run to the toilet. While Liz, Bolooro, Bob, Craig and Bob went out praying and meeting people in Ulaanbaatar, I stayed behind in our motel room eating Pepto Bismal.

About 1100, someone banged on the door. When I answered it, a large, well-dress Mongolian man spoke to me (in Mongolian) and gestured that I was to follow him. I descended to the lobby where 10 Police officers were confronting the hotel owner. We had befriended the receptionists and they knew some English. They explained that the hotel was been shut down by the health department and I must immediately get our luggage out of the hotel because the doors would be locked. No one could re-enter the hotel. In my sick condition, I was not able to carry all the luggage so the receptionists helped me and deposited everything on the driveway.

After the exertion, I needed another trip to the toilet but I could not get in the hotel. So I went next door to the English Embassy and they let me use their toilet and call a missionary. He drove over, picked up our luggage, and left a friend to explain to the rest of the team what had happened and where I was.

He took me to the apartment of Bob & Claire Knapp, the parents of some US missionaries. The Knapps were in Mongolia for 4 months visiting their kids and 8 grandchildren! For the next 3 days, the Knapps took care of me and housed us until we returned to the US. They were very gracious.

Well, the Knapps live in Littleton, CO. I was in Littleton on 18-20Jan so I called them and wondered if they would remember me, 7 years later. When I entered their house, Claire said,"Your color looks so much better than the last time we saw you!" It was a wonderful visit and it reminded me of heaven where we will be reunited with all those who have blessed us.

2008.01.18-Murphy's law & Job interviews!

Murphy's law says, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong at the most inconvenient moment." So we make contingencies. We leave 1.5 hours early for the airport when we know we can get there in 1 hour. However, a terrible accident occurs just ahead of us and we can't get off the freeway for an hour. Therefore, we are only 30 minutes early for the flight for Jim's JCS job interview in Denver. The ticket agent says, "You're too late for this flight. Here's a boarding pass for the next flight (1.5 hours later) but that flight is overbooked!" After going thru a very SLOW security check, I walk to the boarding gate for the later flight. Coincidentally (or "Godcidentally?") it is the same gate as my original flight and people are boarding now for my original flight! I approach the boarding pass taker (BPT) and say,"I had a ticket for this flight but I was delayed by an accident. Can I get on this flight?" The BPT says,"No. If you have not checked in 45 minutes before the flight, we give your seat to a stand-by passenger." I say a quick prayer and wait like a dog hoping for crumbs to fall off the table. Three other "late" passengers check in with the BPT and are all told that they are too late and will have to wait for the next flight. They leave. I stay. Before they close the gangway doors, the BPT calls over the public address for one passenger who has checked in but has not boarded yet. He waits 2 minutes. Then he calls for the first stand-by passenger. She has left disgusted at the "poor customer service." Then he calls my name. I leap forward, give him my ticket and he tells me I can board! It's the last seat. Another example of our God doing the impossible. God trumps Murphy.