This was probably the most interesting arrival I had yet on any of my trips. As usual, I had gathered some supplies for the church, such as four microphones, and gathered some author copies of my books for the pastor’s conference. I also made sure I had all receipts and declared all items on my entry forms. Upon arrival, my list was reviewed twice, and no one felt it would be a problem until ….
My bag with clothes for the local children, 4 microphones, 26 books, 2 Bibles, and a systematic theology in Spanish for a pastor. As a result, I was flagged in customs for an inspection and prepared all my receipts. Upon opening the suitcase, I saw a sign that no two-way radios would be permitted in the country, and I thought that was the issue with the mics. However, much to my chagrin, the agent said I had too many books. So I asked, well, how many are legal, and I would only bring in the permitted amount. I was informed that none would be allowed. I pointed out that they were for a friend (which they were), but I was asked why I even needed to bring any books into their country, so I responded, don’t you want your people to be good citizens and obey the laws? I just want to help them lead such lives. And he was obstinate, no books. The microphones were ok, but no books. He forbade the entire suitcase, and nothing from my bag would be permitted.
I was able to appeal for the extra clothes I brought by saying in Spanish, “mi ropa, mi ropa. “ He then piled my clothes on my other bag, and I was not even permitted a garbage bag to carry the stuff in. The issue was not what I brought, just the content. I had done my research, and the US State Department had warned that all laws are arbitrary, left up to the person in charge, and I could be asked to leave and would need to comply. So, at that point, I did not want to risk expulsion, so I calmly complied and was informed I could get my stuff on the way out of the country. But God had other plans.
As I left the customs area, I immediately put out an SOS prayer request to others I knew for intercession. Upon exiting, I ran into another guy from our group. All his stuff was taken as well. But he found out they were supposedly afraid that he was there to sell his stuff and not actually give it away. Now my denial form was flagged and marked off as a different type of contraband than his. But we went into the main office together to appeal our issue at the same time. So they read his receipt, he agreed not to sell his stuff, and then something remarkable happened. They stamped my receipt at the same time without even looking at it. We BOTH got approved. We then found a third person who met us in the hallway, who bypassed the appeals process and just went directly with us to the warehouse at the edge of the airport.
Next began a 3-hour process of once again having everything searched a second time, and an “agreement” on a tax that needed to be paid in local amounts to get our bags. In order to increase the intimidation, we were not allowed to have our own interpreters for the process. I got through first, at only $71, same with another. But our third person for a bag of Sandler for children was assessed at $286.00. But God nonetheless moved on our behalf. We were at the end of the day able to retrieve all our stuff.
We still had a three-hour drive ahead of us to our destination. I was not prepared for how mentally taxing such an ordeal could be, and I admit I fell asleep as soon as I entered the van service we had hired. The driver was in good spirits and understood our plight. I apologized to him, realizing he would not get home very late to see his own family due to our ordeal. But we made sure to buy him dinner and tipped him well for his time.
All Things Kingdom Related 