You know at this point I can't help but notice a theme; call me crazy, but it seems as though the Lord delights in giving me tasks that are just 'out there.'
About a month leading up to my trip we began an extensive email round robin of acquiring documents with our office in the States, getting reports from teammates, coordinating with contacts here for whatever crazy requirements the country was going to decide it wanted. The hope had been that I would meet up with the individual that helped us last year.
Well, less than a week before leaving we are told he will be out of town. Of course ;)
And our other contact will not be available either. So I begin hunting for different people, and everyone I was put into contact with was going to be out of town. I swear it was a conspiracy!
A few days before leaving I am promised the world by several people. I figured if I had 4 different people do that, maybe- just maybe 1 would pull through. One of the people that was going to be out of town put me in contact with a lawyer he had worked with before. I was trying not to get my hopes up too much....
I arrived on Wednesday (on a UN helicopter, free RT- gotta love my UN buddies!). It was all up in the air once I got to the city. Would anything work out?? The odds were not with me. Oh- let's add something else to the mix - right before leaving I was informed that MAF (who is my bank, emergency evacuation, postal address and general transport) had suspended all activity in country. So all of the money I had transferred to do the registration - I am not able to get it.
Upon arrival I called a friend of a friend at the UN because he was going to take me to the lawyer's office (at this point I didn't know if the lawyer would even agree to work with me). Miracle: the contact answered his phone and was actually able to come and get me! AND the lawyer answered his phone! He was actually in his office, and yes he would meet with me!!! Let's just say that the relief was great- honestly if this hadn't worked out I don't know what I would've done.
I rode on a motorcycle with my 3 bags to the lawyer's office. I came fully prepared with any and every document you can imagine stamped and signed. He says nonchalantly that he can take care of everything. I ask him for a time frame: 2 days tops he says.
Pah! Yeah right! It takes 2 days to even make a phone call here sometimes! And, not to mention last year it took 10 days....
After changing money to pay him I end up waiting a few hours for him to be available again, and in that time I became BFF with his entire staff: Mery, Freidah, Cliff, Reech, and Simeon. The power of a few Arabic phrases really is amazing ;)
During this time I was informed from the locals that they have heard of how dangerous Texas is. Hmm interesting - they have been through 50 years of civil war and they think Texas is dangerous ;) God Bless old movies.
After about 4 hours there I was escorted in the lawyer's luxury SUV (in this country?? what??!) to the compound where I was staying. In the next post I will tell you how it went....
