4 Days in Northern Ireland: Day 2
Tuesday was when things started to get crazy. We slept in and had a late breakfast at the hotel. During breakfast we got a phone call from Philip's mom (Philip is the promoter of the show, in case you forgot) informing us that Chris and his band were stuck in Immigration at the Belfast airport and chances were pretty good that they would be denied entry into the country.
And the praying began.
Very quickly our day of sightseeing turned into a day of praying for divine intervention and entertaining ourselves at the hotel (click here to see what a whole day in a hotel will do to you!). Interestingly enough, Philip's company is named atiG Events - the atiG stands for "Always Trust in God". It was as if the Lord was testing to see if they really believed their namesake.
At 1pm it looked like the whole show was going to have to be canceled - Chris would not be able to get the appropriate paperwork filed in time to be allowed entry. They WERE able to secure a 12 hour visitor's pass to at least allow them to go to their hotel - but they had to leave all their passports at the immigration office and stood the chance of being arrested if they didn't return within 12 hours to get on a plane back to America - some pretty serious stuff.
By the end of the day on Tuesday - after many, MANY phone calls to various politicians and friends - the atiG team had at least been able to extend the visitor's pass long enough so that Chris would at least be able to stay in the country until Thursday morning. Now the challenge was to get the paperwork rushed through the UK bureaucratic system... in less than 24 hours.
LOL... that video was crazy. It made me glad I wasn't the maid for your room. BTW, did you guys stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Winnemucca last week. Because it would explain the racket coming from the room above until 4 in the morning. ;) LOL
It is funny how our faith is tested. I know all things work for good for those who love God, but it is so often difficult to see it when things like this happen sometimes.
Posted by: Melanie | August 31, 2007 at 10:58 AM
That video ain't right ya'll!
Posted by: Spence | August 25, 2007 at 10:26 AM
Any miracle of God involving paperwork and/or any government agency (of any nation) is a double or triple miracle, at least. :)
Posted by: Carla | August 22, 2007 at 09:36 AM
Yowsa! That's some serious red-tape. I love how God comes through at the last moment; it's almost like He dares us to trust Him in everything.
Btw, I'll be in Jenks, OK this Saturday. Can't wait to see you guys!
Posted by: Gabe G. | August 21, 2007 at 11:58 PM