Miracles Do Happen!

Our boxes have arrived!! It is like Christmas in October. Let me tell you about our Christmas miracle.

I had heard several horror stories about customs and bringing things into the country. Some missionaries had worked days trying to get their things through. Others had to pay outrageous taxes to get their stuff. So I was just waiting for the day when I too, along with so many others would have my horror story to tell.

I did have a little hassle getting certain documents that I needed but all in all it would work for the best. My friend Carlos agreed to go with me and together we were going to figure this process out, this was new for him too. Well, we finally found the office where we needed to start and things seemed already like a horror story developing. My list of contents for the boxes were in english they wanted a list in spanish. So together we stood there all trying to translate this list as another guy typed on an old typewriter the new list in spanish. Well another gentleman in the office came to our rescue. After discovering that I was a missionary he mentioned that he too was a Christian and from that point on, he took our job by the horns. When we finished the list he told us exactly what documents I needed to have and he was going to get us through!!! Sure enough he did!!

He marched us to the Customs Administrator. He told us to wait while he went in and discussed our situation. My boxes had been sitting in the warehouse for about 5 days there is a fee of 25 to 50 dollars a day that the boxes sit there. I was expecting to pay at least a hundred dollars just in fees. Finally he came out of the office, ok follow me he said. In no time he had me in the warehouse with my boxes sitting in front of me. I couldn´t believe this!! This guy was amazing!

The next big hurdle was to have the agent´s ok to take the boxes. I don´t know her name but she sat glaring behind a desk with a book called the Laws of Customs in her hand. We began in a rather pleaful, begging way to explain that we were missionaries, these were our boxes of personal effects and oh yes, we had a little boy about four months old. At first I wasn´t sure if things were working. She was one hard cookie. We had to open some of our boxes show proof that this was just personal things. I just kinda watched as this guy took up my cause. Finally he got her to the point where she signed the papers and had stamped all the papers but one. Before she stamped the last paper she got side tracked with someone else. While she talked the guy picked up her stamp and stamped the last paper and we were through!! Hahaha I just had to laugh. This guy was good!!

Next I had to pay to get my belongings. My total came to about 40 dollars!!! 40 measly bucks! Hallelujah!! I couldn´t believe it! 40 bucks to get 52 boxes into the country. In a matter of about 4 and a half hours we had gone through the entire process and had the boxes sitting in front of our door!! God is so good!! With paying the customs, paying the guy who got me through, the truck to bring our stuff, and Carlos for all his help our total cost was only like $200. What an answer to prayer!! No horrors stories this time!! Miracles do happen.