If you're going to San Francisco.......

-I no longer fear death because I have been to Kamp Krusty-
Lisa Simpson
In the same way, I think I know what that sentiment feels like as we are still in Travel Purgatory. While I don't think there is a spiritual purgatory, I know that there is a Travel Purgatory or TP. In TP you hurry up to wait in line so that you can get a number to get your place in another line. In TP, you are given hope time and time again before it is quickly taken away. In other words, Keri and I are having the time of our lives. In case you would like to hear the highlights and lowlights of our travel day/week/eternity here are the highlights and lowlights.

Monday
6AM (Eastern) Begin calling travel agencies, Congressional offices, Denominational Agencies, Passport Centers in the hopes of expediting Keri's passport process
9AM Rep. Vern Ehlers' office gets us in the door at the Chicago Passport Office. We begin to wonder if we should drive to Chicago now and hook up with our flight schedule in Grand Rapids (we were flying GR-Chicago-San Fran-Taipei-Jakarta beginning at 4PM departure with a 8:30 flight to Chi.)
10AM we are told by our travel agent that we cannot cancel the GR-CHI flight, or we don't go at all. Looks like Keri will not get her passport.
10:30AM we make a mad dash to airport for pity from American Airlines. Keri starts the waterworks. Finds a sympathetic ticket agent for American Eagle Airlines who bumps us up to the 11:20AM flight. However, we do not have our luggage along. I make mad dash to home, get bags, break several traffic laws, get to the counter 120 seconds before we are supposed to board. Ticket agent ends up parking our car for us as we dash for the security point. Get on plane. Breathe and start hoping for the best at the Chicago Passport Office. (Running and pregnancy don't mix, especially when you're not in shape.)
12:00PM (central time) get to Chicago, hop on CTA blue line for Downtown
1PM Arrive at Fed building enter into a long line in a hot hallway.
2PM Finally get to counter, they have not been faxed Keri's information from the main Passport office like we were told by the Congressional office they were supposed to. We are told to sit while they try to find her info
3PM they have now found the info. They actually told Keri that it takes a day for their faxes to come in; what is this, 1934, how can it take a day for a fax to come through? Ladies and Gentlemen, your United States State Department (its no wonder our State Department cannot solve any worldwide situation diplomatically, they are incapable of doing anything in a timely manner). Anyway, we take a number and wait for the next available agent.
4PM our number is called. Keri has been approved for a Passport. Now we have to wait in another room for her passport to be printed so we can head out for our 8PM flight out of Chicago. Should only take a couple minutes.
5:30PM after 90 minutes, against all odds and common sense, we get Keri's passport. God is good; our prayers are answered. That office probably printed over 500 passports that day for weary, stressed travelers; Keri's was the sixth from the end. Excited, we catch the train for O'Hare.
6:30PM get to O'Hare, check in, and eat at Airport McDonalds. First meal for my pregnant wife in 12+ hours. McD's never tasted so good. Things are looking bright
8PM we get on plane for San Fran. Exhausted, we both sleep and I begin to dream of Asian Mangos.
11PM (Pacific time) arrive in SF. After running around the airport for an hour, we finally find a way to the international terminal. Sit at gate for our 1AM flight.
1Am "we are delaying the flight 10 minutes, don't worry, we should be boarding shortly"
1:15Am "we are delaying the flight 10 minutes, don't worry, we should be boarding shortly"
1:30Am "we are delaying the flight 10 minutes, don't worry, we should be boarding shortly"
1:45Am "we are delaying the flight 20 hours due to an engine part we need to fly in from Taiwan. Sorry." Stampede to ticket counter for Hotels, information, flights, etc.
3AM go on shuttle to El Rancho Inn in SF.
4AM get room, call the Back to God Hour and Finally fall asleep 25 some hours after we started

Tuesday
10AM wake, shower (so very needed) go for lunch at local diner on EVA airlines. Wait for our new 10PM flight. Sort of enjoy my first time to California. We buy underwear and a t-shirt at local store. Decide to burn the pairs we had been wearing.
2PM told our new flight has been further delayed until 10AM the 23rd. Try to reschedule. After holding on the line for 40 minutes we get new flight from China Airlines leaving 1AM to Taipei then 8AM Taipei to Jakarta arriving at 1PM the 24th.

Well, that is where we are now. We thank you for your love and prayers for our travels. We so deeply appreciate the way our home churches and friends and family have supported us during this very stressful time. However, we are just so happy that Keri has her health and her passport, and we are assured that someday this week we will get to Indonesia. Though it may be hard to believe, we have had so many moments of divine intervention this week that we know that we are in God's hands.

If you have any questions or comments please leave them on the blog
Love,
Jonathan and Keri