What Was Lost
Have you ever lost time? Of course you have. We all have.
But this week in particular, I have lost a significant amount of time. I lost eight hours to be exact. The time difference between Gilbert Arizona and Oxford England. We flew here Tuesday, and somewhere between there and here, eight hours just dropped out of my life.
Funny thing isn't it? Just gone. "You'll get it back when we return to Gilbert," Stan mumbles. Yes, I know that, but for the present, it is gone - never to come back if I were not to return to Gilbert. And I am still left with the unsettling idea that it is gone.
Dave called last Thursday to tell us that we had been cleared to return to England. We were so happy we hardly knew what to do first. We later spoke with someone in the missionary travel department who made arrangements for us to fly to London.
We had four days to say our goodbyes and to pack up the apartment. You might think "Piece of cake," but we had acquired a lot of stuff in the nearly six months we lived there! Why don't I learn? Simplify.... Simplify.
Even then, it wasn't so very difficult. Derek T. said right away, "Your main focus should be packing and readying yourself to leave. We'll take care of the apartment." Hearing that did take the pressure off. But it put pressure on our daughters to empty the furnishings - food, dishes, pots and pans, cleaning supplies, linens, decorative items, a table and chairs and a large recliner and companion easy chair.
Tying up loose ends with things took on an intensity....trying to get more prescriptions and having the car serviced etc. And of course saying goodbye to dear ones was difficult. But a year goes by fast and I know it will seem like a blink of an eye before we will be back in Gilbert, squinting our eyes against the bright sunlight and seeking shade or an air-conditioned space.
One of the sweetest experiences for me was sitting in a deserted area of the airport eating tacos with SK and our "farewell" committee, consisting of Derek, Erin and Melissa, our three oldest. We had rushed to be at the airport 3 hours ahead of when we would fly. SK was tense - as he always is if there is a deadline, but once at the airport, he agreed to unwind with our children for an hour before going through security. We munched on tacos, laughed and chatted. It was a blessing...a gift....a little island of time that I would like to have in a bottle.
I wish I had thought to take pictures while we sat together for that little island of time, but I did get elevator shots!We went through security...I beeped as always. I must have something in my left leg that is like metal. But after wanding me they waved me through. We waited quietly until time to board the plane for Los Angeles. 54 minutes. We got off the plane and wandered through deserted corridors and quiet hallways, aghast that LAX was so very devoid of people. We wandered past closed shops, empty spaces and shuttered services areas. Eventually we began looking for a place to have something to eat. In the entire international wing, the only place open was Panda Express. A weary and wary crowd of about 50 sat scattered throughout the large dining area.
After four hours, we got on the British Airways plane for London Heathrow. We were pleasantly surprised to find that we were on Premium Economy (isn't that a contradiction?) which was curtained off in the middle section containing perhaps 50 to 70 seats. They were larger and had more leg room than coach, and there were only about a dozen of us in that area. We settled in for the long haul.
That's when I became aware that I was losing time.
When we arrived at Heathrow, a large muscular man from Romania met us with a sign, "Stan and Janis Madsen." He lightly tossed our 50-pound suitcases into the back of a mercedes van, opened the door and gestured us into the back of 3 rows of seats, where we sat comfortably for the hour and ten minute ride to Oxford. His seat was separated from us by heavy plastic. He was very careful, staying his distance, wearing a mask, sanitizing his hands.
He deposited us and our luggage in the lobby of our apartment building where we sat down on the steps to await the sister missionaries, who would bring us keys. After a half hour, we began to wonder if they had forgotten. At that point our phones weren't working for calls or messaging....and we couldn't go anywhere...we had six big suitcases! - and we were supposed to be in isolation. We bowed our heads in prayer, and then I had the idea to call the sisters (I knew the Oxford Sisters number was still in my contacts.) I called - and miraculously - the call went through! They were about 15 minutes from their apartment and said they would stop at their flat and bring the keys by as soon as possible. It was another half hour by the time we opened the door and entered our little apartment.
We had slept very little on the plane, and were both beyond exhausted. I was by that time, so tired, but keyed up as well, and unpacked before dropping into bed around midnight (4:00 p.m. in Gilbert) We had spent a couple of hours trying once again to make phone calls, or Facetime, or send messages to family that we had arrived - to no avail.
Around 8:00 a man arrived from a local grocery store with a large order of wonderful food, milk, bread, fresh veggies and fruit, cheese and chocolate. Sister Hartvigsen had ordered it to be delivered to us. I wish I were as thoughtful as she is.
The next morning, we knelt again and asked for the Lord's help with phones and internet, since getting our visas extended was the first order of business. The deadline of October 2nd, is coming fast. Another miracle happened, when once again our phones began to work. (as of today we are still waiting for the mail to deliver SIM cards from the mission) SK immediately called the internet carrier, who informed him it would be 10 to 14 days before they could connect us.
We were pondering what we could do (since we are in a strict lockdown - with a 2000 fine in pounds for violating the isolating policy, and are absolutely not to step outside of our flat), when we checked on our phones for something. They were connected to the internet! Our ipads and our laptops found the same internet connection. The account was ours starting a year ago...the one SK cancelled when we left England in March, the one that sent us the notice that our contract with them was officially void.
Giving thanks to Heavenly Father, we immediately began the process of applying for an extension. We keep hitting roadblocks, but Sister Hartvigsen, an angel in the mission office has been an enormous help, and Sister Abbot, the Temporal Affairs Specialist for UK have both been immediately available to help us. We are still not done, and will begin again in the morning. We need to have a valid phone number on the form, and once sent the information appears to be permanent. We are praying for another miracle. The SIM cards were sent last week and should have been in our mail on Monday at the latest...they are now MIA. We are praying that they show up through our door's mail slot. Once the telephone situation is resolved, we can press the button to send. Then it will be a waiting game - to see if they will grant the extension. And that could take up to 8 weeks. (We are allowed to stay until a decision is made.)
Our hearts are full of gratitude for the many tender mercies which have made it possible for us to return and not only return, but return in comfort. We will rely on the Lord to help us through this process of visa extensions.
In the meantime, I will be left wondering what happened to those eight hours, and what happened to Wednesday? And Thursday. Today, oddly enough is Friday. I think I have just lost three days!
Today SK commented, "Doesn't it seem like we never left?"
Yes it does. Time is a mystery.
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