- Reflections on the DPS-CGK flight (from Denpasar-Bali to Jakarta), Pelita Air IP103, 29 Oct 2024
Don’t take it for granted. This means, don’t underestimate or take something for granted, because it could be lost or changed someday.
Heading to an international event in Zambia, IC24 (International Council 2024), many participants from many countries had to apply/take care of visas to enter this country in South (or South-Central) Africa. As far as I know, Agung applied for it a long time ago, among the first to submit. There was no reply for a long time, and when there was a reply (via email), the answer was: rejected.
Several people on various occasions expressed their surprise. When I met in-person with an African friend and I told him about the situation, he was shocked: huh, our/African country refused you visas?? Strange.
After that, it was my turn to apply for a visa. I attached a document that I thought was more convincing: a round trip ticket (in this case I might be a risk taker, if I cancel the trip, the ticket will be canceled with financial losses). It didn’t take as long as Agung, I immediately got an answer: reverted (returned with a note: one additional document from Nav Zambia is needed). I immediately re-submitted after the document was available.
I started 😁 asking for prayers from my friends… my IC24 group friends (each prospective participant is divided into groups, who meet online every month as preparation), local community friends, etc.
Apparently after that, Zambian Immigration seemed to be surprised, why were there so many similar/the same applications from various countries –Jordan, Nigeria (West Africa), etc. So they took special steps. They invited our representatives in Zambia to their office to explain/interview. We prayed together for the meeting plan, especially for us who applied for the visa. 😊 After the meeting, our Zambian friends said: done… There shouldn’t be any more problems, just wait. Wait for the other applications to be complete.
Then Agung submitted again, Rudi also submitted. Alhamdulillah, not long after that I got an email: approved/granted. Then Agung and Rudi just got it a few days ago. My group friend from Nigeria also got it.
He said:
[10/24, 20:59] Michael: I got my visa approved today. Thank you for praying yesterday. We should not take these things for granted. I could have been denied. God did answer. Now I can also say I look forward to meeting you next month
Even though he is from just another African country, he still needs a visa, and needs to pray to get it.
When I conveyed my visa approval info to Stephanie (assistant committee chair) -whom I do not/have not known personally-, she answered with a dance sticker. It seemed that she was also relieved from the tension.
Yes, this journey that should have/we expected to be simple became long and a bit winding. We thought it would be easy and approved soon, but apparently not.
In His sovereignty, all is good… and becomes an exercise for us who are relatively mature/”old”. If not, we would not have prayed the way we did yesterday!
Never take it for granted. 😁
What are the (little) things in life, that you also accept without any special feelings? Ah, that is how it should be…
Don’t wait for a special situation to be grateful for those (little) things… Enjoy His love….
1 Corinthians 4:7 (GNB) Didn’t God give you everything you have? Well, then, how can you boast, as if what you have were not a gift?
Psalm 34:9 Taste and see that the LORD is good!