Kindness pays rewards…

Every year I travel to Africa there is some glitch. International travel is filled with glitches and travel to developing countries increases the likelihood of them. The glitch began in the US. Two days before leaving my Blackberry phone started having problems; still under warentee they ordered a new one. But when the store set up my new phone, they forgot to transfer the SIM card from my old one. So it worked great in the US, but not at all internationally. I discovered this in my layover in London, but there was nothing I could do about it.

The first line at the Abuja airport was Immigration, the line was pretty short (being in the front of the plane helped). I chatted with a female Dr in front of me casually as we waited. She is an international who lived all her adult life in Nigeria (Kaduna State) with her Nigerian Dr husband. She was returning from holiday to see here daughter graduate. Our chat was friendly and brief, the line moved quickly.

After collecting my bags and passing through customs I entered the Abuja lobby…no sign with my name, or JETS or … I knew JETS knew when I was arriving, but there had not been any confirming emails to let me know who would come to pick me up. I could feel anxiety rising within me. No phone to contact anyone, no driver to meet me. I was feeling isolated and I didn't have many options… I prayed (always an option no matter the problem). I prayed some more and wandered the lobby checking out all the drivers. All I could do is sit and wait… so I sat, prayed and thought. 20 min, 30 min…  time ticked by.

What are my options? I wondered if I could ask someone to use their phone??? I retrieved every conceivable phone numbers that might be helpful… Prayed some more. Then it happened… a casual glance made eye-contact with the Dr from the immigration line. She too was seated and waiting half way across the room. She made the first move, mouthing the words, "no driver?"

I mouthed back "No."

"Did you call?" she asked.

"No phone," I responded offering her phone and coming over to sit next to me.

I called Ebere, the friend from JETS who make the arrangements; he didn't answer. But before I could decide on another person to call, Ebere called back. Danjuma (my driver from previous years was in Abuja to drive me) Ebere would call him.

In an instant mu anxiety lifted. I knew they knew I was arriving today. Danjuma is very reliable, maybe he over-slept? Maybe the car had trouble (not a surprise in Nigeria),it didn't really matter they knew I was at the airport and they would come.

Relieved, I visited with my Dr friend. She is an 11-year widow with 3 grown children. Her oldest daughter a Dr in England. Her son a Computer Engineer in England and her youngest daughter just graduated med school and will likely practice in England. My Dr friend carries a sense of loneliness... Rumanian by birth and citizenship she doesn't know where she fits. "Home is where family is," she mentioned. But she has no family in Nigeria anymore?  Rumania is so cold, after living in a hot climate like Nigeria or 30+ years, and England where her children live… is foreign to her. Eventually she will likely move to England, but her children are scattered, so where?. Maybe in a couple of years she will figure it out and retire???

Looking back on this episode, it occurred to me that kindness pays rewards. A simple friendly conversation on a line leads, by God's grace and as an answer to prayer, to a phone in my hour of need!

Shortly after the above conversation Danjuma walked in. Oh what a smiling familiar face means in a time of mild stress. I shook hands with the Dr, we exchanged first names and we were off. Like the nameless woman who anointed Jesus' feet in the gospels, this woman whose name I couldn't pronounce extended an act of kindness to me. I wish I had her contact information, without it I doubt we will ever meet or speak again. To me she will be remembered as an angel of mercy in a time of need. Lord Jesus would you please bless her please right now, give her a peace and assurance that she has a home, a place of belonging with you and with her children. And, Lord, if you allow let our paths cross again.