He goes before me

The Pan American plane landed in Instabul. I was staying for the night and leave for Cyprus the next morning to hand over company takeover papers to my boss who was holidaying in Cyprus. To my dismay there was an Islamic conference and hotels were over fully booked. My reservation made in Singapore some time ago sent me to the hotel basement room with broken cistern. It was a nightmare going from the airport to the hotel as there was martial law, and stench from the broken cistern that night.

Next day I left the hotel early to catch the small plane from Istanbul to Cyprus. On boarding the flight the one soldier on the plane confiscated my passport. I remember he had a mouthful of gold teeth and walked up and down the central aisle of the 12 seater plane, laughing as he looked at my passport photograph. Next to me sat a British man who understood what was happening. It was the height of racism! Five minutes before descent into Cyprus airport, he stood up, confronted the soldier and requested for my confiscated passport. British were respected in that culture of the day and the soldier immediately surrendered my passport to him. I had been praying all the way for the return of my passport and the Lord spoke to the British neighbor who interceded on my behalf unasked. Needless to say my boss accompanied me to Istanbul airport before I left safely the next day for London.

As expatriates, we may travel the world and face many unforeseen, unexpected roadblocks. Thank God Jesus goes before us and the Holy Spirit paves the way safely for us, His children. He did it for me for over 20 years! All glory be to God.

Matthew 28:20 And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Amen.