Road to Indonesia: Flying Tomorrow, Monday

 

So we fly out tomorrow (Monday, July 12) at 5:00 a.m.  We were able to get pretty much everything done (China bank request,  a year’s worth of meds purchased,  tax records almost complete, rv usage verified, etc. etc.), and also even had enough time to go swimming with the fam, and visit dear, dear friends. ….not enough sleep though.  Our biggest prayer request as I lie here in the early morning is that the covid testing results work out.  The specific kind of test (PCR) needs to be done within 72 hours of departure, but sometimes it takes 72 hours to get the test back from the lab, which renders it useless.  We will wait today anxiously for the paperwork.  I also just received 2 notifications from mission groups in Indonesia that as of Monday (our departure date) they are restricting the labs that can be used to provide covid tests (742 Labs, and I do not even know what that means).  So besides prayers that we get the tests back, we also need prayers that it is from an acceptable lab that the airline gate agents will recognize.  As we also have feared, as of Monday travel from Jakarta into Papua is being restricted.  I am unclear how tight this control is and if it even will be in effect after our 8 day quarantine in Jakarta, but my interpretation is that we might get stuck for an indeterminate amount of time in Jakarta.  I also anticipate travel INTO Jakarta may soon be restricted. At least the government has finally made a clear statement that children under 12 can enter the country without being vaccinated if their parents are vaccinated.  In the first government statement, children absolutely must be vaccinated as well, which is impossible right now.  This is a relief for all these parents trying to get back to the field after summer break.  Sooo, please, please pray that all of this comes together. I know that God’s intentions will be completed. I have absolute faith that this will be the case….it would just be nice if there would be minimal hassle accompanying said completion, that we have not been promised.

Editing at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night. At noon when we called the Urgent Care with whom we were doing our PCR covid test, they said, "No, your results have not arrived." I asked them to call the lab and they readily agreed. Half an hour later she called to ask if we were close? The lab had just told them that the results would not be back until Tuesday. We fly out 5 a.m. Monday. I had emphasized how important it was that we had the results in hand because our flight could not be delayed. Two of the workers took it upon themselves to call other labs and found one who would do it today. They then had us come back and took 2 diferent PCR covid tests because they weren"t sure what the lab used....for free. Then they personally delivered the swabs to the lab. They waited for almost an hour after closing time to print out the results for us. This is way above duty. A big big shout out to Urgent Care in Duncan, SC and their really exceptional employees. Thank you. Always hassles, but always God.