The blessings and humility of coming home
- bgiles2016
- Jan 7, 2022
- 7 min read
My blog posts are about to get a little out of order haha. There are many events that occurred during the last month and half of my first semester which I plan to write about and reflect upon. However, the most pressing thing on my heart currently is my recent trip home. It was a whirlwind but the best type of blessing possible.
I’m sure the majority of the people who will read this are the same people I had the privilege of seeing while I was home. If I didn’t get to see you, just know the day is coming and I truly can’t wait. But I would like to start at the beginning of my trip home, for my sake more than yours (:
On Monday December 20th, I was sitting in my apartment after completing my 5th final exam, histology. With one exam remaining and almost no motivation, I tried to convince myself studying would be worth it. As I was contemplating my options and doing nothing productive, I received confirmation of news I hoped wouldn’t come. The Israeli ministry of health officially decided to classify the United States as a red country, the highest level of Covid risk. This had a few implications, but the biggest one was that Israeli citizens and residents on a visas wishing to leave Israel would need to apply to the MOH for special permission.
So what did this mean for me personally? Let me lay out the facts.
1. I had originally scheduled my flight to leave Israel at 12:45am on December 23rd
2. We had one exam remaining, on December 22nd, at 4:00pm.
3. Our school added the option to take our final exam via zoom.
4. The U.S. status would officially change to red at midnight between the 21st and 22nd resulting in restricted travel with a lot of uncertainty.
From here, things got a little chaotic. I will try to give you a summary and not get too caught up in the details. It was around 1:00pm (5 am in Kansas). Feeling a little panicked that I wouldn’t get to go home I called the airline to try and change my flight, but I couldn’t get through. I listened to the obnoxious “please hold” music while unsuccessfully trying to study. I texted my dad, who I knew would be awake, and before long he woke up my mom. My mom eventually got through to the airline where we learned that American Airlines was fully booked on all flights leaving Israel that would get me home in time to take my exam. It was around 4:30 pm by this point. We got a refund, found one of the few remaining seats on another airline (thanks mom <3) and booked a flight leaving 5:30am the next morning - scheduled to arrive around 10:30pm on Tuesday night, giving me about 8 hours to spare before my exam. I quickly packed, cleaned out the fridge, booked a COVID test, and was out the door. I bussed to the train station, trained to Tel Aviv, walked about 10 minutes in the rain to the next bus stop and bussed to the COVID testing site. A note of advice, always put big luggage under the bus. I was wet, stressed, and very unaware of this rule, but the driver didn’t care and made it clear he wasn’t happy with me. After the driver yelled at me in Hebrew for several minutes, another passenger translated that I should have put my suitcase under the bus (we were already moving at this point) and now I needed to go to the back of the bus because I wasn’t allowed to put my bag on the seat.
I made it to the COVID testing site without a problem, thanks to a heads up on the location from a dear friend. There was no waiting area, so my only option afterwards was to head to the airport. I was dragging my suitcase and my backpack to the next bus stop through the rain when a car pulled up, the window rolled down, and the driver asked me a question. I considered going through my fake “I know Hebrew” routine, but I dropped the act. When I told him I was heading to the airport, he told me to get in, and I did. You may think or even tell me that I’m crazy, but it just felt right. It turns out Omer works at the airport, his birthday was two days away, and he has three daughters. It was a huge blessing. I didn’t know where in the airport I was supposed to go, but he brought me to exactly the right entrance and terminal.
I got my COVID test results (negative!) and waited, alternating between studying and watching people’s luggage while they did various things. My Hebrew was good enough to understand they were asking me to watch their stuff for various lengths of time, but not enough to decipher what they were doing while I was watching it. Progress is progress (: It was my first time to go through the Tel Aviv airport security and it was quite an experience. To get my ticket, I had to make it through the first round of questioning. They asked me questions about what I was doing in Israel, where I lived, who I lived with, who I knew, and so on. To check my luggage, I had to answer most of the same questions again. Then I moved on to the security line. Security personnel wiped down every compartment, pocket, and strap of my carry-on items. From my understanding, they were checking for explosive residue. They didn’t find any of course. I was honestly concerned I wouldn’t make it to the departure gate at the rate they were going.
But I did, just in time to board! The rest of the journey was smooth sailing. I spent most of the time studying, a small portion attempting to sleep (mostly unsuccessfully), and the rest marveling at the reality of finally seeing my people. I don’t know if I can fully express the thrill of buying something in the airport or sitting next to a stranger on the plane and just being able to talk and answer normal questions because I could understand everything they said. I discussed which type of food would be most missed after living in another country with the guy sitting next to me on my last flight. Qdoba would have been the correct answer, but his choice of Chipotle wasn’t too far off.
I almost forgot to mention, some of my time on the plane was also spent eating! :)
My dearest friend Kat picked me up at the airport and greeted me with a much needed and long overdue hug. Even in my sleep deprived and jet-lagged state, I didn’t think I could hold even an ounce more of joy. But I had no choice but to find room when she presented me with a Qdoba meal full of pork and cheese! We talked, laughed, rejoiced, and I found time to stuff my face haha. Kat had arranged for me to stay at her brother & sister-in-law’s house, Kevin and Brooke Escobar, so I could have a quiet place to take my test the following morning. I slept, I studied, and I tested. It didn’t feel great, but it felt done. And I felt freedom. While Kat spent the day working, I had the joy of spending the day with Brooke G, eating burgers (+ketchup!!!!) & pizza & ice cream, buying exactly the right amount of books at Barnes and Noble, exploring random Christmas decorations, and coffee shop hopping just to see Kaedyn (and to experience Brooke’s favorite coffee shop haha). The day ended in Lawrence at Brooke and Janet’s house with a tired Betsy who couldn’t quite stay awake despite her best efforts. I feel asleep with a heart full of joy for the sweetest day and excitement to be homeward bound the next day.
Brooke insisted on taking some photos of me, imagine that (:
Even wilder than being able to freely converse with the strangers around me, is how incredibly blessed I am by the people God had put in my life. Believe it or not, I had somewhat planned my original arrival (with the help of friends haha). Leaving Israel two days earlier than planned was crazy and threw a giant wrench in the minimal planning I had done. I mentioned in a previous post that my word for this year of life is humility. God humbled me over and over again during this short and wonderful trip home. My mom helped me reschedule and pay for my new ticket home. Kat organized a place for me to stay and take my test before I even asked. Kevin and Brooke Escobar were more than generous and kind to host me on such a short notice and cater to my specific circumstance. Brooke Glasnapp didn’t hesitate to pick me up, drive me around all day, and open her home (multiple times during my stay in Kansas). Kaedyn made time to see me with her crazy and busy schedule. And this was just the beginning. It’s humbling to see how God uses my friends to bless me when I have so little to offer. I just showed up with my bag and myself. No vehicle, no abode, and really no gifts to speak of. But my friends simply loved me unconditionally. He is so good. And my friends and family are so incredibly special <3. Each day in Kansas was truly the best day because of the love and joy of being surrounded by my people.
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generation, for ever and ever! Amen.
Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
A funny, but perhaps slightly obnoxious video if you listen to my commentary haha.
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