Why would a country so poor as Honduras put a a restriction on baggage when that's how most of the countless mission teams get their stuff into the country? Ok, it is Holy Week then, and maybe they are concerned about the poor Customs workers having to sift through more plastic footlockers from the States. Still, it doesn't make enough sense to me.
So, here sits me with a den full of medication that is desperately needed by our AHMEN/CHIMES medical team for our work in Gracias a Dios, let alone the Garifuna Hospital in Ciriboya that has been all but out of medicines since January, and Honduras says each person may only bring two articles of baggage into the country.
Persistence appears to have paid off this time. I wish I had a nickel for every time I've run my blood pressure up trying to reason with customer support service representatives around the world. First you are tenderized with meaningful public service announcements (advertising), then extended periods of listening to what somebody in the world considers "good" music.... and still you are on hold. Why do they lie to you and tell you how long you will be on hold? Then, after you have begun to worry if the battery in your phone will out-live the Muzak, you realize the line is dead! This, is the real test! If you still have an un-traumatized phone, and you call back, and weave through the maze of mini-holds, you get to speak to a "person". Is this "Peggy"? The smell of Philippine fish sauce permeates the room as she finally gives up and sends you to the Supervisor. Thus it continues, and you hear that there is nothing that can be done; no more than two bags. It is written.
But, I discovered a saint among the heathens! The Mother Teresa of the Continental Airlines headset laborers. She actually sent me to the baggage manager in Birmingham. A sincere fellow, he understood our plight and gave me the "real" number for the Corporate Offices of Continental. And, beyond belief, a receptionist actually sent me to the head man of the Baggage Department for the entire airline. And lil' old me spoke to Mr. Garry Meckel. He told me that there was nothing he could do about the Embargo, but, if the total number of bags for the entire group did not exceed two per team member, he would allow me to load them all in Birmingham. This, it seems, because all of us being on the same flight from Houston to San Pedro Sula, would not violate the Embargo, regardless where we started from.
He spent a day lining up the details, but it appears that our situation is secure. I've asked everyone to have only one piece of checked baggage. Their other allotted piece for each passenger will be loaded in Birmingham. We should be able to get all our medications to Honduras.
Moral:
1. Persistance
2. Train your voice to have enough tremor in it that it might be mistaken for sobbing.
3. Look into your inner self for the value of Barry Manilow and Kenny G. music.
4. Be assured the somebody out there REALLY cares about what we are doing. All you have to do is find him.
