I usually do all the travel booking for the boss, which in itself can be a bit stressful as I take into consideration all the unique needs of the trip I'll be working on (especially if it's to a place I've never booked to before) and I want to make the wisest choices possible for his sake, for the team's sake if there's one traveling with him, and for those whom he'll be with upon arrival. My trauma then: India, May 2011. This trip has been on the b's agenda since last year, and while it was a country that I hadn't worked with before, I wasn't worried. In these cases it just means that I begin my searches earlier to get familiar with what is a good price for airfare, hotel, and whatever else is needed in the case. And typically, the hotel searches are what give me the most trouble since all you have to go by are endless reviews (and everyone's feedback can differ so much!), because for the airfare, I don't do too much searching on miscellaneous airlines as he prefers to keep his miles on one account, limiting my search to within that company and its partners.
The trip was coming together nicely, the team was falling into place, the local contacts were being made, the schedule was getting solidified, the visa applications were sent to the team members in need of it....and then came the day: I got the finished agenda from our missions pastor so I could book for the boss, and also requested me to book for the rest of the team - why not right, easier to just have one person booking for the whole team. Notice THIS is when I entered the picture, not until the trip was supposedly a done deal, easy enough right!! I wasn't worried at all, even with its inner country bookings I had to do, it just meant adding a tad bit more time to the research department. I received the agenda early enough that I felt I had time to research, which I casually did as time permitted. Buuuuuut as I dug deeper, aaaand deeper, aaaaaaand deeper, it was NOT looking pretty and was NOT looking very easy anymore. The flight schedules were not matching up with the agenda, the routes available for other legs had terrible itineraries, the prices were ridiculous...cue beginning of nightmare! I would go back to our mission pastor with my unsuccessful findings; he would rework the schedule after contacting all the locals; give it back to me; more nightmares; go back to him; he'd go back to the locals; give it back to me; repeat, repeat, repeat....for countless times. Anytime I felt we had a breakthrough, the website would crash, or the price would double before I could hit purchase, or the CC would get rejected, or...you name it, it happened. For two weeks straight this was part of our daily story among our other work responsibilities (I say "our" because poor Jay was just as involved in the dark hole of despair). Hours upon hours would go by, until I'd hit my breaking point and have to leave it for the day. The next day I'd give it another shot. By last night, I thought I saw the finish line, we'd hit a breakthrough, the schedules were matching up, the prices had dropped, things were finally rolling! Halfway through the bookings (int'l and nt'l flights, all case by case basis), I hit another block and no matter how hard I tried to finish, it wasn't happening. The nausea hit again and I had to walk away for the day. Came in today, but not like the other days, I was armed with all sorts of battle faces and chants determined it would be OVER today, and it was, just now, not without some more major battles though (Timoteo, which happened to be on google chat, rescued me on one of these battles! It was a big one and his help made me cry with relief! Not kidding here). So, it's done, it's over, crossed the line, it's finished. But, WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH BOOKING INTO INDIA!? Wow. No sé. But I kindly ask that if you see me in the next few days, do not mention this dear country, it'll be a sore spot for me for some time. :)
Sometimes we wonder whether such hard work is worth it, whether it pays off in the end...IT DOES! When our motives are correct, and stay correct throughout the process, it pays off big time. Now, I don't know what God has in store for this team in India, but what I received in being pushed past my limit was a great boost in my character and integrity! We don't HAVE to crack under pressure, God is still God no matter what our circumstances are, and leaning on Him makes anything He brings our way possible! Making it through is payment enough for me...oh, I'll take a great latté too though Jay!!! :) :)
Night friends, see you next week!
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