Belarus Mission Day 02

Belarus Mission

Day 2

By Peter Ruck

At my own expense I stayed at a nearby hotel. My frustration grew, as I had no luggage and the airport staff had to trace it for me.

They promised to locate my case and book it on my flight for 1.30pm on Saturday. I was at the airport at 9.00am back at the Customer Service desk enquiring if they had located my case.  They were 99% sure it had been located and it was being put onto the baggage line. The chaos continued after I found my Departure Gate. I was waiting there at 9.30am for a 1.30pm flight, determined I was not going to miss another flight. Suddenly, the departure screen showed my flight had changed to 9.40pm! I could not believe it, so I got up and marched back to Customer Service.

I was told I had misread the information and was assured my flight was still going at 1.30pm. So I sat and watched the screen praying to God for help, He told me that “He was a God of second chances”. I boarded the plane at 1.30pm. It was quite small, even I had to duck as I walked towards my seat; all I needed now was my case. I waited and waited and no case arrived. I was trying to communicate with the Russian baggage handlers about my predicament – which was not easy. I spoke with a security customs officer who found Yauheni, who helped me. I was told not to worry as my baggage would be with me by tomorrow, but it did not arrive by the end of the next day, despite Yauheni’s efforts, who kept chasing it for the rest of Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I wasn’t so concerned about clothes but for the essential material I had brought with me for meetings.