And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

 [Read below for an adventure that happened to me when coming back to Ukraine from Christmas break--I meant to publish it earlier. Oops :/ ]

Just another day of travel...
I was blessed this Christmas break to be able to travel home and be with my family for two weeks. My flight took me through Paris; Charles De Gaulle (CDG), an airport known for its bad habit of losing passengers' luggage. My trip home went fine...it was on the trip back to Kiev that I had a little adventure. I had checked my one bag in Boise and was told that it was only checked through to Paris, not Kiev, so I would have to pick it up and recheck it there. This usually only happens when going west, not east...but wasn't a big problem, or so I thought. The 11 hour flight went smoothly and was able to sleep most of the way.

All international flights flying into Paris had to go through passport control. One look at the swarm of people and I could have sworn the whole world was there. The lines, although moving swiftly, took forever to get through. When I finally made it out, I had 15 minutes to locate my bag, recheck it, and board my plane on time. I waited and watched for my familiar overstuffed, maroon colored luggage. And waited. No sign of it. After 15 minutes, I went in search of someone who could help me. I found a man and told him what had happened. He directed me to the baggage service area, which was another 10 minute wait (there's a lot of that in airports). The lady was nice; I described my luggage to her and she made a call to the right people. They couldn't find my luggage. She then filled out a form with all my information telling me that they would mail the luggage to me once it is found. Great! I thought. Now what about my flight? I checked for my bag once last time and headed off in the direction of the gates.

I'm not sure where it was that I ended up, nor do I remember how I got there, but in the center was a giant flight information display; every flight coming in and going out of the entire airport was listed on this screen. Except for mine. Judging by the time, my flight had left 15 minutes before. So off I went again in search of help. I found an airline office and showed the lady my ticket. She interpreted the numbers on it and told me I need to go to gate B55. Okay...I followed the large, brightly colored signs pointing me in the direction of B55. I find another flight info display screen (this one is not so grand) and although it shows my flight, there is no gate listed since it had already left. I find and ask another lady for assistance. She sends me to exit 15. I check the screens again and see Kiev and our eastern European neighbors listed--I must be in the right place! It also told me the time of the next flight out. I had an hour and half. Unfortunately, I could not find exactly where I was supposed to be. Everyone was telling me the same numbers but there were only Arab flights (and people) in that section. I finally found an information booth. The lady was very helpful. She called the flight people from Ukraine International and said they were coming that direction to meet me. "Go to the right, near exit 15", she said. So I did. I would like to say it ended here but no.

If you remember correctly, exit 15 was the same place I was directed to earlier. I waited there again. I didn't see anyone that looked like they could be from Ukraine. Back to the information booth (thankfully, this was not too far away). The lady was gone. What?? I then saw her walk past me, I caught her eye but she was on the phone and didn't recognize me. I heard her say my name, "Mademoiselle Wagner...", so I followed her until she went too far. Although I was a bit confused I felt I was in the right area so I stayed put. A few seconds later I heard my name over the speaker. "Would Miss Sarah Wagner please report to gate..." I couldn't really make out the rest with all the noise and the thick accent. I walk back to the info booth where I found a man in place of the lady. I explained that they just called my name but I didn't know where I was supposed to go. He informed me that someone is waiting for me at exit 15. Oh, really? Good to know. (I was a bit frustrated at this point) BACK to exit 15. I see no one. I walk back to the info booth (at this point I think all the Arabs watching me walk back and forth must think I'm crazy). I confess to the man that maybe I am confused. He tells me to go past the gates and I will then see an "office" with blue and yellow. Can't miss it. (Apparently, you can) I head that direction again, stop at exit 15 and carefully look around. I see a few airline "booths" that I had just glanced at before. They are the kind you would see at a county fair. I didn't notice any blue and yellow (Ukraine national colors) but see a large-ish poster with a picture of St. Sophia, across it saying "Ukraine". Bingo. I waited a few minutes for the lady to return to her "office" and I began to tell her my plight. She lets me know that I cannot get on the next flight because it is too late, that it is my fault that I missed the flight and I will have to wait until the same flight the next day.  This is where I burst into tears that had been held back this whole time. She then tells me that maybe AirFrance can help but she cannot. There is no solution from her side (her words)

No solution? Well, I will make a solution. What I really wanted to do at this point though was hide in a bathroom stall and cry. But I was determined to get on the next flight. No way on earth was I spending 24 hours in that airport. This time I went through exit 15 (goodbye!) to the outside world. Took a shuttle to Terminal B (which of course is clear on the other side) where the next flight was going out. After a few moments of wandering, I found the AirFrance booking center. A super nice lady was able to help me, she said it was too late for the next flight (already boarding) but there is another in the evening going out. After speaking with a coworker, she re-checked the computer and noticed that the next flight out had been delayed. If I hurried, I could make it. She printed out a boarding pass and handed it to me. I could have kissed her. THANK YOU, JESUS!

I made it to the gate in time, which ironically was the same one I had flown out of last summer. As I was checking the time, I heard my name...I turned around and saw a friend of mine! She also works at KCA and we were on the same flight! After my little adventure that day I was incredibly happy to see her. 

When I arrived in Kiev, I waited for my luggage to see if it would show up. I thought maybe somehow it got sent on the same flight as me. After about 10 minutes, I saw the familiar maroon luggage turn the corner of the carousel...God is good!  :)