Got invited to the Alpha Conference in Kuala Lumpur from June 10-13, 2019. Was pretty excited cause rarely do you get to go to a conference where everything was pretty much shouldered by the ministry. Also, it would be my first time to travel with Dan who has not worked with me for 2 years but also attends my small group. So I saw this as a great chatting moment.
Since it was ministry, I booked the cheapest flight available… Cebu Pacific. The flight was at 9pm so I got to the airport at 6pm. Was surprised that despite me having my digital boarding pass, I was sent back to the counter which did not have a separate line for those who are already checked-in. In short, it was pretty useless.
After all the immigration and security stuff – I hang out in the lounge (thanks to Citibank Premiere Visa) and learn that all flights were grounded because of a red lighting alert. 9pm, flights resume.
No word from Cebu Pacific at 12nn. Cut the story short, 2am, while waiting at the gate, people were so tired we finally get an announcement “Flight 5J 501 bound for Kuala Lumpur, we regret to inform you that due to some missing requirements of the airlines our flight is officially cancelled. Please proceed to counter C9-14 for the next steps!”
As you can guess, people became frantic. People rushed out some people even forgetting to check out of immigration as our passports were already stamped. Unprepared for this, the immigration area became full of over 300+ passengers and another cue started at the mentioned counters.
I was given an alternative flight via SMS… to come fly on the 15th which was actually insane as the conference ends on the 13th and my flight back was 14th. How can they suggest a departure date after my return?
Anyway, so bottomline, I cancel the trip and asked for a refund. Did they pay me for the hassle or even give me a free ticket like what everyone advices? No! I didn’t even bother ask… this is actually the 3rd trip Cebu Pacific has cancelled 1st to Dubai and 2nd to Singapore. The good news is I am grateful that in all these I kept cool and accepted it. The next day, God leads me to a verse in Ecclesiastes 7:14 that says:
“On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days So that we won’t take anything for granted. (Message version)”
What is it saying? When things go right, God wants you to enjoy it. When it doesn’t then God wants you to learn. Knowing nothing happens without God’s permission is important and more important is knowing who God is and your relationship with him.
Let me give you an example: If you were a child, and this big guy goes up to you and asks you to hold his hand you’d be scared right? But what if when you look back you see your dad smiling at you and signals you a thumbs up and motions that you can go ahead, does that make you feel better? Of course it does!
Thats how it is… knowing that God allowed this negative thing to happen is a big thing. Instead of getting mad about it I analyze “What does God want me to learn?” or “Is there something else God wanted me to do…”
In which case, suddenly I find myself with lots of free time and I was able to attend my mentoring meeting, rest, go to the gym and spend time with the Ruelo’s who was celebrating a birthday.
