A miracle indeed=)
4th of October 2007My flight was at 6.55pm. “Hmm it’s quite late, I have lots of time,” I thought to myself.
On the day before, I had already planned everything nicely. With my landlady, Tante Susy, chauffeuring, I was supposed to go pick up my friend, Nurhaslinda, at around 3.30pm, and then set off for d airport. “More than 2 hours to go to the airport? Surely it’s too much time,” or so I thought. “Better to be safe than sorry,” was my line of thought, as previous experiences had showed me that unexpected traffic jams can occur anywhere in Jakarta.
I was supposed to set out from my house at 3.15pm. However due to some unforeseen circumstances (I was playing Transformers the game till I forgot the time), at 3.15pm I had not finished packing and bathed yet. Getting myself ready at top speed, I set out at 3.30 pm for Linda in Tante Susy’s car. We reached Linda’s house at 3.45pm, because traffic was heavy (Her house is actually very near). After picking her up, I asked Tante Susy whether we will get to the airport in time. Her reply was reassuring: “Of course. We have more than 2 hours to go to the airport. Usually the trip takes only about 45 minutes.” With that, we set out for the airport.
Tante Susy decided against taking the road that she usually takes, Jalan Pramukah. She told me that because this is the fasting month, and everybody wants to rush home early to open their fasting with their family, the road will be very congested. Thus she decided to use Jalan Percetakan Negara, a small road that will lead us right to the highway.
The first few kilometers were fine, and traffic was smooth. However, we began to notice that traffic was slowing down, and our car had to slow to a crawl. As the traffic jam got worse, there were times when we were not moving at all for long periods of time. It was around 4.30 pm at that time. Needing reassurances, I again asked Tante Susy whether we’ll reach the airport in time. Again her reply was, “Don’t worry, we will reach there in time.” With that, I told everybody that I was going to take a shut-eye for a while.
I woke up with a start when I heard Tante Susy asking directions from some guys beside the road. Noticing that something was amiss, as there were no cars around us, I asked her what the problem was. She said that the traffic congestion was so bad, the road had to be closed down. As a consequence of that, all the cars were rerouted to another road. She said that that road will not lead us to the highway. Thus she had to turn into one of the many small “kampong” roads that will lead us back to Jalan Percetakan Negara, but ahead of the road block. By continually asking for directions, we were able to reach Jl Per Negara. However, the traffic here was worse than before. It was so bad that a normal 2 lane road became a 4 lane road. All the cars were squeezing into any space that they can find. The cars were very only a hand-breadth away from each other. At around that time, I messaged my friend, Geeta, who was also on the way to the airport, but ahead of us, asking her how the condition of the traffic on the highway was. Her reply was worrying, “There’s a massive jam leading to the airport, and cars are crawling”. All this on a highway!!
We slowly crawled bit by bit, sometimes remaining motionless for more than 10 minutes. It was around 5 pm at that time. Tante Susy began to worry. She said that she feels like crying, because she was so powerless to get out of this traffic jam and get us to the airport in time. One interesting thing to note was that in spite of the traffic jam, some drivers made U-turns amidst all the many cars. They will turn slowly, bit by bit, and force their car into the other lane. Of course when they were maneuvering their cars, all the other cars cannot move. Tante Susy said that these drivers were very stupid, and that they have no brains to think.
Anyway, I could not help but worry about reaching the airport in time. My flight was not cheap, because I had booked it really late. Besides that, I had a connecting flight in JB. If I missed this flight, I will not be able to take the connecting flight to Kuching. That will be RM650 wasted. So I began to pray hard. I told God, “O Lord, I don’t want to worry. I know it’s Your will for me to go back to Kuching this time, and so I will trust in You with all my heart, without a single doubt. Lord, by faith I declare that I will reach the airport in time, and I have already received it Lord. I will be as a child before You, trusting You as my Father. I thank You O Lord! Hallelujah!”. With this prayer I began to rest in God, even when all around me seemed hopeless.
Thank God we finally got out of the traffic jam, at around 5.15 pm. We went up the highway, and traffic was smooth. Tante Susy sped her car up to 120 km/h at times, and weaved her car in and out of the traffic, trying to get us to the airport in time. I had to hold my breath at times, because our car was dangerously close to colliding with other cars.
After about 10 minutes of smooth driving, we had to slow down to what seems like a traffic jam. Somehow I knew it was the traffic jam that Geeta had complained about just now. It was 5.25 pm now, and we had to reach the airport latest by 6.10 pm. The airport was still very far, and all we could see of the highway in front was just cars upon rows of cars. It did not bode well, and we were all worried. I was perplexed. “Didn’t I just pray to God? Then why am I now stuck in a second traffic jam?” I knew that I did not have enough faith in myself to trust in the big God that I believe in. Thus I continually spoke in tongue throughout the journey to the airport. All glory be to God for the circumstances He put me in.
We were all silent in the car. I was busy praying, while Tante Susy and Linda were (I think) busy worrying. Tante Susy said that she wanted to “lau sai” (do huge business) because she was so nervous. Praise God I had the faith to say this to her, “Don’t worry. We’ll surely reach in time for our flight.”
At 6.10 pm, we were still in the traffic jam. It seemed that it was never going to end. The time of departure of our flight drew on nearer and nearer, but the traffic continued to crawl like a tortoise. At 6.30 pm (more or less), we discovered the cause of the traffic jam. The highway was actually a 3-lane road. But unfortunately at this particular time, the Government was constructing something, so they had to close off 2 lanes. This of course caused a bottle-neck effect. Cars had to queue up to go to the only lane that was still open. It was indeed late at this time. By all men’s logic, the Johor Bahru counter had already closed. All seemed lost.
We reached the airport at 6.40 pm thanks to Tante Susy’s brave (bur reckless) driving. Immediately after we reached the airport, Linda and I took our bags (I carried hers, cause it was heavier), and we ran and ran and ran. Thinking back, people must have been amused at our desperation. But we were desperate. We scanned our bags at top speed, and then we ran to the AirAsia counter.
By this time, it was less than 15 minutes before our flight was supposed to take off. With a sinking feeling I glanced at the cards that were placed on the check-in counters. All showed “Kuala Lumpur”. Of course our counter was closed. Muttering a quick prayer, I went up to a man. He looked like an officer. I had no idea why I went to him, out of all the AirAsia employees there. But today I thank God I went to Him. I believe it was divine intervention.
I told him that I was supposed to be on the JB flight, and that I was very sorry for being so late. Then, miraculously, without asking me for further explanation, he took out his handphone and called his friends. He asked them about the status of the plane. After ending his call, he asked us for our passports. I was stunned. I did not expect something like this to happen. It was downright impossible, by ALL men’s logic. But I knew that God was at work. Praise God. He processed our ticket, and gave us the boarding tickets.
Everytime when I go back to Malaysia I have to apply for tax exemption. This is because of the immigration laws in Indonesia, which states that all citizens and residents in Indonesia, when traveling to another country, must pay tax money amounting to Rp 1,000,000 (RM400). As I am a student staying in Indonesia, I must apply for tax exemption to avoid paying that huge amount of money. This was usually done at a special counter in the airport. The officer that checked us in thought that we were tourists, and did not need to apply for tax exemption. So when we told him we had to do it, he was shocked and he muttered, “Astaga” (similar to Oh My God) instinctively. By this time it was about 10 minutes before our plane was supposed to take off. He then told us, “Hurry as fast as possible. If by the time you reach the terminal and the captain does not allow you to go inside the plane, come back to me.” Our seat on the plane was not assured yet.
Carrying Linda’s bag, I quickly ran to the tax counter. Linda could not run as fast as I can, so I was very far in front of her. At the counter, there was a very long queue. I went to everybody in the queue, and begged them to let me go first, telling them that my plane was going to take off in 10 minutes. Thank God they let me go first. Filling our forms at top speed, we then proceed to get our tax exemption done by pestering the officers to do it as fast as possible. =)
At this point in time, we were all very breathless and sweating profusely. Our hearts were beating fast, and the adrenaline rush that we experienced was exciting, if not scary. However, our “journey” to board the plane did not end there. We still had to run as fast as possible to the immigration counter, fill our forms as fast as our hands can scribble, and then hurry the officer to process our papers. After that, we then ran again to our terminal. It was, by this time, past our time of departure. When we reached the terminal, we didn’t have to explain much to the employees there. Do remember, that at this time we still had our baggage with us. Usually, for an international flight, no liquid exceeding 150 ml is allowed on the plane. However, we had to carry our baggage, containing perfumes, bottles and the likes, all with liquid exceeding 150 ml, into the plane. This is because the baggages of the other passengers had already been loaded into the plane. The officers at the terminal did not ask much, but they amicably allowed our bags into the plane. This is nothing short of another miracle. Praise God.
Our plane finally took off at 7.15 pm. In the plane, after I sat down, I felt so overwhelmed. I could feel tears welling in my eyes. I knew that what had happened to me was so impossible and so supernatural; reaching the airport 15 minutes before my flight, and still managing to get into the plane. God is so miraculous, so powerful, and so great. We are so tiny in his eyes. Our circumstances that look like giants to us are but little bacteria in His eyes. Hallelujah. Praise You my Lord. You alone are worthy of my praise and adoration. All glory be to God. Thank You Lord.
