We had plans to conclude our journey to South America this evening. Unfortunately, Mr. Pinkston's backpack containing our passports was stolen from the hotel lobby ten minutes before we were scheduled to board our bus to the airport. After contacting hotel security and calling the local police, we boarded the bus anyway and attempted to catch our scheduled flight using copies of our passports, but we were unable to leave because no one, not even a group of Bellarmine students on an immersion trip, is allowed to leave Argentina (or the United States) without an actual passport - copies don't count. For nearly two hours Mr. Pinkston made every effort to convince them to allow us to fly this evening (Sunday).
The United Airlines representatives were helpful in providing internet access, telephones for local calls, rescheduled flights, transportation from the airport, and copies of new passport applications. After several phone calls, e-mails and texts, the Jesuit community at Colegio Del Salvador, the Jesuit school two blocks from hotel, welcomed us. (I think all of us became recipients of the kind of love and service we had hoped to offer others when we sign-up for this trip. Thank you, Jesuits!) Fr. Ted Gabrielli, without whom this service immersion trip would not have been possible, was instrumental in arranging these alternate plans. Thank you, Fr. Gabrielli.
Our spirits are, perhaps, a little dampened, but we will simply be here in Buenos Aires 48 hours longer than we had expected. One of the Jesuits, Fr. Marcelo, Assistant to the Provincial, simply said, "Well, enjoy your extra day in Buenos Aires."
Our meals will be provided and there is no cost to stay the extra two nights in Buenos Aires at the Jesuit residence.
The U.S. Embassy is closed on the weekends. Yes, there is a phone number for these situations; however, the representative from the U.S. Embassy only gives information about what to do on the next business day. Monday morning all fourteen travelers will go to the American Embassy in Buenos Aires (which we saw yesterday) to apply for new passports. We have been told this process should take about an hour for our entire group. Hopefully, that will be the case.
Here's our new flight information:
United Airlines Flight # 818 departing Buenos Aires on Monday, August 5th @ 9:20 PM to fly to Houston
United Airlines Flight # 222 departing Houston on Tuesday, August 6th @ 9:28 AM to fly to SJC
We are scheduled to arrive in San Jose at 11:24 AM on Tuesday, August 6th.
Thank you for your patience and prayers.
Michael Henry and Steve Pinkston.
P.S. Below are a few photos from yesterday's visit to Colegio Del Salvador.
No comments:
Post a Comment