The Fabled Same-Day Connection

 It doesn’t seem like it would be that big of a deal. All we want to do is travel via the big island without having to spend the night on the big island. But in reality the same-day connection has been a rare occurrence. We don’t usually even attempt it leaving the islands because the risk of missing our international flight seems too great. But since our daughter started boarding school three years ago, every time she has come home for a break (three times a year), we have looked into her and her brother making a same-day connection and it has never worked out…until this time.  

Kids at airport cafe in mainland Africa

 Most of the time the issue has been that interisland airlines often cancel their afternoon flights. They sell tickets for an afternoon flight but then a day before the flight, you get a call saying the afternoon flight is canceled because of lack of passengers and everyone flies in the morning instead. This has happened to us several times. But the combination of high travel season and only one interisland airline means higher demand, so the afternoon flights have been actually filling and running this month. 

The other problem is getting an international flight that arrives early enough for the same-day connection, but our kids’ international flight was scheduled to arrive with plenty of time for them to make their flight in the afternoon. We had even entertained the idea that they might have a leisurely meal with our teammate who was going to wait at the airport on the big island to help them make the next flight.  But flight times are subject to frequent change in our part of the world.

Then there was a perfect storm. 

First, a week before travels, the international flight schedule was moved 45 min later, making the connection a bit tighter. But at the airport that day it was delayed 50 minutes, making the connection even tighter.  Meanwhile another international flight was 30 minutes early, meaning both planes landed at the same time.  You might ask, “Why does that matter?”

The big island airport is currently renovating their international terminal.  This means the small domestic terminal is being used for all arrivals.  So when two flights come at the same time it is chaos— way beyond their capacity for both immigration and luggage. 

So our two kids landed at 1:30pm. Their domestic flight was to leave at 3pm. A tight connection, but seemingly doable, except for all the chaos!  Our kids got through immigration quickly by mentioning their connecting flight, but then waited nearly an hour without seeing their bags.  At that point, we were informed that check-in for the next flight would close at 2:30, we told the kids to forget the bags and book it over to check-in.  (Meanwhile we started making arrangements to hire someone to collect their bags and put them on a later flight.) 

It sounds pretty bleak, doesn't it? But what we haven’t mentioned yet is that our teammate was at the airport outside arrivals to help our kids out and she even knew someone working at the airport. Unbeknownst to us, our teammate’s friend (it’s all who you know) got the kids and took them outside to find their bags amongst those waiting to go on the carousel and then escorted them to the check-in desk where our teammate was waiting for them (urging the employees to not close check-in without them).

They arrived! (In taxi on way home)

So in a last minute rush, they got checked in (with their bags!) at around 2:35. Their local flight left on time at 3pm! 

So was the same-day connection worth it? The kids admitted it was stressful, but when our kids were able to go to bed that night and not have to worry about traveling anymore, they were happy. We said prayers of thanks for our teammate, fast immigration, airport worker friends, and sweet reunions, and then they went to bed…and slept a full 12 hours!

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are so thankful to have our kids back home safely and that they made it through their finals week without too much stress. Women’s gathering this past week was very well attended and one sister shared that she had two local women asking her questions and wanting to know more about what she believes. We’re thankful that our teammate was able to visit with a Clove-Island woman who has moved to the big island when she passed through, hopefully connecting her to more fellowship on the big island. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for us as we try to balance with our kids home between quality family time and our normal work. Pray for Tom and other brothers as they consider getting a regular mens’ gathering started— pray for wisdom about the format and how many men to invite. Pray for Mtsa as his job has changed and he is praying for opportunities to have meaningful conversations and share with his new colleagues. Pray for health and healing for a couple of the island sisters who have ongoing helath concerns— one will be traveling abroad for treatment during this vacation time.