When All is Hopeless, Look UP !!!

I can finally tell this story after a couple of weeks for various reason. Some people know this already, as I already explained to them over and over....But for the sake for explaining it for the n-th time, I will write it here.

Couple of weeks ago, I went to Makassar for school visits. So I booked travel arrangements with a travel agent. From the beginning, this agency has been giving me trouble.

First of all, after I have paid them my fare, they were asking me to pay in cash even though I have transferred the money. Since it's from a different bank, it took two business days to complete. I showed them the transfer receipt, but they don't believe me, ask me to pay it in cash first, and refund it if the money went through.

The worst part was they threaten me of canceling the hotel room. I was furious. What they ask is impossible, since it's already Friday. If it took 2 business days for inter-bank transfer, then I would be in trouble since I would be leaving on Sunday. The whole Friday afternoon I spent just to argue with them. She kept on saying " my accounting department won't let it"...

I prayed to God to help me with this.....My coworker also helped me with this by calling them...after hour long of argument, by some miracle, the transferred money went through....and I thought my trouble was over...NOT !!!!!

So I flew to Makassar on Sunday. Already feeling tired, I wanted just to shower and take a good night rest. I checked in, and then the concierge told me something unbelievably shocking "Mr Sinaga ? your hotel reservation was canceled" I was so shocked. Apparently this travel agent was using a sub agent. I reserved 2 rooms under the same name for a different date. The accountant of the sub agent, apparently thought it was a double booking and cancel my room without notifying the primary agent.

I was mad and furious. I wanted to call both the agents, but just my luck, it was a Sunday afternoon. So no one to call. I was devastated and angry, BB broadcasting all the friend I have with no luck. To make it worse, the hotel was not helping at all. They wanted me to pay a hotel room with them, and hoping that the agent will cover it, despite the trouble I was in. Truly no help was coming from any side.

But the Lord is good. I happened to take a marketing class long time ago, and I know the franchise owner of the travel agent. So I SMS-ed her about this debacle. But she doesn't reply to me. So I gave up fighting for this hotel room. I was tired, emotionally exhausted, and desperate. This was the point where all knowledge and and all money was useless. So I stood still. I told God. "You are still on the throne. I am at my wits end. No one can help me but You, Lord."

So I decided to move to another hotel. I got a room..but no elevator to the 3rd floor. I was laughing out of madness. But I decided to smile anyway. About 11.30 at night, the hotel called me again. Saying that all was cleared. I got my hotel room back, they even picked me up from my other hotel. Apparently someone ( I don't know who, perhaps the franchise owner or one of my BB friend) called the travel agent and asked to resolve the problem. The travel rep apologized to me over and over (which has no meaning at this point).

Finally all was resolved, they even pay for the cancellation fee..and I can go on finishing my duty there.

Moral of the story :

- God can use whatever event in your life to help you later on. I took the marketing class when I was unemployed out of keeping my insanity. If I never took that class, I would never know the franchise owner, and she won't be able to help me. It's amazing how God's plan work.

- It's not a good example to ask God only when we are backed to a corner...we should always look up to Him in every situation....but when all is hopeless, look up ! God never fails you or disappoints you.

Hope this note will bless you.....