The Shipping Container
News came from Russia that baby formula was no longer
available. The Lord gave Stephanie a bright idea, they could ship
it! Word began to spread, "There is a need on the other side
of the world". Friends and strangers began collecting all
manner of humanitarian aid for 8 orphanages, children’s hospitals,
and a boys' prison.
All were first fruits,
totaling $98,183.70.
Such outpourings have become common place.
They had no experience in shipping containers, but
as they have learned over the years, God
knows
it all and provides the man-power to accomplish His plan. Donations of storage
buildings, fork lifts, trucks, and labor poured in to inventory,
box, weigh, palletize, and load the truck. On June 4, 1999, every crack and
crevasse was filled with precious cargo as it was delivered to the
Port of Houston.. Cathedral in the
Pines budgeted $9,000 from their mission funds to defray the cost of
boxes, shipping, and the convoy. To their amazement, the total cost
for shipping, boxes, and convoy came to $9,000 with not a penny to
spare.
The Convoy
The ship made the journey from Houston to the Port
of London in 6 weeks, without a hitch. Earlier in the year,
Stephanie
had
a "chance" meeting in a UK market with a jewel of a guy, Bob Robinson
with Mercy Mission. As the need arose, he would pack his 27 -
1/2 foot truck and drive aid to any country needing help. He agreed
to join the adventure by picking up the container and keeping it
safe on his farm.
However, as he was
preparing for a trip to a Romanian orphanage, he could not send his
passport to the Russian Embassy to obtain a visa. He knew he would
have just enough time to get the visa on his return.
Upon his return from Romania,
a team of five
joined Bob, whom fondly called Bullet Bob, in England for the final
loading and inventory.
After loading the supplies, they filled
the remaining space with aid donated by British businesses.
Then, an interesting set of circumstances began to develop...
The Kosovo war resulted in refugees fleeing to
England. With the embassies overrun, Bob was unable to get a
visa. He planned to get it in Belgium…
Bullet Bob ferried his truck from the east coast
of England to Belgium. The remaining five had their own adventure,
the Chunnel to France, a few hours sightseeing, the overnight train
to Munich, the beautiful castles and churches on the famous Romantic
Highway. They planned to meet Bob the next day in Berlin.
A new problem developed. The downtown
streets in Belgium were too narrow for Bob's truck. Again, the
Russian Embassy was not accessible. So, he planned to get the visa
in Berlin...
Unfortunately, the Russian Embassy in Berlin
closed for the day at noon. Bob arrived at 12:01. Not a
problem, he would get it in Poland...
In Berlin, the
team rented a passenger van. The next day, the truck and the van
convoyed to the Polish border. Though the truck was held up for a
few hours, they kept in touch with their cell phones while touring
quaint villages.
A highlight was
the huge stork nest with their babies on so many roof tops.
After the team joined back up, they had no idea where they would
stay for the night. As usual, God's provision was wonderful,
as He directed them to their excellent accommodations in two new
Polish hotels.
Continuing on to the Russian
Embassy
in Bialystok,
Bob, was only able to obtain a Russian visa for Belarus, not Russia.
Not to worry though, he would get the Russian visa in Belarus...
When they arrived at the Polish
border in Bobrowniki, they
were told the truck and the van must go through different
checkpoints. The team said their goodbye's to Bob and Ellen,
expecting to see them soon.
Traveling up the western border
of Poland, they were greeted by a very long line
at Grodno.
A hand knocked on the window. There stood two Men in Black. In
broken English, they explained the team could expect a four hour
wait to get to the border. However, MIB said they would sell
their forward position in line to the team for $300, saving 3 hours.
Realizing they were talking with
mafia, but not wanting to spend the night at the border, the price
was negotiated down to $150. True to their word, they escorted the
two vehicles near the front of the line. It became apparent
the line was all mafia, and this was their money making business.
An hour later, the passports were stamped as they were sent through
the Polish checkpoint.
The
Belarusian Customs official,
100 yards down the road, laughed as he looked at their
passports. Bob knew just enough Russian to understand five stamps
were needed on each passport. Aha! That's the Polish Mafia's their
game, they would have to repeat the procedure 4 more times, bribes
and all, before all the necessary stamps would be obtained.
Bud, the team's
van driver, had a game plan of his own. Much to the Polish Custom's
annoyance, he reversed the van, blocking the
border crossing. The officials were quite angry and threatening. Bud
just smiled, pointing at the passports until they finally put
another stamp in. He repeated the procedure, demanding all the
stamps. Having stopped their money train, they reluctantly agreed.
The Belarusian border official just chuckled, knowing the Polish
Mafia had been beaten.
The team was now on its way.
After making a wrong turn, they found a hotel which they later
determined was owned by Belarusian Mafia. The team arrived
along side the mafia's busload of prostitutes. They ate quickly and
locked themselves in their rooms for the night.
Early the next
morning they traveled down the western Belarusian border to
Bobrowniki. They inquired of the whereabouts of Bullet Bob, Ellen,
and the truck. After hours of negotiating and demands of $1,700, the
payment would be made only after speaking to the others. The
officials allowed them to make a phone call to Ellen who quickly
informed them they had already paid the fees. Stephanie told her
they would head out and meet them further down the freeway, far from
the border.
Now the team
knew the officials were trying to rip them off, so they jumped back
in the van and fled, watching angry guards in the distance. Bud
decided to take a little side tour to visit the countryside, as they
waited for the truck to clear the Polish border. Stephanie reminded
him that their international cell phones did not work in Belarus.
They headed back to the freeway only to realize they were lost and
had no idea where it was. Finding the freeway a couple of hours
later, they did not know if the truck was still at the border or if
it had cleared and was ahead of them.
Continuing to travel through the
countryside, the van was in desperate need of fuel. Finally a
gas station was found. Stephanie went to the kiosk window to pay.
As she stood there, a car drove up. A lady, dressed in black,
got out and walked inside the office. Through the window,
Stephanie saw the attendant talking to the lady, so she went inside
to politely to inform her she was next in line.
It became obvious the lady was
not a customer, as she was collecting money from the cash drawer.
Stephanie then realized the attendant was crying and shaking
violently. The lady in black turned toward Stephanie.
The attendant, seeing Stephanie standing there, pointed outside.
Only then did Stephanie realize what was happening.
Five men, dressed in black,
stood around an odd colored mustard-green 500 series Mercedes.
Having seen several of them at the hotel the night before, she
recognized it as a mafia car.
What a shock, they
were collecting money alright, it was a robbery.
While looking at the lady in
black, Stephanie said,
“Well God, this is a right mess you’ve got me in here. I need help,
and I need it now. Help me know what to do,
‘cause I don’t know what to do”. Then she said, “Come on God, we’re
getting out of here," as she walked out. Did the lady in black
ever see Stephanie standing there?
Not wanting to alarm the team,
Stephanie motioned the team to the back of the van. She said the
lady would help them when people were gone. The pump for the
Mercedes turned on, as the lady came out with her bag of money and
got into the car. Once the Mercedes was gassed up, the men got in
and drove away. Who is the better target for a cash laden robbery, a
Belarusian gas station or a team of American "tourist"? Did the men in black ever see the team standing
there?
“By the way," Stephanie said,
"that was a gas station robbery by the mafia.” They thanked
God for their protection and went into the office, where the lady
was still shaking. They determined it would cost $13 to fill the
van. The attendant indicated she wanted US dollars and would not
take the worthless Belarusian money. Stephanie gave her a
twenty dollar bill indicating the change was for her. One could
visibly see the lady's spirit calm, her tears dry, her tremors
subside. God sent them that day to help a lady in need.
God has afforded
Stephanie a remarkable life, filled with both joy and sorrow.
The robbery was a traumatizing experience, normally she is fearless,
but this one was a little much even for her.
After their hair-raising day,
the team went to bed exhausted. Stephanie was later awakened
by a knock at the door. Opening the door, a man in black
greeted her. After the last two days of men dressed in black, that
was the last thing Stephanie wanted to see. He made the universal
sign for a phone call, his fist to his ear. Following him into the
dark, she thought there may be an international phone outside. No,
international phone.
They continued through the
parking lot, over the freeway.
Why was
Stephanie following this unknown man in black? Even she could
not explain it. They
climbed a lookout tower. It looked like a guard tower at the Berlin
wall, or perhaps a prison yard, but most certainly, not a phone
booth! Fear filled her heart, as no one knew where she was.
The remaining team members were asleep in their rooms, and who knew
where the truck was? She could have disappeared, never be to
seen again. Fortunately, there was an old fashioned black phone,
unfortunately, it did not work. At least the man in black was
legitimate. She made the journey back, alone, in the dead of night.
Locking the
door, she looked around the depressing hotel room as she to cried
out to the Lord, “I could have been home with Bob. Whose
bright idea was this anyway? Lord, I thought it was you
leading us to do this. The babies needed formula and it couldn’t be
bought in Russia like the last time. Look at Your many provision for
the orphans. I really thought You wanted this. But, if I’m
wrong Lord, then I’m sorry. I will stay home with Bob and
never leave again. I am sorry to ask for a sign
but I just really need to know that You’re still in
this thing… so please, send Bullet Bob as a sign”.
Within five minutes, Bullet
Bob’s voice boomed in the hallway. She cried with relief saying,
“Now God, that was too hard of a test”. He spoke to her spirit,
“Stephanie, it will get harder, but, I promise, I will make a way
where there is no way”. She heartily greeted Bullet Bob and Ellen.
Even though it was 1 a.m., she and Ellen stayed up video taping all
that had happened while it was fresh on their minds.
For the first time, Stephanie
understood Peter when he walked on the water. Peter was literally
experiencing the power of faith in God in action. Suddenly he feared
and he began to sink. That always puzzled her, how could Peter fear
when he had just been through an amazing experience with God?
He should have had NO doubts whatsoever. She understood with trust
comes confidence, peace, and joy; with fear comes doubt, anxiety,
and tears. The second you take your eyes off Jesus, you sink. It is
only in His power and His strength we are able to do anything.
The next morning
the reunited team ate breakfast and discussed the lack of Bob's
Russian visa. It was now Saturday and the Russian Embassy would not
be open until Monday. Stephanie shared with them what the Lord had
spoken to her spirit, “Stephanie, it will get harder, but, I
promise, I will make a way where there is no way”. she said. She
though they should trust God and head for the border and trusting
Him regarding the absence of Bob's visa. Bob said, “I’m with you
Stef; let’s pack ‘em up and roll ‘em out”. All
agreed and headed for the Russian border.
God's Smuggler, Brother Andrew,
once said in a similar instance, "Father, You can give sight to
blind eyes, now, blind seeing eyes." Did the lady in black
ever see Stephanie standing in front of her? Did the men in
black ever see the team standing next to them at the pump?
God did it then for Brother
Andrew, He did it this time for Stephanie, He did it this time for
the team, and He did it
this time
for Brother Bullet Bob. At seven
different checkpoints, Bob handed over his passport without a visa.
At all seven points, he was passed through. Did they see an
empty passport or did they see a visa? The law required a visa
for them to approved him. Each guard approved him. What
did the guards see when they opened his passport?
Russian law required a visa when
checking into a hotel.
However, the clerk took
his passport and checked him in. What did she see when she
opened the passport?
Because of the
many delays, Bud and his wife, Jan, returned to Berlin to drop off
the van as they traveled back to America.
They are
truly an amazing couple, who built and are operating a new orphanage
in Haiti, Children of the Promise.
http://childrenofthepromise.org/default.htm
Paul Lossau, an
American living in Russia, met them at the hotel. Burt and
Stephanie journeyed onto Vladimir where they faced down Russian
Customs regarding all their "red tape" concerning the shipping
container. Dishearten by the bureaucracy, Bullet Bob was threatening
to head his Mercy Mission truck to a Ukrainian orphanage where he
knew they would welcome his cargo.
Finally,
they met with General Mushroom (really). General Mushroom said that
he could not help.
Paul and his
interpreter, Sergei, were about to leave.
Realizing
someone had to do something, Stephanie pounded her
fist on his desk three times and yelled, “NO, NO,
NO”! The General jumped up onto his feet in shock.
Stephanie demanded, “You are the
one, the only one who can make this decision. You are the Chief, the
one in authority, the highest in command, and you and only you can
decide to help us and I expect you to do it”. Mushroom responded,
”But the paperwork is not ready”. All of the conversations were
accomplished through the interpreter.
She looked at Paul, saying in a
loud voice, “Sergei, don’t interpret this. Paul, I’m going to tell
you off. Go along with everything. Now start interpreting Sergey”.
Continuing to glare at Paul, she hollered, “Am I to understand that
your paper work is not ready?”
Paul hung his head and indicated
yes. “When might I expect this to be completed?”
“Three weeks.” he answered. She
turned to the General and asked, “Is this acceptable to you?”
“Da, da, da,” he quickly
replied, firmly nodding his head.
Returning to Paul, she said,
“Then I expect this to be accomplished within three weeks, and NO
later”. Paul agreed.
General Mushroom was pleased and
said the truckload of supplies could be stored in his warehouse.
He also agreed to release it within three days of receiving the
paperwork.
Stephanie stood and said, “Then
that is acceptable and to this I will agree”. She quickly left
before the General called her bluff. God gives boldness where
need.
One thing the General failed to
mention was storage fees, which amounted to nearly $8,000. Paul
agreed to pay this unexpected expense.
The container arrived in Russia
in July, with a planned release date well before the next team's
scheduled September trip. To the disappointment of the team,
bureaucracy still stood in the way for the September release.
By then, a
Christmas release
was hoped for.
But it was not to be, Christmas came and went. Then word came,
it would be released the first week in January. Hurriedly, at
the end of December, Howard, Donna, Harold, Kirk, and Stephanie
obtained their Russian visas and purchased their tickets, departing
January 6.
Sure enough, the supplies had
been released in time for the team's arrival on January 7th.
Oh, by the way, did you know
Russia celebrates Christmas on January 7th?
© 2004 Howard K. Barlow, Sr.
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