Synopsis, Continued

(Please note that all times are approximate ... things got a little blurry for awhile!)

11:00 a.m. Determine that a required document for both options A and B will not be available for at least two weeks. Consider the option of traveling and returning with a tourist visa; realize this will mean losing identity cards required for renting a house in Iquique come December so therefore it is not a viable option. Decide to proceed with an expired version of the required document and hope for the best. Contact mission’s legal rep and ask him to type up two necessary letters and sign them before a notary (nothing like putting the pressure on one’s colleagues … did I mention that the colleague who originally accompanied us downtown was still by our side, helping with tired and crazy kids … thank you, Uncle Mike!)

11:20 a.m. Walk back to the Metro; traverse several lines; pick up some ham and cheese sandwiches before heading to the International Police building.

12:00 p.m. Pay fee; get number; sit down to wait. Feed hungry child and break a full glass bottle of orange juice all over the floor. Try in vain to clean it up and maintain sanity until rescued by a maintenance worker. Attempt to fill out forms with children constantly leaning on you and talking to you and tripping over you.

12:45 p.m. Get called into office and request required documentation (certificate of travels.) Discover that the agent who only required you to pay and fill out forms for the adults was wrong; send Pedro to pay for three more and fill out them out quickly. Wait for five certificates while children run in and out of office requesting more food and occasionally bickering with one another. Try to remain calm.

1:15 p.m. Exit International Police and walk in the rain to nearest Metro station; traverse several lines; Pedro, Uncle Mike and children exit to return to car; remain on Metro for several more stops while warding off curious questions from a too-friendly stranger.

2:00 p.m. Exit Metro; flag taxi; head home to write letter of request and compile required documentation.

3:20 p.m. Family reunited; drive to nearest photo place for required identity photos of each member of the family; fill out more paperwork.

4:20 p.m. Drop girls off at birthday party; head to school to make photocopies.

4:30 p.m. “Happen” to run into mission rep bearing notarized letters on the street; receive letters and continue to school; make close to 100 photocopies; compile all required documentation into one packet.

5:45 p.m. Run into nearest post office to mail package which is supposed to be dated August 14. Listen in disappointment as supervisor says it will be postmarked Saturday instead. Sigh in relief as clerk purposefully stamps today’s date on receipt and quietly hands it back with a secretive smile.

6:15 p.m. Take Owen to McDonald’s; purchase birthday gifts for the girls’ party.

7:10 p.m. Pick up friend for church; stop at home to pick up Bibles and pajamas.

7:40 p.m. Make arrangement for girls to be dropped off at Aunt Jenn’s after party; drop Owen in pajamas off at Aunt Jenn’s; head to church.

8:30 p.m. Arrive late to church for Pedro to share brief devotional.

9:30 p.m. Head home; pick up kids.

10:30 p.m. This day finally ends. Praise God for accomplishing in one day what we thought humanly impossible!

Still wondering how this affects our planned trip to Haiti? To be continued …