An Inasupicious Beginning...

Funny thing happened on the way the to London, I didn't quite get on the plane. It's one of those things that you always hear about happening to other people but never think could happen to you.

I was getting ready to board the flight to London, when, lo and behold, I was called to the ticket counter. Mind you, I didn't think much of it as they had been having some problems scanning my passport and I thought it was more of the same. However, when I saw two border patrol officers at the gate, I got a little concerned. My travel companions (Tricia and Nicole, heading to Namibia) started praying and making phone calls because it was obvious that I was in trouble. (Thanks a ton T&N!)

"Mr. Albin, what is your business in Kenya?" "Medical rotation."
"What do you know about your checked baggage?" "3 bags, 2 going to missionaries."
"Did you actually pack your baggage?" "Yes"
"Did you accept any suspicious packages?" "Absolutely not"
"What do you know about bags of white powder" Silence...

Goodness. You read that right. White powder. Who in their right minds would send white powder through the mail in this day and age?!?

So, needless to say, I was pulled from the plane, much to the chagrin of my travel mates, and led by two surly border patrol agents to a small dark room with one hanging light and forced to confess to being a mule. Not quite that bad actually. I was taken to the baggage area and we looked at the powder again. It was tucked into two Ladies Home Journals and covered with socks. Very sketchy. They tested it again and found that it was negative for all narcotics, drugs and/or bomb making materials. Throughout the whole ordeal, I was impressed with the border patrol agents. They explained that this was a misunderstanding and once the powder tested negative they could care less about it. I was being detained by the TSA as a "person of interest" or "enemy combatant" or some other joke term that means I lose all my rights as an American and will be spending the next few months of my life making friends with rats and eating gruel in Chateau Dif.

Speaking of the TSA, the supervisor got in my face when I couldn't account for the "powder" and told me that he would make sure I never got my medical license in the US if I didn't disclose immediately to him what that powder was. Thankfully, the Border Patrol got me out of that situation and allowed me to make some phone calls and, again, assured me that this was nothing and apologized for causing me to miss my flight.

Finally, having brought my bags and made arrangements for me to fly out the next day, everyone left me alone. After talking to the folks at AIM, making sure everything was cool, I got a ride back to Pearl River and am enjoying somewhat of a celebrity status. We've all had a good laugh about it and I've gotten to hear about quite a few other travel mishaps. I also talked to my folks, who assured me that I wouldn't be a trip to Africa without a little travel excitement.

Turns out the "white powder" was Splenda or some other artificial sweetener. The AIM staff felt really bad about it, so we're going out for Thai and then heading to the airport for round 2. They told me they're going to have the baggies bronzed as an example of what not to send.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. Strange as it sounds, I'm glad this happened. It forces me to be on my toes and to trust that God knows what He's doing, no matter what. I'm happy that I got to go through this, it makes me feel a little like Paul, a very little.

"Count it all joy my brothers when you encounter trials of various kinds for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

Bless God and be blessed.