Blessed Stories

My wife and I host trips to Israel. We had a group of 32 people, most of whom had traveled together from Ohio to JFK for our Israel departure. Most were married couples, but we did have four singles, two men and two women, traveling in our group. 

After checking in at the counter, we were told to wait in the ticket area for the interview process. We had been told ahead of time about this process, but since this was our first trip on El Al, none of us knew exactly what to expect. We could see there were six podiums set up in the ticket area for the interviews. We were told that they would conduct several interviews simultaneously, then the interviewers would go to another room to compare our answers. I did my best to coach our travelers, but the whole process was intimidating, to say the least. The best advice we were given was to answer their questions clearly and concisely. 

As the group leaders, Bonnie and I were in the first group to be interviewed. The questions were mainly about our trip – how long were we going to be in Israel, who arranged our trip, why were we going, etc. Five other couples were interviewed at the same time. Then the interviewers disappeared to compare our answers. The reality was that they were not interested in our answers, but rather were profiling us to be sure we were honest and sincere about why we were traveling to Israel. They were more interested in our facial expressions and body language than our answers.

After the interviews were completed, an El Al agent tapped me on the shoulder and asked, “Are you the leader of this group?” I told her I was. She then pointed out a lady standing in an area away from the rest of us and asked me if I knew her. Immediately I recognized Sally, one of our single ladies. Sally’s brother was in the military and stationed in New Jersey. Sally had flown to New Jersey a few days ahead of our departure to spend some time with her brother.

Sally was obviously upset and shaken-up over being isolated from the group. “We noticed this young lady did not arrive with the rest of your group, yet she claims she is traveling with you,” the El Al agent said to me. “What is the lady’s name?” 

“Sally,” I replied. 

“What is her father’s name?”

“Bob.” Sally’s parents went to our church and I knew them well.

“What does he do for a living?”

“He is a cabinet maker.”

The agent then asked, “What is her mother’s name?”

“Kathy,” I answered.

“What does she do for a living?”

“She works at JC Penney.” I knew that because I had run into her at the store one time.

I was starting to get a little nervous because I did not know how much deeper into Sally’s family tree this interview was going to go. I knew she had a few siblings, but I did not know any of their names.

Then it hit me why Sally was so terrified. She had been asked all these questions and if I did not know the answer, they were not going to let her on the plane with us. They had asked her these questions prior to approaching me and I had to vouch for her and verify that she was who she said she was as a member of our group. Fortunately (not luckily!), I was able to answer all the questions and the agent went to Sally and brought her over to join the group.

The blessing here is obvious. God put me in a position to assist a single lady who needed verification that I could give. Because of past experiences, I could answer the questions. It was not “lucky for Sally” I was there at the right time and right place; God put me there. He knew the questions and answers before they were asked and knew I could answer them.

But the story does not end there. Remember, there were two single ladies on our trip. 

Jane flew to JFK by herself the morning we were to leave and we were to meet up with her before we went to the El Al counter. Jane’s luggage was lost between Cincinnati and JFK and was to arrive an hour or so later. 

We all made it through the interview process and were allowed to proceed through the TSA check and onto the gate area. We still had a few hours to wait before departure so I was not too worried about Jane getting there on time.

Suddenly my phone rang. It was Jane. I could tell right away that she was in a panic. “Bruce, Bruce” she said, “The El Al people do not believe I am a part of our group and will not let me through to the gate unless you will come and verify I am traveling with you!” 

“I will be right up,” I replied. “Don’t worry, we will get you through this.” 

At JFK, the ticket counters and the gate areas are on two different levels. Going back to the ticket counter meant that I had to go back to the other side of the TSA checkpoint, and up a couple of escalators. It was a good thing because it meant that I had some time to collect my thoughts.

As soon as I set out, I realized that unlike Sally, I did not know Jane’s family. Jane was a little older and her parents did not attend our church. I knew Jane from seeing her in church and our pre-trip meetings, but I did not know where she worked, let alone anything about her parents or where they worked. 

The fifteen-minute trip back to the ticket counter was one filled with prayer on my part. “Lord, I need some divine intervention here! I don’t know the answers to the questions about Jane’s parents. I know that you can put the answers in my brain right when I need it. It will be a modern-day miracle, I know, but I need it right now. Thanks for hearing my prayer and working out this situation to Your glory.” I don’t know when I have prayed so earnestly. I repeated the prayer over and over until I reached the ticket area.

When I arrived, I could see Jane standing where Sally had been an hour before – same corner and same terrified look on her face. As I approached and Jane saw me, I could see a look of relief come over her face. The El Al agent was talking to her with her back to me. When Jane smiled, the agent turned around to see me coming. As I neared the corner where they were standing, the agent said, “Oh, it’s you again. She can go.” No questions to me about Jane or her parents. Nothing else was said. 

Once again, God blessed through intervention. No divine knowledge was placed in my brain. Since it was the same agent who had detained Sally and had interviewed me a few hours before, Jane was free to go. Jane grabbed her things and we left, rejoicing over what had just happened