Serendipity in Baggage Claim

November  2003

God's travel angels were working overtime on this trip says Jacque. Getting 22 boxes of supplies to Micronesia--each weighing 70 lbs.--is no easy feat, and tighter airline restrictions has made it far more difficult and expensive than ever before. 

Thankfully, a number of Canvasback supporters have chipped in to help cover the cost of excess baggage fees. Still, with no ability to check the boxes through to Micronesia and no airport storage available in Honolulu, there is always the problem of what to do with them during the required overnight layover.  

When Jacque arrived at the San Francisco airport, she thought "what a blessing!" when the ticket agent agreed to check the boxes all the way through to Pohnpei.  Imagine her surprise then, when walking through the baggage claim area in Honolulu she noticed the boxes appearing on the conveyor belt!  What was the team to do with the 22 boxes?  Jacque had not even arranged for a vehicle to transport it.  Dr. Evans tells what happened next:

"Several weeks earlier I had spoken to my wife Joanie's sister-in-law Lisa Detwiler and told her that we would be coming through Honolulu on our way to Micronesia.  I mentioned when I thought we were coming in and that we would leave the next morning, but I didn't speak with her within weeks of our leaving as it got pretty busy getting ready for the trip.

We expected that we'd probably not see them since we didn't confirm a meeting at the airport--but there she was with leis and hugs!  

The best part was that Lisa was driving her large truck instead of her little Jeep--and she was able to put all of the supplies into the back of the truck and transport them to our hotel.  Then she said she would be happy to pick us up at 4 a.m. the next morning and get us to the airport!.

"God had a way provided for us, and we didn't even know it.  And Lisa didn't know it, but that day she was an angel of mercy used by God to help us along our way.  Of course, we didn't mind the chocolate dipped shortbread cookies that she sent with us either!"

F.S.M. Secretary of Health Jeff Benjamin and
Canvasback cofounder Jacque Spence.

While in Pohnpei, Jacque had an opportunity to met with Jeff Benjamin, the new Secretary of Health for the Federated States of Micronesia. 

Secretary Benjamin expressed to her how pleased he and his department have been with the specialty teams sends over to help his people.  He said that they recognize that Canvasback teams always provide more services than are contracted for, and he looks forward to continuing the relationship.*  He said that he plans to include the mission in his long-term budgetary planning and let Canvasback organize the entire program for visiting medical teams.

* The contract fees that Canvasback receives from F.S.M. grants help provide food and transportation for the specialty teams.  The islands receive, on average, a ten-fold return on their money in services.