Flashback Testimony: Oct 2005 Sao Paolo Bienniel

From an email to my small group and the music team, 23 Oct 2005:

Wanted to share with you how God has been working in my life. Miracles abounded last week. It’s going to be a long sharing. For maximum impact, follow the timeline very carefully.

Some of you might have caught the news today on Singapore’s first presentation at the Sao Paulo Bienniel of Design and Architecture. If God hasn’t blessed the work of my hands, the footage would probably not have been there at all.

It was Tuesday 18^th Oct. I went down to the Brazil Embassy to pick up the visas for 5 reporters, whom we were flying into Sao Paulo to cover the event. I was asked by Nelson, the guy at the embassy to come back at 4.30pm, as they visas weren’t ready yet. Well, first taste of South American inefficiency – or perhaps we’re too efficient here. At 4pm, he called me to let me know that there was some “additional paperwork” that had to be done, as they were reporters, and he said they would try to settle it within the next two days. The reporters fly on 21^st Oct at 2am.

It was Thursday, 20^th Oct. I called the embassy at 10.30am. Nelson said that they couldn’t issue the visas because they have not received the approval for Brazil. (Now, Brazil is 10 hours behind us. If he says he can’t issue the visas, it means a one day delay and the reporters were flying that night!) I lost my cool and told him off, telling him that even if he had to stay till 10pm that day, he should do so, since it was the Brazil Embassy that said it would get the job done. He retorted, saying that he was trying to be nice and it wasn’t his duty to be getting the permit from ANCINE (Brazil’s media authority) to let the reporters in. The phonecall ended on a bad note and I regretted my fast tongue immediately.

I prayed and called him back 10 minutes later, apologized, and by the grace of God, managed to convince him that the print reporters didn’t need the approval from ANCINE and should be issued their visas. I explained the situation to my director (on his birthday when his wife was around with a birthday cake… not a good time.) By 1pm, my director was with Mr Choo Chiau Beng, the non-resident ambassador to Brazil, who said he would call Mr Alfonso Santos, the Brazilian ambassador to Singapore.

3pm. There didn’t seem to be any answer from Mr Choo, so I called up the Brazilian Embassy again. I wanted to speak with his PA Miurel to make sure that Mr Choo has communicated with Mr Santos, but ended up on the line with Nelson again (who must be irritated with me by now!) But once again, by the grace of God, he offered to put me through to Mr Santos. I didn’t know quite how to appeal to a minister/ambassador on such a “small matter”. By God’s hand, Mr Santos said that he would help fax/email over the necessary letters to highlight that our CNA reporters were only going into Brazil to cover the Bienniel, and not film some sensitive political film!

At 4.30pm, I rushed over to the Brazil embassy to camp out for any miraculous reply from Brazil. Prayed and prayed. No reply, but got my 3 visas. Had to take emergency action of finding another air ticket for the 2 reporters, and setting up back up plans. There was a flight available 2.15pm the next day, but there was no guarantee that we will get the visas, and that particular flight would incur an additional $14,000. If Singapore Airlines didn’t grant us excess luggage weight for the 2 reporters, it would mean around 60kg in excess luggage – which would be around SGD10,000! That’s a total of $24,000! I checked with another tour agent on the cost. We didn’t have a choice, the tickets were too expensive for the afternoon flight, we had to book the following night’s 2am flight.

Called my colleague who just touched down in Brazil, who was not optimistic that Brazilian efficiency would give approval in a day even if we asked IE Singapore (Brazilian Office) to speed up the process from that side. He advised for us to seek tourist visas instead if the ANCINE approval did not come through, but that would mean CNA would not be able to bring in their cameras and we would have to loan one! Given that they touch down at 4.30pm and the official opening was at 8pm, there was a very slim chance of the cameraman getting used to the camera in time! Even if we had the clearance from ANCINE, there was no guarantee that our folks won’t be stopped at the Brazilian customs and be delayed!

Worst of all was the dread of having to explain this to all involved. But once again, God has turned their favour on me. The editor Melvin Yong from Channel News Asia was very understanding, as was the reporter Cheryl Fox and her cameraman. Further to this, my director volunteered to call Melvin to personally extend an explanation. Apparently Melvin said that they face this all the time, and will support us all the way. He also asked for my director to keep an eye on me as I seemed on the verge on breaking down over the phone. It was a testing time. I also had to email Singapore Airlines again to explain the situation, and appealed to them to carry the excess luggage allowance to the next flight. Even when I sent the 3 reporters off at the airport, I thank God for the friendship of one of the reporters cultivated from last year. One of those times when God moves non-Christians to show his love and support.

Reached home at about 1.30am, and prayed for God’s intervention that night. Fell blissfully asleep at 2 plus and woke up at 9am by a phonecall from my travel agent, saying that she found an air-ticket for 2pm that would be the same price as the 2am one! This means the reporters can actually get in at 7am and have 12 hours to prepare! However, the big question mark was whether the visas would be approved, or if the Brazil Embassy could be convinced to issue tourist visas. I called up the embassy, and Nelson said that the fax fro Brazil would only come through at 10+am. I called up the reporters to ask them to standby for the 2pm flight – it was a mad rush for them as well, to standby for something that may not come through. There was peace in my heart and I decided not to fret but go for breakfast, in preparation for a mad series of events to come.

At 10am, when I went to the embassy, Nelson said he received something from Brazil and they were going to talk to his boss about it. Didn’t promise anything specific. In the meantime, I was trying to call Singapore Airline’s number, as I didn’t have the direct number of the chap who was handling my excess luggage request. Praise God! He called my handphone instead! (Anyone who has dealt with Singapore Airlines’ backend side would know how much or a favour this is). He told me not to worry, that he would just change the request again for the 2pm flight once I confirmed that.

Nelson came down twenty minutes later but still didn’t say anything. Finally, at 10.45am, he confirmed that he was going to issue the journalist visas! Finally, at 11.20am, I received the visas. My travel agent issued the tickets immediately, SIA changed the excess luggage request, the reporters went to the airport at 12pm and I saw them off. As I explained to Cheryl, I’ve never been quite so happy to send anyone off! And we didn’t even have to book any equipment in Brazil!

When God does something, He does it perfectly, as our salvation is perfect. God has given me this lesson to learn to lean on His strength once again. In this mad job, I am always very tempted to do, do and do more without consulting or remembering God during my work hours. And this experience also affirmed that this job is where God wants me to be. Although it has meant much less time for my family and for the music ministry, He has supported my family and ministry where it has been impossible for me to do so.

Next week would be another week of adventure, preferably not as heart-stopping!