A very interesting week

Last Tuesday, I started my return to work after my one-year contract break back in Canada. As I arose on Tuesday morning and started my packing, I carefully placed all my new purchases and items that I was taking back with me in two small suitcases. Thought about who I'd give each gift to, or how I'd use each book or craft item once I reached my home. But, as I continued my packing, I realized one very important purchase was missing - I'd promised my manager that I'd bring her back a travel mug for coffee - and I'd bought her a great one from Chapters. But it wasn't there, among my things! After trying to think of where it might have got to, I made a last-resort decision - I'd try to call Chapters and see if I'd left it on their counter when I bought it a week previous. The woman who answered said "Well, I don't know if any mug was left here, usually we just put things back on the shelf when they're left, because we assume it was just an item that someone decided they didn't want to buy. But...hey, if you have the receipt, bring it in and we can give you another mug!" WHAT???? REALLY???? "YOU HAVE JUST MADE MY DAY! Thank you so much!" So, half an hour before I left for the airport I made a quick trip to Chapters and they gave me a new mug - WOW. They were so accommodating, and the fault was all mine - it made me feel so good. So, without further ado, I then proceeded on to the airport...
Little did I know, as I waited in line at the airport, that I had actually come to catch my flight a full day late. Yes. Indeed, it was a shock when I learned I wasn't on the flight. A few pleas and $100 later (only $100 for a missed flight that was totally my fault??? Is that normal???) I was on the day-late flight, though, and coming back to work. Those folks at the Air Canada ticket counter made my day for the second time...I had to RUN to get my bags checked, and I had to cut in line through security, but they got me an aisle seat and everything...WOW.
Now skip forward a week and a half...
I'm back in the town I've worked in all year, I've spent a week getting myself back into work, and Friday comes around. One of our team members is leaving the country for good in a few days, so we wanted to do something special together as an international team for our last weekend with her. We headed out of town to a lake for a picnic. It was beautiful! Nice lake...no mosquitos...barbequed chicken over a charcoal fire...pineapple upside down cake...lots of salads...a game a Settlers of Catan...worship and prayer together...a nice stroll through the bush. Here, don't we look like we're having fun?? After spending a few hours of relaxation together, we packed up and headed back to the car. Only to find the car window missing from it's normal place...instead, it was in tiny pieces all over the inside of the LandCruiser! And, although my bag, notebook, and mobile phone had been left inside, my MEC travel wallet was missing! Along with all the cash I'd brought from Canada inside, and all my ID documents...crap. Well, distressing, but no matter, nothing we could do about it now. These are the remains of our window: We looked around to see if they'd left behind the unimportant wallet contents and just taken the cash, but nope, they must have taken the whole thing...so we took off, planning to report it in the morning. No more had ten minutes in the car passed, though, when the car just suddenly stopped. We veered over onto the shoulder of the highway and made calls to our Logistics support, and to a driver back in town to come and rescue us. Four cars pulled over to help us out...but to no avail. This was us on the side of the road, where we waited for help to arrive: Eventually, the three of us girls got a ride back into town with a UN car (very big answer to prayer, we specifically prayed for a UN car travelling from a specific location to be coming along...and it did. Cool.) and our guys eventually made it back into town when our local driver finally reached them and fixed the fuse. Here is our rescue team: My evening started looking up when I discovered that I'd made copies of all my documents (a fantastic stroke of luck, or just a smart move made a year ago), so Iwill be able to very easily replace everything with a bit of time.
All in all, a VERY interesting week. I feel like I saw the great and the bad sides of humanity, and experienced both a bit of air-headedness and impressive planning. Those are my stories for now. Hope to have some more next weekend after another interesting work-week planned ahead.