The Croatian border guard handed us back our papers and shrugged. We couldn't believe our ears: in order for us to enter their country, we had to provide the original vehicle registration for our rental, which resided back in Barcelona at the rental agency. Our copy had proved unsatisfactory; only the real article would do. Would they really send us back to Hungary and deny us passage into Croatia? What were we going to do? Would we have to leave our car behind and find another way to transport ourselves and our gear across the border? What if something happened to it while it sat in Hungary for six days? Would we have to find a place to stay in Hungary until our contact could come to pick us up?
These thoughts and more raced through our minds. I searched the car frantically for any other documents that might prove useful while Derek called our friend in Croatia to alert him of the situation. While I searched, I prayed, "God, please allow these guards to show mercy on us and let us through. You've led us this far, please show us a way to continue!" After some more searching and talking with Garrett over the next hour, we again pleaded our case with the border patrol. In the middle of our supplication, the guard spoke:
"Okay, I let you through. You can go. But remember, I didn't see you."
Relief flooded our minds and bodies. We were going to make it! Then, suddenly, our French cellphone made a noise. Bleep-bleep-bleep. We had received a text from Garrett; he was going to come to Hungary to pick us up! I typed back a quick response, "We have crossed the border; we'll meet you as planned." Send. "Message cannot be sent. Insufficient funds." Our prepaid phone had finally run dry at the most inopportune of moments. Panic once again began to seep in. We had to find some sort of phone to call him or we would miss him on the road! We stopped at the nearest place we could find. As we were out in the middle of nowhere, our options were limited. We managed to find a small restaurant attached to an even smaller grocery store. We tried the payphone; it gave no response. We ran inside the market and asked for a phone card. Blank stares from behind the counter. Finally, the only other patron present - a tall lanky guy with thickly gelled hair - responded, "I learn some English in Germany, what you need?"
After working with our new friend's limited English and working through some misunderstood questions, he was willing to let us use his Croatian phone to make the call. We ended up reaching our contact just as he was refueling in preparation to make the long drive to Hungary to pick us up (as he didn't know we were finally able to pass the border). Talk about timing! We continued the rest of our drive and safely made it to our next and final destination on our trip: Slavonski Brod, Croatia. We're excited to work with Garrett this week as we witness, film and help with his ministry here in Eastern Europe!
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Since we've been on the road, there are many pictures of our trip to Nîmes and Avignon that I've neglected to post thus far! Derek's company, The Great Courses, offered to support our trip if we would collect footage from a few places along our route through Europe. A few of these locations included the Cathedral and Colosseum (including real gladiator fights!) at Nîmes and the great aqueduct and Papal Palace at Avignon. Below are excerpts from the fruit of our labors in those places; it was truly amazing to have the opportunity to film in these locations:
The coliseum at Nîmes, allegedly one of the best preserved in the world.
The gladiator reenactors go at it. They weren't holding too much back!
The light, nimble challenger sizes up his heavily armored foe.
This matador statue...its taunting...I just...can't...STAND IT ANYMORE! YAAARRGH!
This temple, called Maison Carrée, was dedicated to the sons of Caesar Augustus back in 2 AD.
Rockin' the DC Ultimallers jersey in front of the Roman temple. The Pink gets around!
The spectacular aqueduct at Pont du Gard, built during the emperor Claudius's reign.
Atop the nearby mountain overlooking the aqueduct. We raced up this mountain to get shots before the sun set too low!
Derek is obviously quite excited about the Papal Palace in Avignon. It was pretty impressive, after all.
That's it for now! We'll be updating throughout our time here in Croatia over the next six days. Praise God again for his provision that we've arrived safely, despite some roadblocks along the way!
Derek & Patrick
Derek & Patrick
good to hear more of the story, thanks for the video.
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