Before and during our journey we prayed that we make it through customs alright. Here is what happened:

As dad and I were walking over to the baggage belt to collect our suitcases, I glanced over to the exit doors to see how many customs officials were there. I spotted only two, and was remembering there were a lot more the last time we came through the airport. I thought, "This should be pretty easy this time." We gathered our suitcases, and each put two suitcases and one carry-on on our cart. Our baggage was loaded with more than 300 lbs. of material. We tried to go with the crowd to try to slip by customs officials. Dad went ahead first. I thought it would be a better if there were some other people between Dad and me so it didn't look like we were together. As I got closer I noticed they were randomly pulling people aside as well as people who had quite a bit of baggage loaded on their cart. Sure enough, I saw Dad had been pulled aside to have his baggage screened. I was happy to see him make it through the exit after his baggage passed the screening without any problems. A brother was waiting eagerly behind the exit to welcome his arrival.

Soon I was also pulled aside and had to put my suitcases though the x-ray screen. Well they went through the screen. I put the suitcases back on my cart and was about to head to the exit doors. I thought I made it too! But just after only one step the screening guy walked over to me and said he saw CD's in my suitcase that needed to be checked. I thought, "Oh Lord, please help me to say the right thing." I did start to get a little more nervous, wondering what would happen next. I opened one suitcase. The official saw many copies of the French "Conduct Order Doctrine of the Church."

He asked me in simple English, "For church?"

I said, "No, for individuals."

He quickly went through the pages and put it back down again. I had several French MP3 sets in my suitcase. Next he picked up a French MP3 album, "Le Message." He opened it up and looked at the index sheet of the Messages. Obviously he could see it was all Christian material. He being a Muslim, was suspicious of all the Christian material I had in my suitcase.

He asked, "What is all this?"

I said, "The Message."

A little confused he said, "The Message?"

I said, "Yes, look," and pointed him to the French title on the MP3 cover: "Le Message."

He read out loud to himself, "Le Message...William Marrion Branham" and then put it back down again. It was music to my ears to hear him read that out loud. He also wanted me to open my other suitcase which had a metal lock on it. I thought I was in more trouble after I told him I didn't know were the key was. He asked me for my passport and then get the key. I said I didn't have my passport on me either and that my dad had my passport; it seemed like more trouble was happening. I could see they were getting more serious and more suspicious. I walked together with the two customs officials to the exit where my dad was waiting for me on the other side of the exit. I had to ask him for the key.

Before I walked to the exit to ask for the key, dad already suspected something had happened. I was taking a long time with the custom officials. I didn't know, but he already told the local brother to take his cart further away in the terminal.

When the exit doors opened, I right away told my dad in the Dutch language to quickly get all his baggage away from here. Then in English, I asked dad for the key. He didn't know where it was either right then. The exit doors shut again. My dad, still on the other side of shut doors, made sure that the local brother took his loaded cart out of the terminal. My passport was still on that cart. I didn't want to get my passport either, because that would lead us to all the material in my dad's baggage.

Standing close to the exit doors, I pulled out my ID card instead of retrieving my passport. They were barely satisfied with my ID card. The customs official lead me, along with my baggage, way back to the "Goods To Declare" office. Another official would deal with me there.

At 1:15 AM I was just about the only one left behind customs, in a big, near-empty airport, with other police walking around. I had no idea what was going to happen. I knew their government could confiscate the material and deport me back to Europe. Especially if they found out that we had brought so much material. As I was following the official, I thought in my heart that this is His work and His Message. I knew that it was God's business to take care of this Message and get It to the people. Walking towards the "Goods to Declare" office, I started to feel more relaxed and confident. I knew God was with me. The Muslim officer asked the exact same questions as the first official. He perused through the French C.O.D. Then came the showdown.

He said, "Is this for church?"

"It's for individuals. It's Messages of William Marrion Branham."

He sternly asked me, "Is this spiritual?"

"Yes."

"What is this all about?"

"It's about anything between God and man."

He said, "Anything between God and man is spiritual."

"That's right."

It was quiet for a few long seconds. Suddenly the atmosphere completely changed. He then said, "That's good!" I was surprised to hear such a reply.

"Yes, it is," I said.

I knew it was all over and that Jesus came on the scene. It was a very peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. He motioned that I could proceed to the exit. At the end he smiled and said, "Welcome my friend."

"Thank you."

If they had found out we had so much material with us, they most likely would have thought that we were there to illegally evangelize. They could have confiscated all the material and deported both of us.

They never opened up my carry-on, which was also loaded with 50 pounds of books. They never bothered to open up the locked suitcase, to which I didn't know where the key was. Out of all our baggage, they only checked one suitcase. I didn't have my passport on me. It was all Christian material, and the final words of the customs officer were: "Welcome my friend."

Truly God came on the scene! Some day I hope to meet this man beyond the curtain of time for letting God's Message into this Muslim nation.