What’s the Deal with My iPhone Replacement Before My Trip?

Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a jam with my iPhone 14 Plus. I've been experiencing major issues like call failures, eSIM problems, and distorted audio. I've been sent around in circles trying to resolve this:

1. First, I contacted chat support.
2. Next, I went to the Genius Bar, where they directed me to my carrier for an eSIM reset. If that didn't work, I was told to call Apple for an express replacement.
3. The carrier reset the eSIM and checked their end for any problems.
4. Then, I was on the phone with a rep who booked me a Genius Bar appointment for a replacement, even though I mentioned I needed the help over the phone.
5. At the Genius Bar, I found out I should have been directed to a higher-level technician instead.
6. I called again, went through all the tests, and they finally set up the express replacement.

Here's the kicker: I'm leaving for a volunteer trip on July 10th and won't have any mail access for almost a month. I stressed the importance of getting this done by July 2nd, and they assured me that would be fine. However, this morning I found out there won't be any product available until July 8th and it could take an additional 3-5 days to ship. I was told that the replacement couldn't be canceled and that I'd be charged for the second phone.

After some pushing, they agreed to look into cancellation, but I'm still in limbo. I'm worried I'll end up out $820, and I really can't afford that right now. I've been advised to buy a cheap phone for my travels, but funds are tight and my family can't help navigate the switch. This whole 'express' replacement process feels so misleading, and I'm at a loss for what to do next. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!