After much preparation and waiting, it’s finally here, World Race Launch. I had my flight to Atlanta booked well in advance and I was ready to go. I showed up to the airport 2 hours before my scheduled flight. As I arrived to my gate, I noticed the flight before had been cancelled. I didnt think much of it and patiently waited for my flight. About an hour before departure, my flight was cancelled. I decided to go on the standby list and hop on the next flight, no big deal. To my disbelief, that flight was cancelled as well. I wasn’t sure what the problem was, weather looked fine to me.
I continued to wait patiently on standby for the next available flight. Finally at 3pm the first flight to Atlanta went out. Sadly I was not on it, the flight was overbooked. I continued to wait. At this point getting restless, hopeless and tired having been at the airport since 7:30 that morning. I was now hoping to get a seat on the next flight scheduled for 4:30pm. I had been told there is a chance I could get on it. That flight was delayed and didn’t take off until 7pm…again, I was not on it. 5 standby passengers were allowed on and I was not one of them.
Weariness began to set in as I had now spent almost 12 hours at the airport. The last fligh of the night, scheduled for 8:30pm, had been delayed until 10pm. I was now 4th on the standby list. I thought, “surely i’ll make it on this flight”. The boarding process began and I began praying and pleading. Lol… Only 2 standby passengers were allowed on the plane… In doing the math we can see that I was not one of them. I had missed the last flight of the day… I did not make it to launch.
I was now tired, hungry, hopeless and defeated, after having spent nearly 15 hours at the airport. I wondered why I didn’t make it? Why was the flight cancelled? Why couldn’t I get a spot on another flight? I approached the counter to have a new flight assigned to me. I was rescheduled for a 5pm flight the next day. Needless to say I was bummed. I was missing 2 days of launch. I would only have 1 day to catch up on everything I missed and get together with my team before flying to Honduras… I was not a happy camper.
The next day I make my way to the airport and check in for my 5pm flight. Thankfully, it was not cancelled… But, it was delayed. As if the day before hadn’t been enough of a discouragement, this was not helping. With no other choice but to continue the waiting game, I sat at my gate waiting for my flight. We finally boarded at 6pm but now there were some technical difficulties with some equipment under the plane… REALLY!!!!!! Just when I thought my patience had been stretched thin, but what else could I do but wait… The flight finally took off at 7pm. I arrived at Atlanta at 9:30 and checked in the hotel at 10:30pm.
Tomorrow we take off for Honduras. As I sat through worship tonight I looked around the room and was reminded of what this was about. I was reminded of the power behind this. I was in a room with 250 young people praising and worshiping God. These young people from all walks of life who all have different stories and their own reasons for going on the race. It’s not about the cancelled flights or the stress behind it or the inconvenience it caused. It’s about a God of unfailing Love. About the things that he will do through and for these 250 young people in all the nations we will be serving in. My team has been assigned to serve at the New Life Children’s Home.It is a home for children from high risk homes that were either abandoned or taken from the home by social services.
If you know me, you’ll know that children and I are not the best of friends. I’ve never worked with a children’s ministry, it’s just not my forte. I am however ready for the challenge. Ready to take on whatever God has for me. Ready to teach and love on these kids. I know that they in turn will have a lot to teach me.
As I take this great leap of faith and challenge myself I ask for your prayers through this journey. Going to 11 countries to serve and be the hands and feet of Jesus is how I will serve the kingdom. I challenge you. What will you do for the kingdom?
Stay Blessed
Kim 🙂
