The day has finally come. Saying goodbye to friends and family was tough. Knowing that I won't get to speak to them at any moment will be hard. Hugging everyone, knowing that the next time we will embrace will be in December. Even though this has all been less than easy, I still have a peace. I believe that this is where God wants me to be for 2014. I'm so excited to see what He is going to do this year.
The snow decided to grace us with its presence last night so everything has been delayed a lot today. But through it all I know that God has a plan. He's making a way.
My bag is packed. Weighing a whopping 45 lbs and yet I still don't think I brought enough clothing. But what I'm lacking, I know that God will provide. Not just material items but spiritually too.
I was reminded yesterday that this whole trip is all about sacrifice. Not just the material things but my time and energy as well.
Got to the airport at 9 am. My flight was scheduled to leave at 10:15.
Boarded the plane at 10:50 am.
Plane was having some technical difficulties.
They were fixing the issue at 12:15.
Flight was cancelled.
Booked a new flight for 6:27 pm but all they had left was a standby option. Had to get my pack and recheck it for the standby flight.
Flight was packed to capacity. No standby seats available.
Through it all I was surrounded by the sweetest people. The first person I met was on my original flight. I boarded the plane with a hot cup of coffee, a cliff bar and some Greek yogurt. He offered to hold my coffee as I forced my carry on bag underneath the seat. As the plane was being looked at we were able to chat about the world race, nursing school and the weather.
I've decided to not take a cell phone on this trip. So I had to borrow one to let my parents know what was going on with the flight. I asked a man named Sang, who worked at the Grab & Go in the airport, if there was a phone I could use. He handed me his.
I had to check in my bag, for the second time, in hopes that I could get on the last flight to ATL. As I was standing in this line that wrapped around the airport, trying to charge my iPod and scoot my bags forward, Bethany and her boyfriend Jonathan, so graciously pushed my day pack forward as my iPod charged. We chatted for a bit and I was able to share with them about the World Race.
I got my bag checked and was waiting to see if there were any open seats for the last flight out of KC to ATL. Sang, from the Grab & Go, gave me a discount on my dinner and I was able to share with him about my trip.
The last flight ended up being booked to capacity. So I will return in the A.M. and see if I can catch the 6:55 am flight.
For never leaving Kansas City, this was the best trip to the airport that I've ever experienced.
You may be wondering how and why I would say such a thing but what I was reminded of today is found in James 1:2-4 MSG:
2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
I was able to share with so many people about this trip and what it means to me. It's not a vacation. It's a ministry opportunity. It's a time for me to grow and become the woman of God that I'm called to be.
That's what I want out of this journey. I want to be "...mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way".
So I'll wait.
Another opportunity to sleep in my bed. Another opportunity to hug and kiss my family goodbye. Another opportunity to thank the Lord and trust that He's got this under control.
