The 5 Day Travel Day
Wow. Even the title sounds exhausting. Just over a week ago we said goodbye to Costa Rica, our home for the past 3 months, and left for new adventures. There were many hugs , tears, and the constant feeling that it was all a dream. We got so comfortable there that the idea of leaving felt unreal. But that why we had to leave I guess. God doesn’t call us to be comfortable.
So at 2:30 am we left for the airport tired, sad, and excited. And let me tell you, we got a lot of funny looks in the airport, 50 American kids with giant bags all trying to fit into one corner. Checking in was a fast paced rushed endeavor with items being hastily moved around in the line up to the desk. And then we had to say goodbye to our Alumni Leaders Tennessee and Tally. Once again there was lots of crying as we said goodbye to the girls who had become our friends, confidants, and role models for the past 3 months. (If y’all are reading this we miss you) then it was through security and off to the gate. To be honest I don’t remember much about that particular plane ride other than that I sat next to Jesse and I was hungry. Then we were in Canada-for the next 26 hours!
IT WAS COLD GUYS!!! Like wow. And when we got to the hotel there were surprises that made me both happy and homesick. Several parent who live closer to Canada had driven up to see them. And while I was so happy for my fellow squad-mates I also felt the lack of my own parents (yes that’s why I’ve been calling so often @mom and dad). So to remedy the sad hours me and several other girls went and got Chinese food and had great conversations with our Uber drivers. I’m also pretty sure my shower lasted about an hour (hot water is a luxury guys). And then it was Molly’s Birthday! So in celebrations went into the city to the mall, saw a 100 ft Christmas tree, went to the Christmas market, met an awesome lady at a coffee booth ( #coffeeforchange look it up guys ), got back to the hotel, went BACK to the airport, spent AGES getting checked in(my lady was really nice though so all good), got myself some Tim Hortons and sushi, and off to Germany we went! (This blog is much longer than I thought)
It was a 8 hour flight and I didn’t sleep at all. I DID watch several movies (Mama Mia 2 is amazing) had some truly wonderful pasta, and ended up realizing that the amount of caffeine I had consumed that day was probably unhealthy. And then Germany! So here’s the thing- I was running off of no sleep, I had a caffeine induced headache, I was just stressed out from travel itself (my body was not happy), and I had no idea what was going on. So in light of that I honestly could have enjoyed Germany more than I did. BUT my mood did a MIRACULOUS turnaround when we entered the Birkenstock store and I found the shoes I had wanted for several months for way cheaper than they are in the U.S. and my mom got them for me as my Christmas present. I love them very much (both the shoes and my parents). I also got food food after that, met a nice family from Ireland who helped us get back to the airport, I stayed awake for a while more, got McDonalds, and then after being awake for a little over 30 hours I took a short nap. And let me tell that nap was the best hour of my life.
The next 10 hours on the plane to Johannesburg were spent alternating between sleep and movies and food, so I’d say it was pretty good. Then it was a time of goodbyes for us once again as we split into two groups: those us going to Jeffrey’s Bay and those staying in Johannesburg. It was…odd saying goodbye to people who had been something constant for 3 months. I miss them but I also know that there is going to be radical changes in both of our lives in the moments we spend apart. It’s going to wonderful to see how God has forced them to grow. After a good nap and some pizza we all (my team, team sisters, and team testify) and began the last track of our journey…. the 15 hour bus ride. I honestly didn’t have a terrible time but it was exhausting. And the next day, AFTER 5 DAYS we were there. Our ministry and boy do I got things to tell you. But that’s for the blog I’m writing next. Also $4,375 away! I believe in miracles and God so let’s make it happen
