January 7th 2019
5 Cities, 2 Countries and 2 Continents, 11 day
Travel day numero uno!!! This is my first adopt a day blog guys!! Thank you to Zuleika, because of you I was able to survive day 1!!
So this morning we woke up very early to catch the shuttle to the Atlanta airport. Of course I woke up first, I get so nervous before every flight, I like to be prepared and ready to go! I was one of the first ones to be down in the designated conference room, I had all my things packed and ready, I was even reminding people to make sure they had their passports and paperwork handy. I thought I was so ready except, I forgot to print out the proof and confirmation bar code for my Cote d’Ivoire Visa!! I tried to keep my composure, but I freaked out a bit, possibly more than a bit. I immediately went to the front desk to ask to borrow the hotel printer, they said it was out of order. I could not believe it, I felt so irresponsible. I went to the ladies at the front desk and had to email it to one of their work emails. Guys, she wasn’t getting the email. I sent her 5 emails until, she finally realized she was using her coworker’s account and not hers. I remained calm, thanked her a million times and went off to get on the first shuttle!
The driver said 15 people to a bus, we determined that was not
necessarily the case, we didn’t all fit..in seats. So, some of us had to stand. It was our first travel day shuttle and I loved it. We finally arrived and waited at the Atlanta Airport for a couple hours to check in our bags.
Lesson 1: I learned that I am used to being the trip coordinator when flying.
I found it really hard to accept the help our logistics team was assigned to give us. This was the first lesson God taught me on this race, and I honestly don’t think he is done with me yet. One of our logistics leaders, Matt notices this when he was checking in my bag for me. I didn’t think it was such a big deal until Matt noticed. He apologized and let me answer some the questions the airline personnel were asking me. You see, God does this, he convicts us of things that we don’t even notice in ourselves. God forces us to look at ourselves and check ourselves so that he can grow in us. For me this meant that I needed to be humble, I needed to depend on my team and our logistics team. God showed me how I was not trusting the people that He himself chose to lead us into 5 cities, 2 countries and the second continent.
At this point we were all ready to board the first plane to Newark, New Jersey. I prayed about Lesson 1 while on board. I knew that this would be an issue if I didn’t take it to God and have him hold a mirror up to me to see myself with His eyes. Especially, since our logistics team stays the same throughout the entire race. I learned that it is ok if I am not the part of keeping everyone safe and together.God told me that it is ok to trust that other people can do the same for me. I also learned that in that time where I am a follower and a member of a community it is my duty to be obedient to my peers and leaders. Adventures in Missions prays into any decision they make and I needed to trust that the Lord himself chose these specific squad members to keep me safe and the squad safe. (More on this lesson to come in the next couple months.)
Alright, so back to travel day! We get to Newark, New Jersey. After finding our way through the airport we finally got to our gate and “relaxed” for a few hours. It was late at night on Monday. I called my family and Marco; this was a big deal. I cried like a baby. You see the thing is that I was at this point because of you who have supported me and by the grace of God. Therefore, these calls were my actual goodbyes to the people who mean the most to me. I was at the airport thanks to my family, thanks to you all for your generous support and kind words and prayers and wishes and all of the above. Up until this moment in Newark me leaving the country was still hard to grasp.
Lesson 2: I learned that crying at an airport is normal.
Have you ever cried around people who love you enough to just let you cry it out? Have you ever cried at an airport where it is obvious that you’re either crying because of a reunion or a separation? I have! Except it was very obvious that my cry was due to a goodbye. It was the saddest, most comforting thing that I have ever experienced in my life. My squad mates just let it be. The people and employees that walked past me showed their most comforting looks, the most understanding type of stares. God showed me love through strangers. I didn’t feel alone once. I went to the bathroom, washed my face, brushed my teeth, put on some mascara and decided that I was going to take this travel day minute by minute.
Finally, we boarded the plane, destination: Abidjan, Africa. This flight was going to be 9 hours long. I was dreading this flight because aside from being so emotional I was fighting a sinus infection. Yes the crying helped clear them, but not for long! We boarded the plane. I was one of the last to board due to being one of the last tickets that AIM purchased. No biggie, I sat next to two kiddos. The whole flight I did not move from my seat but once. I ran out of tissue paper to blow my nose and the lovely flight attendant was busy all 9 hours with the party animals who sat right behind me. The entire flight, I promise you. The entire flight I was going through a roller coaster of emotions. I cried when the plane took off. I cried when the plane was about to land. I could not believe that I was on my way to Africa! Guys, Africa!! However, somewhere in the middle I couldn’t believe I was leaving everything I knew behind. I felt angry at myself for being so selfish for leaving everyone I love at home.
Lesson 3: I learned that doing something I love and for the God I love is not selfish.
While on the flight, I prayed to God that he change my heart and mind about feeling selfish and angry for following his call and his mission. I prayed with tears in my eyes because it hurt me to feel that way. Honestly, all my life doing something that makes me happy has always made me feel selfish. The connection in my brain was confused and changed at some point. ( More on this later!)
God told me to remember that I was only following his call and that this mission was not all about me. He said that I needed to love myself the way that He loves me. God loves me like my own father loves me, but more. My dad is an amazing, perfect example of how a father loves his daughter. So, God gave me the vision of my dad hugging me and showing me off to his friends as a kid because of how proud of me he has always been. God gave me this vision to help me understand how much he loves me, and that I need to learn to love myself that way. You see, this mission trip isn’t something that was made possible simply because I wanted to do this. God himself stopped time the day he created me and said that on this day January 7th, 2019 I was going to be on a
flight to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire Africa. He said, “My daughter Marilyn is going to answer my call with a yes and she will visit all nations”. I will be learning this lesson for a while, I will more than likely come back and read my own blog to remind me of God’s words to me.
Well guys, we made it to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire safe and sound! But! Not before cramming two teams, 50lbs packs, day pack, and instruments into a shuttle! When we arrived to the hostel, we had AC in the room for the night, a shower and WiFi!! This was such a blessing because we were able to notify our friends and families that we made it! This was a very long travel day, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Travel day numero uno was a success.
Again, thank you Zuleika for adopting this day. Please keep sharing, subscribing and supporting this mission!
