Sunday - December 24, 2006

We arrived at the airport in time to catch our planes. It was hard knowing what to do since all the signs were in Russian and the driver didn’t know that much English. Phoebe’s plane and mine left at 6:45. Dr. Ashworth’s left at 6:50, but poor Justin T didn’t leave until 1pm. He had to sit in the airport and stare at the ceiling for a long time.

Phoebe and I had to wait about 15 minutes before our plane started to board. Our seats were together and we got to talk some. Then my stomach started to complain and I began to worry. I asked Phoebe to distract me and she did a pretty good job. However, by the time we got to Amsterdam, my stomach won out.

After a visit to the restroom, we had to run across the whole airport in order for Phoebe to make her plane. Running with an upset stomach is not a good idea. After I made sure Phoebe got on her plane, I went to the restroom and then found my terminal.

I camped there for five hours until my flight was to leave. I went through customs one hour before the plane was to leave and then sat in the holding pen for one hour. At last they boarded us on the plane. The flight from Amsterdam to Memphis was 10 hours long. It seemed like 100 years with my stomach and head cold. It did get down to –88 degrees Fahrenheit outside which was rather neat to see.

We landed in Memphis and went through customs. I was afraid they would send me back because I looked so peaked, but they let me through. I had a two-hour lay over in Memphis, so I found my terminal and laid down on top of my backpack to try to catch some sleep.

I fell into a deep sleep and was awakened by a lady tapping me on the shoulder. She asked if I was headed to Dallas/Fort Worth. When I said I was, she told me that my plane was currently boarding. Praise the Lord that she woke me up! Otherwise I would’ve missed my plane.

What is even more impressive is that she didn’t work for the airport nor did she board the plane. After thanking her, I jumped up and ran to the line that was boarding onto the plane. When I was on the plane, I began to wonder about the lady who woke me up.

Who was she, and why did she bother to ask me if I was going to Dallas/Fort Worth? Most travelers are so rushed they don’t speak to other people, and not only that, she didn’t get on the plane with me. Was it an angel? I don’t know. But I do know that God was watching over me and sent the lady or angel to wake me up so I could continue on my way home.

When we landed, I went out to the luggage claim area. My parents saw me and they looked like they hadn’t slept in a week. Later they told me it was because they were so shocked at how white I looked. They said I was as white as the coat I was wearing. I cheerfully told them that I was actually doing much better than I had been and was also looking much better.

All of my luggage arrived (Praise God none was lost!) and we took it out to the van. There were pillows in the back seat and I slept the three hours home. Home sweet home, bed sweet bed.

Overall, I can see God’s hand in the whole trip especially in my illness. I got a head cold, but it only bothered me when I was not needed to help with the program. Also, I didn’t get the stomach flu until we were done with the meetings and a restroom was handy. It would have been terrible if it had hit while we were driving all night to the airport.

God kept us safe several times on the road. He watched over our luggage. All of our luggage made it safely to Ukraine and back to the U.S. without being lost or stolen. God was able to speak through us to many people while we were over in Ukraine. I am very thankful He was able to use me as a tool in His great work. What an awesome God we serve!

If you have a chance to go on a mission trip, I would tell you to go. I learned so much from other Christians. Also, God used things, either big or small, to teach me lessons that I needed to learn. Even if you can’t go on a mission trip, you can witness to the people around you. Just by a smile or a kind word, you can spread the love of God. In everything, in everyday, put God first and best, and you will be richly rewarded.