Departure Day

Last night wasn’t the most restful sleep I’ve had recently.  Anticipation of the journey interfered, but there will be time to sleep later—like . . . in two weeks.  I arrived at the church at 7:35 A.M. this morning and several of my team members were already there, busy placing the last-minute supplies into suitcases.  Each suitcase was weighed and filled to the extent possible.  Robert counted (and recounted) the number of suitcases being certain that we each had two bags to check. All sixteen were then loaded into the church bus with space remaining for carry-on items and eight people. 

By 8 A.M., all the team had arrived with family members ready to bid them farewell for ten days.  Tonya and Laura Nash won the award for having the greatest “fan club.”  Some loving church members were busy preparing breakfast for us and Dr. Geary was there to pray with us before departure.  Everyone gathered together a few minutes after 8 and, tearfully, Vicki Jo Stevens passed out sweet handmade cards that the Club 56 children had made for each of us and also presented us with decorated goody bags they had prepared for our trip.   This sweet, compassionate gesture means so much.  I want to think of a way for us to express our gratitude.  I welcome suggestions and hope some of our readers will send along their ideas. 

Before breakfast, Craig Harris offered a blessing and we enjoyed some food and fellowship.  Next we took a team picture.  Lots of cameras flashed with everyone wanting to capture this moment.  Then, we formed a circle and Dr. Geary offered a few words and a beautiful prayer telling us that what we were doing is “noble”.  That word is seldom heard and it resonated with several of us.  His prayer was beautiful as he reminded us that God has already gone ahead of us to Sierra Leone and that he will be with us throughout the journey--beside us at times, as well as behind us--ready to catch us when we fall or grow weary.

We said our goodbyes, loaded our carry-on items on the bus, and left with our trusted driver and friend, Craig Harris. Nickel Creek was playing in the cd player and I heard one of my favorite songs, “When You Come Back Down.”  Although not a religious song, I realized that God was sending a message through that song, He is our solid rock, he wants us to fly, but he will be here when we come back down. 

We arrived at the Nashville airport, weighed our luggage (thankfully, no weight issues), got our boarding passes and made our way to the gate.  The plan was to have our first devotion before we boarded but there was a huge crowd that hindered our plan.  As Robert keeps stressing… “flexibility” is the key word.   At last, we found a space that was quieter and the devotion began.  Before it ended, we heard our names being called with a warning that we had three minutes to get on board.  The race was “on.”  We easily made it to the plane and had plenty of time before lift off. 

Well, the first “leg” of our trip is over and we are on board the plane ready to take off from Washington DC to Brussels—a 6 hour, 47 minute flight.  Everything has gone smoothly to this point.  Thanks be to God.  There is only one problem to date…there hasn’t been time to sit down and find a way to connect to the Internet so I can publish this post.  Hopefully, that can happen in Brussels.  Until then, I guess I’ll just keep writing. . . just kidding.

Enough for now.  Keep praying for safe travels. 

Special Request:  I ask that you pray especially for Robert today. He has so much to manage.  He does an amazing job but I know it can take its toll.  May God breathe peace over him today and over the next 24 hours.

Jane