This morning we all meet up in the hotel lobby around 5:15, way too early but just in time for catching an international flight. There was a little platter of food and juice that we could help ourselves to for breakfast. We loaded up in shuttle for a quick ride over to the airport.
The ticket lines were already getting pretty long, but luckily we arrived just in time to beat a bus load of people into line. As we waited in line Mike and Jeb provided some entertainment with their Nicaraguan flags. We moved right along though and waited for a final good bye to Eliezel before going to security. It was a sad moment to have to say good bye to Eliezel. He was so valuable to our trip and everything that we had been able to do and experience. His life is a testimony of his passion for Christ and for serving others. He brought such a wonderful contribution to our team and will surely be missed! As we were standing in line to go through security we found someone to take a final picture of our entire group with clocks form all of the different time zones behind us.
Going through security was uneventful and we made it onto the plane. I was pretty excited about that on this flight we would be flying over Nicaragua and the ocean in the day light, however, I was also very happy to get some sleep. It was not long before we were back in the U.S. and landing in Atlanta. We had to go through customs, and all made it back in to the U.S. without an issue. After making it through customs we made our way to baggage claim via a speedy shuttle that was quite fun to ride. We also found the restrooms where it was pretty great to be able to actually flush toilet paper again. After getting our bags we had to say good bye to Mike as instead of going back to Boise with us, he was going to visit family in the area. Then we checked our bags for the rest of our flights and went back to the terminal where we waited for our connection flight to Salt Lake.
It was a long flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake but sitting next to Nikki and getting to know her a little more made the time pass quickly. We eventually landed in Salt Lake and then had an easy time making it to our final flight. Our flight back to Boise experienced a lot of unsettling turbulence. Despite the turbulence though, it was one of my favorite air plane rides as I cannot forget how beautiful the clouds looked with the sun peaking through them during our little bound with the turbulence. It was a spectacular ending to our long day of airplanes and airports.
Although we are back home, our trip does not have to be totally over. To begin with, our projects and their results will continue to leave lasting change in the community of Jinotega. God is still continuing the work that He accomplished through us, whether it is growing the Celebrate Recovery ministry, touching mothers in the hospital, transforming lives in the jail, or drawing children who watched a film about Him to have a relationship with Him. Also we will not soon forget what God has done in us. Some of us are coming back with a renewed passion to serve in our communities while others are making larger commitments to the mission field. Whatever the case, we are all returning with experiences and relationships that have and will be influential in our lives as we continue to discover God’s plan and purpose for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment