Every time I get to travel to other countries my heart rejoices with the excitement of the adventure, the learning and experiencing all the "new" that goes along with it. This trip was no exception, if anything it was intensified as this was not just a week or two long trip for the joy of travel, but a several month long trip with the opportunity to be of service and make a difference for others! We continually thank God for this gift. The gift of serving.
So back to the next part of our journey. We were awakened by the ringing of the alarm 3:45am PST starting our very l-o-n-g day. On our way down the elevator to get on the shuttle provided by the hotel; Fellow Traveler #1: a young man got on from floor 2, and we began to talk. We found out he was from MN on his way to FL. Then he asked us where we were headed. Laren told him Los Angels, as that was our next lay over. But as the conversation continued, Laren shared our destination was Thailand and shared we were going to work in an orphanage/school there. Wow, he was excited! He started sharing all about the ministry he was involved in in Brazil, what they did, etc, etc. Then he would ask more questions about our ministry, our calling, more details. We were hoping to take the shuttle together as that was why he was headed down also, but we had so much luggage that only one other group of three besides ourselves were on that first shuttle of airport directed people. He didn't look like us, with his bandaned head, 2 large studded ears, etc., but he was on fire for doing God's work. What do we look like to people? Wonder what people think of us when they see us?
After standing in a very SLOW moving line, we finally got all our checked luggage on its way, all 10 pieces, and without a single one being over weight! What an answer to prayer! Now moving swiftly to the security check line, long line, but moving. Off came our sandals (we left all our enclosed shoes home knowing we would not need them, wearing only usable shoes/clothes that we would wear while gone), jackets, carry-ons on the table, pocket items out and through the metal detector we each went. Whoops, we hadn't taken out our little zip locked bags of toiletry items or computer out and laid them out where they could be easily seen. So 2 TSA workers went through 2 of our bags with Miles and I as observers while they pulled out what they needed to see and ran it through the scanner again. We were gently scolded and made to promise we would never do that again and we gathered up all our items and raced to our gate. One of the last ones on the plane, but PTL we made it.
We had to complete this same process at the next 2 lay overs but those times we did them properly without any problems. Not one of us was asked to be scanned or patted down (which is what we would have requested if asked to be checked) during our whole trip!! We had been praying very specifically about this very thing, and God heard our prayers. We were very grateful!
From Seattle to LAX Laren sat in between 2 fellow fliers that were not family; Fellow Traveler #2; the women sitting on the isle to Laren's right was a friendly person. Again all the general information shared; where we each were from, going to where, why, etc. Laren shared about Rev 13, and the times we are living in, etc. It was good, she was listening and open. We only wish we had brought material with us to share, to give them a way to easily contact someone or ourselves for that matter. But we hadn't thought that far ahead and were found unprepared. How sad!
Fellow Traveler #3; was a very friendly very sweet Chinese man on his way to Hong Kong where he works part of the time, between there and Los Angeles. Laren visited with him for quite awhile. Not as long as the other man wanted, but Laren doesn't want to pry and has not trained himself to ask questions and be interested in others on a deeper level. He tries and I'm sure he will improve as he listens to God lead in a deeper way. There was an insident that happened on that part of our trip where an older woman LOUDLY accused a young father that he elbowed her in the eye while they were standing at the bathroom. It was ongoing situation the rest of the way to seoul, with a steward and what appeared to be a captain talking with both parties, giving the old lady medicine for her eye, and finally taking both parties and their husband and family for talking. This lady shouted how old she was (78 y/o) and how she had never flown Korean Air before and how she neer would again, and besides that she was going to sue if things weren't made right. Wanting her rights. Did it even happen? If it did was it on purpose or an accident? We don't know. The older lady sat in the row in front of us so we heard everything that went on, after the "supposed or actual" incident happened. The man next to us, along with all of us watched. It was rather sad whether true or not. Many hurting people in this old world.
While we were on our lay over in Seoul, we were getting pretty tired. Davis, our 10 year old was so excited about flying and the whole traveling experience, as were Lexi and Miles, but Davis was more verbal about it. But by the time we got to Seoul, Davis had decided that he didn't like flying so much now. The 13 hour flight from LAX to Seoul had cured him of that. We knew that all he needed was some sleep and the world, including flying would look a lot better. We all slept some on the last leg of the journey. Although, airline seats are not the most conducive to good rest. But it sure was a lot easier and safer than taking a boat like so many faithful missionaries of many faiths had done years ago. We have much to be thankful for!
While we were on the long flight from LAX to Seoul, we were being watched quite closely by a woman; Fellow Traveler #4: who was sitting behind and across from me. As our flight was nearing it's end, she got my attention and started asking questions. Where were we going? What were we going to be doing? How long were we staying? We were Christians weren't we? Was this a mission trip? What denomination were we? I told her we were Seventh-day Adventists. "I thought so, I thought so, I could tell when you were vegetarians and wouldn't eat meat." She and her husband, both oriental, along with a team were on their way to a Myanmar to hold a crusade. They were from LA.
Extremes, all kinds were part of our trip. Cold (-5 degrees C in Korea) with heat, (to 89 degrees F in Bangkok); kind people to harsh ones, excitement to discouragement, energy to exhaustion, being clean to feeling grimy, and many more. We know we ourselves will experience many extremes. Like Elijah, who had a mountain top experience and then feel into deep despair, we need to hold tight to God and let him bring us to the letting go of self so he can create new creatures in Him and have our characters ready for His soon return. Lord, please change our hearts, and while doing that in us, keep us safe under your wing!
We did safely arrive in Thailand and have seen and experienced a lot already. But more on that in my next blog.
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