Day 1 - Waiting and Traveling

July 16, 2011

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" -Psalm 27:14

We made it to Miami. That was it.

The team checked into the Tampa airport at 5:00 am. Boarding went exceedingly smooth. Someone said later that should have been our first clue of what was to come. It never goes that smoothly. We made our way to the gate with only minor glitches, like Barry Dowdy getting pulled aside for pat-down at security. Still haven't heard the story there.

We got right to the pressing business of the moment which for some was hitting the Starbucks, and for others was finding a corner of the Tampa airport floor. We boarded smoothly, the doors of the airplane closed, we taxied out, and then the captain let us know there was an electrical problem on the airplane. So we turned around, went back to the gate, and waited. And waited. And waited. What was probably 45 minutes later they finally said for everyone to clear the airplane. It was going to take a long time to fix the problem.

They weren't kidding. Eleven hours later we took off for Miami.

In those eleven hours, we slept, read, talked, walked, ate, and mentally prepared for the week ahead. I was impressed by the attitude of the team. "Hey, it is what it is. God will either get us there or we will go home." In the words of a former trip coordinator for Honduras, "No problema!" Even when the pilot gave us a crusher of a landing, we took it in stride. We are really not in control here.

We found out that there was no way we were going to Honduras today. Instead, American Airlines sent us to a hotel, gave us meal vouchers, and booked us on a flight for the morning. God-willing, we will be in Honduras by 11 am tomorrow morning.

All of this has brought Psalm 27 to my mind. Not that we have wicked people advancing upon us as he wrote about, but that in adversity, he called for waiting. He knew God would deliver him as needed. In fact, he said it this way, "I remain confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (v13). He knew God would act. He knew God would deliver. So his next thought followed naturally: "Wait for the Lord."

Today, we waited for the Lord, and the Lord acted. The Lord reminded us that our time schedule and his are often not identical. So, I write this from a hotel in Miami, not a hotel in Honduras. It's all good... in God's time.

No problema.

Remember something very important right now...God loves you, and so do I.

One Day Until Honduras

The mission team from St. Andrews travels to Honduras tomorrow. We will meet at the church at 4:00 am and begin our day of traveling together as a team. Tampa airport, Miami airport, and then Tegucigalpa airport in Honduras.

I've been on vacation. My wife, oldest daughter, and I were on St. Augustine Beach all week. A little fishing, a little poolside, and a lot of sunshine. We got back yesterday, went to a wedding rehearsal last night, and this morning I officiated a wedding of friends of mine, Pastor Mike DeArruda (he was the interim pastor before I came to St. Andrews) and his new bride, Amy. The rest of the day was spent getting ready. Right now, my bags are packed except the few items I'll throw in after I shower in the morning.

This week, we will be stay at a ranch called Rancho El Paraiso. Paradise Ranch. When I was there in 2008 the ranch had wireless internet. If it still does, I hope to be updating this blog all week long. Check back daily. I'll try to post the best photos of the day as well.

Above all, be part of the "home team" and pray for us. Pray for safe travel there and back, of course. But also pray that the mission will go well, that we will forge strong relationships with the locals, and above all, that we will have opportunities to share Christ as the source of our work.

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." (1 Peter 3:15)

Before the Journey

It is July 4. The team and I leave for Honduras in 12 days. I've lost track, but I think this will be my sixth trip to that country. It is about the 15th mission team that has gone from a church I have been serving.

There is something about this country that keeps me coming back. It is an emotional connection to be sure, but it is something more. Something deeper. Something in the soil, the green hills, the people, the heavy air. On a previous trip I identified that as opening "a memory of the garden God planted at the beginning of all things." Maybe that's it. Maybe going back is a spiritual journey to where I ultimately want to be-in the physical presence of God.

Whatever that something is, I am going back to this country. This blog will journal that trip. God willing, the internet at the ranch will work and I will be able to submit daily posts while in the country.

I invite you to join me on this journey through this blog and through prayer.