Turns out the combination of slow, measured movements and tiny last-minute hitches was just too much. I got to the airport around 5:55 AM, but that was about 30 seconds too late. Delta Airlines requires all passengers to print their boarding passes at home or print them in the airport no later than 30 minutes before their flight departs: I was SO close. A helpful man got me a seat on the next available flight (departing at 1pm), so my friends drove me home and we all got some much-needed sleep, although I made sure I was plenty early for my next flight.
When I arrived in the Atlanta airport, I thought that my whole team was going to be waiting on me. In fact, all five teams currently in training camp were in the airport. We even sat around for an additional hour after I arrived, so I must not have slowed things down much. When it was time to go, our team was assembled and given an envelope with an address and $40 and told to get to the address. Our team worked together very smoothly and we efficiently used a combination of directions from locals and a ride on the tram system to get to our destination (hauling our luggage ourselves, mind you).
The address turned out to be a homeless shelter called Atlanta Safe House. After a brief orientation, we split up and headed out into the city to do some walking ministry/evangelism/love for whomever we ran into.
The next morning we were bussed to a retreat center an hour or two from Atlanta where we’ve spent the last few days in training, orientation, worship, prayer and preparation. Tomorrow morning we bus back to the airport and depart for Kenya (via Dubai, UAE) around 9 PM.
Pray our team experiences the Lord’s direction and blessing and His firm hand of guidance. Pray I truly begin to know the humility required of me by the Lord and that He would reveal Himself to me in the ways only He knows how. Pray that I may know the Lord’s presence as I face new and exciting challenges and that I may have the persistence to develop my relationship with the Lord who saves us.
