Part II
Saturday was our day to return home to our families who missed us greatly. For 4 of us, our flight was scheduled for 2:55 PM, leaving us just enough time to finish the last large group training, get our things, check out and head to the airport.
At 9 AM I received a call from my "I'm ready for you to come home so please get out of ATL as soon as you can" husband. Our flight was under an advisory and we could reschedule at no cost to us. Well, there was an 11:20 flight that we could catch if we could switch our tickets. Then comes lesson one: Just because everything seems to be lining up for one purpose doesn't mean that's exactly what God's plan for you is.
We got the tickets: yay!!
The airport shuttle was right there when we came to the front of the hotel: yay!!! Oh, and we had friends joining us with the same idea in mind.
Surely God is opening all of these doors for us so we can make it home to our husbands and kids: no!
We arrived at the airport to find that the machine where we print our tickets was saying our flight was cancelled: couldn't be - DENIAL
At the check-in counter our tickets were printed and we were told the flight was a go: too good to be true!
Through security we banter back and forth who was right the machine or the Airline man: um, the machine.
We glance up at the Flight wall to see our flight was in fact cancelled: but wait why were all these doors opened for us if we weren't meant to get on the flight??
After some moments of indecision and a few changes to our flights, we finally decided it would be wise to take a Sunday "morning" flight back to Baltimore. The earliest flight we could schedule was for 4:20 PM. So, we took it :).
The question on my mind was did we make the right decision to try to leave early? I think we all felt better at the time knowing we at least tried to get back to BWI, but I can't say for sure if it was the right decision. What I do know is in the end everything worked out the way God wanted it to.
So often we think we have God figured out. We are so naive.
Well, it was back to the hotel where we decided to make the best of things. Sad that we missed out on the last talk, but happy to have a place to sleep for the night, the 4 of us went back to the hotel where we reunited with 2 others and all went to lunch.
After we returned to the hotel, one friend had the opportunity to spend some time with a close cousin. Others wanted to rest, and I enjoyed a wonderful walk with 2 friends. Atlanta's weather was significantly warmer and to us it felt almost spring-like.
We returned back to the hotel and enjoyed free appetizers in the 12th floor lounge. We started our dinner of rotating appetizers at 5:30 and quickly increased in number with the rest of our group joining us. Then we were joined with other displaced friends from the Northeast. We talked and just enjoyed each others company until 10:30 at night.
Side note - I forgot my cell phone and missed some calls from my husband who was not too happy that I wasn't picking up. I had extreme feelings of guilt for worrying him and not taking time to call again that night. I did call in the morning once I realized he had called emailed etc. I think I said "I'm sorry" more Sunday morning than I ever have before.
On Sunday we were all able to enjoy breakfast together and thanks to the wisdom of two women who were with us, we enjoyed our own Sunday morning service/Bible study. We were able to sort out all of the wonderful information we were absorbing over the past few days. Also, the 2 wiser women who stayed for the last session on Saturday morning were able to share their notes with us. That last session focused on application - What do we do next?
So, I have one more take away:
Does God's word, His truth entertain us or transform us?
So I pray that I continue to be transformed, and become more of a life giver with my family, friends and the teens I minister to. I am so unworthy of ministering to these young girls, and I know it's only through God's grace that I can.
Bonus: I met with my brother for an hour at the airport while he had a layover to Florida and I waited for my flight home. We do live near each other, but rarely get to just enjoy talking one on one.
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| Northeast Region |
At 9 AM I received a call from my "I'm ready for you to come home so please get out of ATL as soon as you can" husband. Our flight was under an advisory and we could reschedule at no cost to us. Well, there was an 11:20 flight that we could catch if we could switch our tickets. Then comes lesson one: Just because everything seems to be lining up for one purpose doesn't mean that's exactly what God's plan for you is.
We got the tickets: yay!!
The airport shuttle was right there when we came to the front of the hotel: yay!!! Oh, and we had friends joining us with the same idea in mind.
Surely God is opening all of these doors for us so we can make it home to our husbands and kids: no!
We arrived at the airport to find that the machine where we print our tickets was saying our flight was cancelled: couldn't be - DENIAL
At the check-in counter our tickets were printed and we were told the flight was a go: too good to be true!
Through security we banter back and forth who was right the machine or the Airline man: um, the machine.
We glance up at the Flight wall to see our flight was in fact cancelled: but wait why were all these doors opened for us if we weren't meant to get on the flight??
After some moments of indecision and a few changes to our flights, we finally decided it would be wise to take a Sunday "morning" flight back to Baltimore. The earliest flight we could schedule was for 4:20 PM. So, we took it :).
The question on my mind was did we make the right decision to try to leave early? I think we all felt better at the time knowing we at least tried to get back to BWI, but I can't say for sure if it was the right decision. What I do know is in the end everything worked out the way God wanted it to.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those who love him
who have been called according
to his purpose.
So often we think we have God figured out. We are so naive.
Well, it was back to the hotel where we decided to make the best of things. Sad that we missed out on the last talk, but happy to have a place to sleep for the night, the 4 of us went back to the hotel where we reunited with 2 others and all went to lunch.
After we returned to the hotel, one friend had the opportunity to spend some time with a close cousin. Others wanted to rest, and I enjoyed a wonderful walk with 2 friends. Atlanta's weather was significantly warmer and to us it felt almost spring-like.
We returned back to the hotel and enjoyed free appetizers in the 12th floor lounge. We started our dinner of rotating appetizers at 5:30 and quickly increased in number with the rest of our group joining us. Then we were joined with other displaced friends from the Northeast. We talked and just enjoyed each others company until 10:30 at night.
 |
| Our Pow-wow group |
Side note - I forgot my cell phone and missed some calls from my husband who was not too happy that I wasn't picking up. I had extreme feelings of guilt for worrying him and not taking time to call again that night. I did call in the morning once I realized he had called emailed etc. I think I said "I'm sorry" more Sunday morning than I ever have before.
On Sunday we were all able to enjoy breakfast together and thanks to the wisdom of two women who were with us, we enjoyed our own Sunday morning service/Bible study. We were able to sort out all of the wonderful information we were absorbing over the past few days. Also, the 2 wiser women who stayed for the last session on Saturday morning were able to share their notes with us. That last session focused on application - What do we do next?
So, I have one more take away:
Does God's word, His truth entertain us or transform us?
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -
His good, pleasing and perfect will.
So I pray that I continue to be transformed, and become more of a life giver with my family, friends and the teens I minister to. I am so unworthy of ministering to these young girls, and I know it's only through God's grace that I can.
 |
| My brother, Mark, & I in the ATL airport |
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