Chattanooga to Dubai: The adventures have begun!

In my last entry I wrote “Let the adventure begin.” Little did I know that it would begin in Pittsburgh. Due to weather—then traffic build up, our plane was delayed 3 hours (1 spent on the runway). We finally took off, but once near New York, the JFK traffic controller told us to circle a bit because he could not let us land, (either due to weather or traffic--never figured out which one). After circling for a while, our pilot decided we didn’t have enough fuel to continue waiting, and so we turned around and went back to Pittsburgh!

I was sitting next to a musician who was traveling with 2 other girls from his band. Since there were no more flights going out that evening, we decided to rent a car and drive to NY (6 hours). It was, of course, too late for me to catch my flight at JFK—but I figured I’d at least be there already.

A further complication: my bag was sent to La Guardia instead of JFK. We arrived at JFK at 3 AM and I did the “tour” of the airport to find which terminals to go to for my missing bag and the Emerites Airline desk. By 8:30 AM I was put on standby for the 11:20 flight to Dubai (along with 40 other people!). Then I went to get my lost luggage. I waited a little over an hour until the lady returned from lunch; she could not locate the bag at all even though the computer stated it was in La Guardia. I was really praying, I tell you. Finally, she was able to get a delivery number—we went to the baggage drop off area, and there it was, sitting in front of the door (we were both surprised—what an answer to prayer)!

I got my bag at 10:15, the time I was supposed to present myself at the Emerites counter to see if I could get on the flight. When I arrived, some passengers informed me that they had called a bunch of names already (and mine was not among them), and apparently everyone else had to be rerouted via London or Amsterdam. At that very moment, an agent called out and said that there were 3 seats left. They called a couple’s name and then a few other people who did not respond or who were traveling with someone. Finally, they called my name. All this last minute stuff, and the Lord managed to get me on!

A funny side note: I was in a real rush to get to the gate before it closed—ran the whole way. At security check, I first stood in a shorter line, but a worker informed me that they were closing. Standing in the other line, I glanced over and watched the last person go through the closing line. Then the man behind the machine waved me over. I looked around to see who he was calling—there were people all over the place—and discovered he was really calling me. I grabbed my stuff and got through immediately (which made the original worker mad—oh well). Needless to say, I was the last one on the plane just before the flight was closed.

Worried? Nah! With all these experiences, how can I doubt that the Lord’s watching over me! In Chattanooga, I expected to pay $50 for a weight overage of 20 lbs, but when I told the agent the reason for my trip to Uganda, she didn’t charge me a dime. Also, re the car rental to NY, we were going to split the cost 4 ways. Well, the boss of the other three travelers told them that he would reimburse them, so I didn’t even have to pay for gas or toll roads! And I was supposed to pay for weight overage at the Emerites, but because it was so last minute, they did not weigh the bag, but took it personally down to loading area! The Lord has saved me some money today—and is giving me some serious training for Uganda! On top of this, I’ve had some incredible witnessing opportunities. How can I doubt that He is in charge and that everything else will somehow turn out (for the best)!

I’m on standby for the flight to Entebbe, Uganda tomorrow morning—they only have one flight a day, so I’ll be there early to get my name on a list. I’m taking a hotel in Dubai—it’s now June 2 at about 10 AM, and I am looking forward to sleeping in a horizontal position (the first time 2 days). I hope to post this tomorrow from the airport.

Btw… Thanks so much for your prayers. I covet your prayers! (And thanks for the comments guys! They mean a lot, too!

Let the adventure begin!

I leave on at 9:37 AM on May 31 from Chattanooga and arrive in Entebbe, Uganda (via NY and Dubai) on June 2 @ 2:45 PM. I won't touch American soil again until July 10 @ 5:30 PM.

Something old, Something new

SOMETHING OLD

My first impressions of Africa were probably based on the movie Born Free. My sister and I came out of the theatre dreaming of Africa in exotic dimensions: doing safaris off-road style; sleeping out in tents, cozy under mosquito nets and surrounded by strange noises, and of course, raising lion cubs (and maybe a zebra or two) of our very own. Africans figured little into our visions of Africa.

Films such as Born Free are, granted, beautiful stories set against the pristine backdrop of endless blue skies and Savanna countryside, but they also perpetrate imperialistic attitudes—the free-spirited and adventurous white man, attempting (and sometimes failing) to tame a wild continent—and not getting a spot of dirt or wrinkle on his white, linen clothing. I definitely grew up with these imperialistic attitudes; (being Canadian with two grandparents born in England probably didn’t help). It had never occurred to me that maybe white man did not belong in Africa—that colonization had little to do with “civilizing” Africa, and more with exploiting it, that “our” role has always been the consumer and “theirs” the supplier. Oh yes, the poor children with bloated tummies in Africa made me wince; I felt sorry for them and hoped someone was helping them.

SOMETHING NEW

Another film totally rocked my perception of Africa: Invisible Children: Rough Cut. Three young men traveled to northern Uganda and found that, while lion cubs are still born free, the children in that area definitely are not. A 22-year old war, an unscrupulous terrorist group, a people driven into displacement camps, major shortages of food and water… and educational opportunities—our school viewed it all on a screen. After the film’s showing, the auditorium was deathly quiet—no one clapped or turned to their neighbor to talk, or hurriedly left their seat to get to their lockers. Shock turned to action; since then Collegedale Academy has raised a total of $42,000 for the invisible children school for schools program—winning the School for Schools contest by making the most money for its designated school in Uganda two semesters in a row.

Hence this trip: I was picked to be the teacher to take part in the teacher exchange program. At the moment, I am assigned to “Sir Samuel Baker” school, and I do not yet have a Ugandan counterpart, but am assured one (I think). Of course, everything is subject to change (as Amy, our coordinator, put it, flexibility means everything in this project: read the itinerary but expect modifications—it’s a good thing I enjoy spontaneity).

Isaiah 58 (ALL of it!)

24-hour walkathon--Travis' idea for a fundraiser

Sore but satisfied Walkathoners


This text has grown on me, and has become a running theme in my life. In essence, it’s saying that true religion is more than going through all the motions and rituals of church—it’s acting on behalf of God’s people—that means everyone, and in particular those who are suffering. (Someday I’m going to find that bumper sticker: God bless everyone. No exceptions.) It’s telling me: Lynne, your bench-warming days are over! Get up to bat! Here is a bit of my favourite part:

6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.