Our trip begins...pauses...begins again!

Our team left early on Friday morning with the intent of making it to our final destination of San Lucas Guatemala.  Our flight from Salt Lake City left on time and we arrived in Dallas with a bit of a layover.

Dallas had been experiencing some major rains and flooding causing inbound planes to be diverted to other cities and flight crews to become sparse.  Our flight to Guatemala began to be delayed and delayed again but finally we were able to board the plane.

We sat, and sat, and sat some more in the plane.  After 45 minutes the pilot came over the PA telling us that Guatemala City's airport closes at 11pm and our flight time put us in after closing, we would all need to get off the plane cancelling our flight.

One of our team was sitting close to the front of the plane got a good place in line to get our tickets rebooked.  The rebooking process split our team into four arriving flights to Guatemala meaning that most of our team would have to sleep in airports along the way.  Some routing through Mexico City, some via Memphis, Miami, and then Guatemala City, and one lucky one who had a direct flight the next morning from Dallas to Guatemala City.

We hurried to the next gates and waited, and waited, and waited some more.  Eventually to find out that our flights had once again been cancelled.  Another frantic plan in place found all of our flights rebooked for Sunday morning meaning the team was stranded in Dallas for Saturday.

Do you feel it?  There were many opportunities for our team to be discouraged and to give into the stresses of cancelled flights but we saw God's hand in many ways.

1.  My mom and her husband live in Dallas and were on the phone with us making up a plan to host the entire team.  Scrambling to find transportation, mattresses, blankets, pillows, toothbrushes, and even waking up a neighbor to help them with this list for 14 people to come stay in their home.  They have hosted us and shown us amazing hospitality and generosity that has been overwhelming and makes me proud to know them and and call them family.

2. My sister generously used some rental car points and rented two mini-vans for us to use today in Dallas allowing us to get around and even get to church

3.  We were able to attend Saturday church at The Village and were encouraged in worship and the Word.

4.  Due to a scheduling change in our trip we made weeks ago, Saturday was supposed to be our tourist day in Guatemala, so the ministry we had planned to do is unaffected.

5.  Our team remains in high spirits and has been encouraging each other in amazing ways.  Each of you should be proud.

So that's our last two days.  We will try again tomorrow morning to get to Guatemala City.  Please pray that the weather holds off and that our bags make it to Guatemala.  God is good and in control.

Sean