Traveling Adventures!

We're off!  It's my first time flying for more than two hours at a time. We were supposed to meet the other half of our group in the O'Hare airport before we left for Hong Kong, but their flight out of Indy was delayed several different times.  They still hadn't arrived when it was time to board, but we had instructions to go ahead and fly to Manila as planned regardless if they arrived or not.  They finally boarded after running from their gate and going through International Security.  There was a lot of cheering when we saw the first familiar face come into view! What a relief to have our trip leaders with us as we fly to the other side of the world! 

As we were waiting for the plane to take off, we began to talk with the people sitting around us.  There was a group of students who looked about our age, so of course we wanted to know where they were going.  It turned out, not only were they students studying abroad for the semester, but they were all biology majors from the University of Illinois!  Nice to have a little piece of home on board with me.

The plane is exceptional.  Each passenger has a monitor in the back of the seat in front of them on which they can watch movies, TV shows, play games and listen to music.  There is also a map that follows our route in real time so we can see how far we have gone and where in the world we are at any given time.  In addition, we can see a video of what is right outside the plane.  That was very cool to watch during take-off, but not too long into the flight, the sun went down and the video was dark, not as interesting.

As I write this, we are about seven hours into the flight with another eight to nine to go.  Surprisingly, we aren't too restless yet, keeping busy wandering around, watching movies, and playing cards.  The food hasn't been half bad either.  When we land in Hong Kong we have a two hour layover then fly two more hours to Manila which we will call home for the next three weeks.  What a crazy exciting adventure we're embarking on!  

I can't wait to see what God has in store for our group, the people we meet, and me.  My prayer for this trip so far has been "God, prepare us." So if you happen to read this blog, pray that along with me, please.  I long to see God move in ways that I can't even express, and I know He won't let me down.

Ephesians 3:21

"Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."