Guatemala...Day 1

Sunday April 27
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We loaded our luggage (3 suitcases, 1 huge duffel bag, 1 camera bag, 1laptop bag, 2 carry on suitcases and 1 large carry on) into the truck and headed to church.

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When we arrived, all of our things were loaded into a pull-behind-trailer. I spent some time introducing Carol to the people that would be helping to get Forrest to and from youth functions and trying to chase down Chloe and Cammie for kisses. Chloe and Cammie were more interested in getting to their Sunday School rooms, and if I hadn't been leaving for a foreign country for 8 days, I'm sure I would have marveled at their love for their teachers and the house of God. As it were, I spent a few minutes sulking and pouting.
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We were able to participate in the worship service. Then, the 25 of us who were part of "Team Guatemala" were called to the front of the church to be prayed for. It was an unbelievable feeling. Knowing that we were about to embark on this journey, knowing that God would not only use us to bless others, but that He also had plans to change us and bless us...it was such an humbling feeling. Yet, there was also a feeling of unmatched excitement. Almost like Christmas morning...when you know that there are great gifts waiting for you under the tree, but not knowing exactly what they are or what will be unwrapped first. It was just a broad mix of emotions.
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After we were prayed for, we were dismissed for the airport. We all piled into the church vans and were off.
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The flight into Miami was scheduled for1:40. We checked-in and then had a bit of lunch. Our flight was right on time, and things went smoothly.
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We arrived in Miami a short time later and we had an hour and 15 minutes before boarding our plane at 6:00 (Miami time) to Guatemala City. When we reached the International terminal, we found that our flight had been delayed an extra 45 minutes...no problem, there was a Starbucks in the terminal and I had travel Scrabble.





Our departure time kept climbing. At 7, we were notified that due to "maintenance issues" with our plane, they were calling in another plane and our new departure time would be 8:30. We were informed that our dinner in Guatemala City had been cancelled and that we should eat dinner in the airport. So we did.

Finally, at 8:30, we boarded the plane. We had been in the air for about 15 minutes when something felt wrong. I pulled my earphones out and asked Mark if he felt it. Mark is not easily excitable (understatement), so he rolled his eyes at me and said "No, it doesn't feel wrong, it feels like turbulence. Don't worry about it". I rolled my eyes too, just to let him know what I thought of his experienced-world-traveler-know-it-all-self, and put my earphones back in.

A few moments later, I hear the pilot make a muffled announcement. I pull my earphones out just in time to hear him say that due to a "mechanical failure", we were turning around and going back to Miami. Oh, and he said we shouldn't worry. Hmmm...there is a mechanical failure, we're turning around, don't worry...which statement doesn't belong? It seems to me that the pilot was obviously worried or we wouldn't be turning around.

Our group begins to pray (yes, all of us...yes, out loud). Thank the Lord, we made it back to the airport and landed safely. The pilot then comes back on to let us know that the instrument panel had gone out!!!

The plane is unloaded, and we are told to wait in the terminal for further instructions.

Luke decided to play Airline worker and took over an empty information desk. He also dialed a number listed on the plane and requested that a new plane be sent to our terminal. Unfortunately, a real worker came over and scolded him. Fortunately, we were not tossed from the airport.

After 20 minutes, the airline announced that our flight had been cancelled and that arrangements were being made to rebook our flights and for hotel rooms for the night. We were near the front of the line for re-assignment which was a great thing since it was taking an average of 10 minutes per person to be re-booked. The bad news was that we wouldn't be able to leave Miami until 6pm the following day. There was an early flight, but not enough seats on it to accommodate our group.

Food vouchers, hotel name and new tickets in hand, we went down to claim our baggage. The not-so-customer-service-oriented fellow working the baggage claim area made it clear that we would be in for a long wait if we "insisted on retrieving our luggage" instead of "just letting it go on to Guatemala and picking it up when we got there".

We "insisted". It took a long time. So long that we all sat on the little conveyor belts that had signs that said "Do Not Sit", except for Luke who laid on it, and Mark who laid on the floor.

After an hour, our luggage finally came circling around the carousel. Next stop, 20 minute wait for the hotel shuttle.




It took two shuttles to carry all of us. The men gallantly let the ladies catch the first shuttle, while they waited the 20 minutes for the return shuttle.


After a bit of confusion at the check-in desk, and some very rude "other guests" Mark and I finally stumbled into our room at 2:30am...only to find that our air-conditioner was actually an air-circulator. I took a shot of Nyquil and finally, slept.
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I would like to point out that we somehow managed to get TWO planes that were faulty...

...that Mark, in all of his many, many flights, has never had a plane turn around and go back to the airport.

We later found out that our plane had been circling over the ocean dumping fuel because of concern about landing without an instrument panel. Thank you Lord for protecting us!