Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
It started out the same as most mission trips. Hectic work week. Last minute shopping and gift buying for the nationals. And of course, last minute packing. At the airport checking in early for a 9 AM departure, with one connection in Miami. A beautiful connection, too. Perfect under most circumstances. Unless a plane is delayed for mechanical reasons for ninety minutes.
Rule of thumb. Always hang out with the team leader at times of distress. That rule worked well for me, because as we sprinted from one end of the Miami airport to the other, with Sam Ingrassia our team leader bringing up the rear, I noticed he flagged down a cart driver for us. Thank you, God! So as the rest of our team continued to sprint, we blissfully passed them in the little cart.
There's hope, I thought. Maybe they would save the plane for sixteen people connecting from Dallas to an international flight. When we knew our flight was going to be delayed, we called to let them know. Not once, not twice, but between the E3 Partners (the missions agency I was traveling with) Travel Manager and I, five times. "No, we do no hold planes" was the answer we received.
Still, I held out hope. Quickly, we jumped the line to see what could be done with our team of misfits. "No, boarding is closed for that flight. I'm sorry." My heart sank, but being a travel agent, I went into action. I had my computer and reservation system with me. Miami has wi-fi throughout the airport so I logged in as quickly as I could. What about a connection through Bogota? What about taking American, then transferring over to Avianca? Will you endorse the tickets over to Copa to get us there via Panama City?
For three hours, the team sat in a circle praying while the team leader and I discussed options at the ticket counter. Of course, I use that term options lightly. You see, there were not a lot of viable options for us. After about three hours, when it was clear that we were going no where but a local hotel, we sent the team to eat while Sam and I worked with the counter for yet another hour. Our only hope according to them, to fly standby on a flight to Barranquilla on Sunday. The flights were so full that they could not confirm us until August.
Hmmm. Sixteen people flying standby on an already oversold flight. Not an ideal way to start a much anticipated mission trip. We got to the hotel, rested for a few minutes, then went into a team meeting. Sam has been leading teams around the world for nineteen years and has never had something like this happen. We were in unchartered waters. I've dealt with it repeatedly from the opposite side, having some of my passengers face this same situation, due to the Icelandic volcanic ash in the Spring, but I've never missed a connection on any of my previous mission trips.
This is the first mission trip for some of our team members. There are a few family units together, three dad and daughter combinations. One dad and son. I looked around the room in my team meeting, and quickly I knew that if we were to get on that plane, one by one, I should be the last one to make it, if at all. I have been to Colombia six times before. I know the joy that it brings to serve Christ side by side with the nationals. Some of these people need to experience that, too. I want so badly for them to fall in love with Colombia like I have.
As we sat in the meeting, our student minister Doug Schmidt quoted Proverbs 16:9. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." I started to laugh at the irony in the situation. You see, I didn't know if I would have time to blog for our Groupies4God and Monday morning memory verses this week since i would just be arriving in Colombia. So I wrote a different blog and had a different verse chosen to memorize. I even had my 3x5 card written out and with me. I had left the verse for my family back home to memorize as well. The blog started out something like this: "By the time this is posted, I will be in Barranquilla, Colombia..."
Yes, we make plans, but God determines our steps. In a few hours we will return to the airport for the hurry-up-and-wait game. I have no idea what Gods plans are, but I do know I'm right where I need to be. I'm more Spiritually ready for this trip then perhaps any other. if I need to turn around and go back to Dallas tomorrow, then that's what I will do. And I do know that God doesn't make mistakes. I don't know why He's allowed this to happen, but I do know that He is in control of all things. That gives me incredible peace, and in a very odd way, I actually am happy. So as you're reading this, please take some time to pray for us. Pray for wisdom for Sam, our team leader. He's carrying a huge burden right now. Pray for God to do His will and to intervene. I know firsthand that God is a God of miracles. He can do whatever He chooses. So for now, we sit and wait to see what it is, or perhaps who it is, He will choose. One thing is for sure, this is a mission trip like no other.
---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com