Veracruz | Day 1

Well, it has been an eventful day, and hasn’t turned out exactly as we expected.

The plan was: 

Board plane in Austin TX at 3:40PM CST, quick connection flight in Houston around 5:40PM CST, and be in Veracruz MX by 7:40PM CST.

What happened instead was: 

Board plane at 4:25PM CST, plane did not take off until about 5:45PM CST due to issues with the plane needing to be repaired before take off (thankful for that), but unfortunately this meant that we did not arrive in Houston until 6:30PM CST. 

At this point our plane had already left. United Airlines booked us a new flight for in the morning that will take us through Mexico City now, and set us up with a hotel to sleep in for tonight along with food vouchers. 

It’s easy to get discouraged by this. Especially when things aren’t going to plan on day 1 of the trip. It’s easy to get consumed by the negatives of the trip and lose site of the amazing things that God is and will be doing through it. So, just knowing there is a purpose in all of this, whatever that may be, helps us to press through to the next day and continue on this journey. 

And, perhaps one day, we will be able to look back on this moment and see exactly why God allowed it to play out this way. At which point, we can let you know as well!

That said, we are all settled in at the temporary hotel in Houston, grabbed a late dinner, and we are now laying down to sleep so we can be rested and on time for our flight tomorrow.

More updates to come.

We press onward to day 2!!

NOTE FROM DALE:

Today was what I’ve learned to expect, and really what I’ve always expected on a mission trip. That is, the expectation for plans to get interupted, along with that is the expectation to need to adapt and accept situations that are less luxurious than what I’m accustomed to…i.e. food, lodging, and itinerary.

Our connecting flight from Austin to Houston was delayed. Therefore we missed our flight to Veracruz. The airline put us up in a hotel. The hotel is not luxurious and is run down and not the cleanest. Nor is it in a very safe neighborhood. We had to walk to a fast food place and walk through the drive-thru.

One team member was promptly approached by someone asking for money. The team member gave his food to the man. Then I shared my food with my team mate. Neither of us got to feast like we intended, but I think the food somehow tasted better. It might have been for that one man that God delayed our flight.

Regretfully, I am ashamed to say, I did not share the gospel with that man. I was still in too much of a hurry for reasons I’ll keep to myself. But we did pray for his salvation later.

I pray I am more ready tomorrow should God give me a tomorrow.