Our return trip began early in the morning (4am- or 10pm Saturday Michigan time). We said our tearful goodbyes to Howard, Ruth, Pastor Eduardo and our host families. We arrived at the Santiago airport with plenty of time to get to our gate. We praised God as our trip seemed to be starting out extremely well (with only a minor glitch of Mindy being stopped by security as she realized she had a souvenir letter opener in her carry-on which they quickly detained. Yet somehow Karlie was able to get on with a finger nail file lol) We arrived in Madrid on time and got on our plane for the states. We boarded with ease and all found our seats. Stephanie Hamrick and I both took a dose of Dramamine to help us sleep on the 9 and a half hour plane ride. We both quickly fell asleep only to wake up 2 hours later as we realized that the plane was still sitting at the gate due to air traffic control issues. So the 9 and a half hour plane ride turned into 12 hours. Luckly the Dramamine caused me to sleep through most of it.
When we arrived in Chicago, we quickly discovered that the flight that was coming from Detroit to Chicago had been cancelled due to a tornado and bad storms in Detroit and all the outgoing flights that night had been booked solid…. Hmm….. that makes this smooth trip home a little more interesting.
Ann got in line and rebooked us the only thing available, tickets to Flint first thing the next morning, Monday. Once we had our boarding passes, the group soon decided that we would rather rent 3 cars and road trip it the 6 hours back home. Although we would be arriving around 3am, this would be best since some had to work the next day and some had to get home to their children. We called and booked rental reservations for only $125 total! We arrived at the rental place and found out that the man on the phone was a little off in his quote…. About $600 dollars off. That left us with a little dilemma. This was WAY more than we could afford. So, the only option was to rent one car for the people who needed to be home and the rest of us would get a few hotel rooms and leave the next morning. Chuck, Michelle, Gary, Ann and Karlie were in the car ready to go and the rest of us were on the bus back to the airport to find a hotel, leaving me, the less than capable assistant leader in charge for the night… yikes! 10 mintues later Ann calls and says she needs my mom in the car since she paid and she was sending Gary in her place.
After some kinks in the bus system, we finally meet up with Gary and headed out on the shuttle for the hotel. We are all sitting there talking about how nice it will be to finally sleep horizontally instead of in a chair when we noticed that a suitcase resembling Gary’s carryon is sitting on the curb of the hotel that we just dropped a bunch of people off at. He was convinced it was someone else’s and we prayed that Gary’s is still on the shuttle. Ha ha… nice try! It was Gary’s. And it just so happens to contain his passport and boarding pass for Monday’s flight. Gary and Anna get back on the shuttle as I go to check us in for the night. Praise the Lord it was still there and they came back in one piece ready for a big dinner at McDonald’s and a restful night’s sleep.
This morning we got on our flight and made it home safe and sound (Finally after about 40 hours of travel). Although I was a little stressed out when there were only 2 seats left on the shuttle to the airport and the rest of the group waited to get on while Kari and I checked in. Oh and let’s not forget that Kari’s luggage somehow got lost on the way to Flint… No, we cannot make even one flight without some glitch.
Although we do not return home with stories of hundreds of new commitments to Christ, we do know that our work was well worth it for the kingdom of God. We cannot wait to hear, whether in this life or the next, of how this work has spurred on Pastor Eduardo and his church and all of the fruit it bears . We know that people heard the word of God proclaimed and we now leave it in His hands and trust that He will finish the work there.
Thanks so much to those that supported us financially and lifted us up in prayers throughout this crazy adventure. Keep Spain in your prayers as they are a nation that is in major need of Jesus! Also, pray for Howard and Ruth, the missionaries, and Pastor Eduardo and his church. Although our ministry there is over, they have a long road ahead of them.
Besos y abrazos,
Steph Langolf
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