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Halfway There

Well the first leg of our journey was a success. I currently am sitting in the Amsterdam Airport awaiting to board our flight to Cape Town. This flight from Boston to Amsterdam was fun because I got to experience my first ever in-flight meal, and it was delicious! I also was able to watch movies on the video screen in front of me, so I got three in on the 6 1/2 hour flight, The Descendants, 30 Minutes or Less, and The Artist. The Descendants was a great movie and I highly suggest that.

As I sit here writing this, there is a gentleman over by the large windows here in the terminal which overlook the runway, and he is currently going through the traditional Islamic practice of prayer, consisting of the kneeling then standing and recitation of the prayer, all while facing Mecca. As I watch him do this, I have two major thoughts running through my head. First, a deep sense of respect and awe for the commitment he exhibits to his faith and the rituals that go with it. No matter what Christians want to say or think about people of other faiths, I think there is something we can all take away from their commitment, and no reservations about displaying and discussing their faith. Second, he serves as a reminder to me of why I am coming on this mission trip... that there are people in the world who need to know about the love and grace that Jesus Christ brings.

Our journey is not complete, as we are currently in a three hour layover for a flight that will take us 10 and half hours to Cape Town, South Africa. I am still excited about our mission, the work we will do, and the people we will serve. That is my long-term vision for this trip, but full disclosure, my main focus right now is to get somewhere I can get some sleep!

A big thank you to all of you that are keeping myself and the rest of our team in prayer, it is greatly appreciated. I hope to update you all on our progress once we reach Cape Town.

Be Blessed!

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