a new day from my journal

September 18 10,00am (pacific time)

Tomorrow is the day that I will leave behind everything that I understand and everything with which I am comfortable, only to trade it all in for the unknown and uncomfortable. Scared? Me? Okay yes, all the way down to my little toes. The unknown always provokes some element of fear, but I will not be afraid because God is with me. Well, I will have to go to bed now if I expect to wake up at 2,30 am and be ready to leave for the airport by 3,30.

 

September 19 3,20am (pacific time)

Despite setting three alarms on my cell phone for 2,20 2,25 and 2,30 am, I failed to hear any of them. I guess I learned how to sleep through alarms because of my brothers who had at least three different alarms blaring for at least 10 minutes before budging an inch in their beds. Anyway, more importantly, I have an important cup of Joe to make, itinerary to print out, and some decent clothes to throw on and I have 10 minutes to do it all…

…Haha! I did it! Now onward to LAX.

 

4,30am (pacific time) 

I am at the airpot now. Apparently there ARE times when there is no traffic in LA. Who knew!

 

6,55am (pacific time)

I’m on the first plane of the day, headed to Boston. The whole concept that I am moving across the world is beginning to set in now. I’ve asked myself at least three times what I am doing?!?! I’m sitting next to and talking to a girl about my age from the O.C. I’m starting to crave sushi…should have thought about that when I was still in California. Even still, I mention to God that sushi might be nice, just so He knows. The California girl tells me all about her trip to Europe over the summer and that Prague was her favorite. She tells me all about the best food joints. I’m starting to see more and more that everything that happens in my life was planned before God even formed the Czech Republic or any other corner of the earth. I’m really just enjoying the ride. 

 

3,30 pm (east coast time)

I am in Boston now for a three our layover It will be my last time to make phone calls from my U.S. cellphone. I have to pray first that the Lord will calm my mind and heart as I start to fear the unknown. I then take a little walk because I am very hungry and you won’t believe this. There is sushi! I breath a sigh of relief. Granted, it is an airport restaurant, but I’ll take it! Thank you Lord! I call my mom and we talk for a few minutes before the next plane starts to board. 

 

5,40 pm (eastern time)

A deep breath and I board the next plane to Madrid, Spain, where I will have another three hour layover. I’ll have a chance to practice my spaniard accent ja ja ja

I can’t sleep on this one and it’s a 6 1/2 hour flight. I read a little bit of “Forgotten God” and write this. Time to try to sleep again now that the lights are out. 

I wake-up about a 30 minutes before landing. I fill out the immigration form and the sun starts to rise as we come into Madrid. I’ll never forget this sunrise. 

 

7,15 am (Madrid, Spain)

I spill coffee on my sweater. good start em. Okay so the girl who I met on the first plane told me that Madrid airport would be my favorite…well, I learned a few things, but I wouldn’t say favorite airport. I learned that there is no such thing as personal space in southeast Europe and I learned that if you want to get through immigration, you push. I was encouraged that I could still speak enough Spanish to get where I needed to be. Oh and Americans, be thankful that the airports in the U.S. announce final calls for flights. In Spain, if you miss the boarding time, you don’t get on the plane. Don’t worry, I got on the plane. 

 

10,30 am (Madrid, Spain)

Another thing I learned, people don’t move for you to get into your seat, you just climb over. I make eye-contact with a woman sitting down as a European bust right around me to get into her seat. The woman sitting down smiles and chuckles a bit and I knew then that she too was American. 

I get into my seat and fall right to sleep.

 

1,10pm (PRAGUE!!)

I wake-up and my neck feels just great! I am so happy to finally be in the Czech Republic. All of my fears leave at once and I am just so excited. My bags are some of the first to come onto the carousel and I am thankful. I get onto a cart and walk right outside into a lobby just as my Czech family walks in. 

 

Thank you Lord for bringing me safely to Prague. Thank you for coffee and sushi. Thank you for this opportunity and may I live every day to the fullest. Grow me, change me, fill me, and use me up. 

 

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