Thursday - Planes, Vans, & Old Friends

The team made it safely to Lima on Thursday. Leaving was hectic and fun and blessed. Packing and repacking bags at the church allowed us to not only fit in the mission supplies that we really NEEDED to bring, but also everything extra that I really WANTED to bring. Family and friends gathered around us to pray for safety, wisdom, and that God's plan would be executed. (Thanks to ALL of you who prayed no matter where you were!) Flights were on time, smooth, and uneventful, and all of the luggage showed up undamaged. God showed Himself in the neatest way in the Lima airport! We had cleared the first checkpoint (sorry - I always get customs and immigration mixed up!) and were headed over to baggage claim when a voice said, "BRIAN!!" Lo and behold, it was a friend of ours, Miguel, who served as a translator on the very first IWC trip to Peru. We hadn't seen him since, but he recognized Brian! He is working nights at the airport and was just getting off work. As he chatted with us about Brian's son, Kevin, (aka Bunky) and our current mission project, he led us through the baggage scan area to a short, quick line. What a blessing! Not much to tell about the rest of that day - we hit the hotel and crashed!!