flying over Greenland

I know this is backwards in time, but I am finally able to connect with the internet with my computer... I wrote this when flying over greenland on Friday 7/10 or was it 7/11??? not sure when the time changed for me... here's what I wrote:

The beginning - day 1

Right now I’m sitting on the plane, about 2 ½ hours from Frankfurt, Germany… Flying is such an amazing thing… I’m sitting in this “room” with a bunch of strangers… Napping, watching a movie, eating… then hours later (and I do mean many many hours!) I am transported into another world - a different language - and maybe even different life styles… because I don’t have a window in this room, I can’t see the world pass under me… soi t almost feels like magic…

At first I was a little bummed about traveling by myself and not with the Slovakia Team (since I’m staying longer, I needed to make my own reservations instead - using my miles I ended up on a different airlines than the rest of the team). But being by yourself gives you opportunities you might not have had otherwise… take for instance, the first leg of my trip: Portland to Seattle… in this itty bitty plane (a first for me - only 3 seats across - and very loud….) But do you know what else this plane had? A View!!! It didn’t fly as high as the a regular airplane… so I saw the most magnificent view of western Washington… and Puget sound, and the magnificent islands sprinkled all over (I had no idea!!!) To see an area I grew up in, from a different view point - to see what God has created with a new awe… I don’t think I’ll take for granted my surroundings anymore…

The other opportunity given to me was to meet this wonderful lady at SeaTac airport… we met standing in line for lunch… chatted, small talk that you do with a stranger… she ended up inviting me to join her while we ate… it turned out she’s from Iowa, traveling on business… on her way home… we had a lot in common… moms, grandmothers, and Christians… her sister and brother-in-law were missionaries with Mission Aviation for many years (our church is quite involved with Mission Aviation)… and is was her birthday… so instead of sitting alone on her birthday we sat and chatted and had an enjoyable lunch…

I know, I’m rambling… sleep deprivation! But also amazed and blessed… this trip has started out “softly” but wonderful… can’t wait to see what comes next!