WE LEFT OUR HOME IN JONESBORO, AR THIS MORNING AROUND 5 AM TO DRIVE THE 1 1/2 HOURS TO MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL. WE BOARDED OUR FULLY BOOKED FLIGHT TO LGA IN NEW YORK TO DISCOVER OUR SEATING HAD BEEN CHANGED. WE WERE NO LONGER SITTING TOGETHER. WE DECIDED TO TREAT IT AS AN ADVENTURE TO SEE WHO GOD WOULD BRING ACROSS OUR PATH.
ROSEMARY FROM SOUTHAVEN MS ENDED UP SITTING NEXT TO DAN. THEY SOON DISCOVERED SHE WOULD BE TAKING THE SAME SHUTTLE FROM LGA TO JFK TO CONNECT WITH OUR DELTA FLIGHT TO TEL AVIV ISRAEL. SHE WOULD ALSO BE ON THE SAME HOLY LAND TOUR AS WE.
THUS FAR ALL HAS MOVED SMOOTHLY AND THE DELTA AND AIRPORT PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS AND EFFICIENT. EVEN THE SHUTTLE BUS RIDE WAS NOT AS SCARY AS NYC TAXI RIDES I RECALLED FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.THERE WERE SOME INTERESTING NOTES REGARDING TIPPING THE DRIVER.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CHECK IN AT JFK WAS SLOW AND TEDIOUS BUT EVERYONE REMAINED CALM AND PLEASANT. EVEN DAN I MUST SAY.
DAN WAS HAPPY TO DISCOVER A CHILI’S RESTAURANT AT JFK. AS HE PRAYED OVER OUR MEAL HE ADDED A POSTSCRIPT; “GOD PLEASE LET THERE BE HAMBURGERS IN ISRAEL.”
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| Dan's Burger Israeli Style |
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| Thank you Jesus! Coke in any language is a great thing! |
A SWEET LADY IN A JFK BOOK STORE OFFERED TO MAIL THE POSTCARDS I HAD PURCHASED. THE WAY BACK TO OUR DEPARTURE GATE I GOT “LOST” AT STARBUCKS. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER; AFTER MY HEALTHY SALAD FOR LUNCH/DINNER, I MADE THE POOR DECISION MY STOMACH COULD HANDLE A FRAPPE. WHILE DAN IS BUSY MAKING LIFE LONG FRIENDS WITH EVERYONE, I AM BONDING WITH THE LADIES ROOM ATTENDANT.
DAN WAS TELLING ME ALL ABOUT HIS WONDERFUL VISIT WITH A MESSIANIC PASTOR RETURNING HOME ON OUR FLIGHT. A LADY OVERHEARD OUR CONVERSATION BUT APPARENTLY UNDERSTOOD A SMALL PORTION. SHE LOOKED AT DAN WITH ALL EXCITEMENT AND RESPECT ASKED, "RABBI?" DAN WITH HIS CLASSIC DUMBFOUNDED EXPRESION, FINALLY REPLIES, "SAY WHAT?" THAT CONVERSATI0N ENDED. THE LANGUAGE BARRIER WE ALREADY SENSE WILL BE INTERESTING!
THE ATTENDANT IS A FIESTY LITTLE ASIAN. SEVERAL OF US WERE NOTING A SHORTHAGE OF PAPER TOWELS. SHE WAS ADAMANT WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE AUTOMATED TOWEL SYSTEM. “I SHOW YOU...SEE...MOVE HAND LIKE SEE?” WHEN SHE TOO COULD NOT PRODUCE PAPER TOWELS SHE WAVED HER HANDS IN THE AIR AND WALKED OUT SAYING; "SEE NO PAPER TOWELS!" AND YET STILL NO ONE MISSED A BEAT.
THE HEAT IN THE BOARDING AREA IS HORRENDOUSLY WARM. I MEAN AS IN SWEATING LIKE BULLETS HOT. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS, I HAPPENED UPON MAINTENANCE, AGAIN IN THE LADIES, WHO SHRUGGED THAT IT HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR A WHILE BUT COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE IF WE MAKE YOU COOL YOUR NEIGHBOR COMPLAINS OF BEING TOO COLD. AND HERE I AM AT OUR NEIGHBORS HOUSE TYPING WHERE IT IS COOLER WITH MY NEW FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AT GATE 7.
THE END TO DAY ONE IS QUICKLY ARRIVING. WE ARE OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN FLYING INTO THE SUN. ALL SHADES ARE CLOSED TO KEEP OUT THE SOON RISING SUN. WHEN WE ARRIVE IN TEL AVIV IT WILL BE 2:40 PM THEIR TIME. ISRAEL IS 8 HOURS AHEAD OF THE USA. NOW WHY SHOULD THAT CONFUSE OUR INTERNAL TIME CLOCKS? SO WITH OUR BELLIES FULL FROM A HOT PASTA MEAL WE BID YOU GOODNIGHT....WE THINK
AS WE FLY EAST INTO THE SUN, THE SAME SCRIPTURE COMES TO OUR MINDS.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12
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