A Nerve Wracking Beginning

I just can't wait to tell you about our trip to Colombia.

Nineteen Fielder Church members from our three

campuses departed on Friday, June 21st.

Here are our departure instructions.

My daughter Susan took me to the airport.

We were determined not to be late, so she let me 

out where I thought we were to meet right on time.

Only problem--nobody there.

While she went to park I started down a long

hall with my giant suitcase full of gifts, etc., and

my carry on, while wearing my backpack.

Almost immediately a young man looked at me

and asked, "Do you need some help?"

And from that moment on I accepted ALL help offered!

I found the group. Susan found the group.

The group had to change ticket counters.

We trudged back past where I had started and

got in a nice short line to check in.

Jim and Elizabeth Parks insisted I go ahead

of them, making me first.

Someone set my huge checked bag, which we had 

weighed at forty something pounds before we

left home, on the scale. 56.5 pounds. NOOooooo!

Susan wasted no time opening it, and my new

friends started accepting items out of it

and putting them in their bags. 

Their kindness was already showing.

Jim, Elizabeth, Susan, and me before disaster struck!

But that problem paled in comparison to the next

one which jumped up.

I was not on the roster for that flight.

And it was full. My heart was sinking. 

Then the gate agent found my name on an earlier 

flight which was about to depart!

She rushed us off (back down that long hall again)

to try to catch it.

We rounded the corner to find a long security line.

(This is Gate A 11. If you are departing there, you need

to just spend the night at the airport. It is HORRIBLE.)

My girl nudged me along, asking people if we

could go ahead of them because "My mom is

going on a mission trip (the old mission trip card)

and is about to miss her flight."

Few looked very happy about it, but

we advanced to the head of the line...

which turned out to be the line going nowhere.

We stood there for-ev-er with the time ticking away.

It's not over.

Susan had shifted something to my carry on bag which

could not fly. I had tears in my eyes when they 

pulled it out for screening.

Slow, nonchalant screening.

When she finally got to it, the screener did throw

  the item away quickly and release me.

Thank you, Lord, I was very close to my gate.

The last group was being boarded when I got there,

but I made it!

I think I had about 5 minutes to spare.

If our leader had not had us change ticket counters...

If Jim and Elizabeth had not put me ahead of them...

If Susan had not helped me to the head of the line...

Any one of those three...

there is no way I could have made my flight.

God was working miracles from the start.

Those of you who read about my travels know this

could not have happened to a better person.

My nerves settled down as soon as I was on the plane.

It did not shake me up in the least to arrive in Miami

before the 18 others.

As it turned out, I was met by Shane from 

Compassion International, who took me to the

Centurion Club for a lovely lunch.

Meanwhile back at DFW my friends new and old

were gathering in a circle praying for me.

Sweet things.

I should have been praying for them. 

 Their flight was delayed at least twice, so

I don't remember what time they finally

arrived in Miami.

At least they all knew who Linda was from the start!

They were so glad to see me, and I them.

It was nice to fly on to Bogata, Colombia,

all on the same flight!

I told our leader, David Hynson, that I was really

rather glad the trip started as it did.

What kind of beginning would it be to my blog

if I just routinely arrived and boarded with my group?

(Recalling the event, though, is definitely

making my innards churn!)

Much more to come, compadres!

It will make you want to go!

OVERSIMPLIFICATION: Are you guilty?

Back in the middle ages, I was on the 

high school debate team.

As I remember it, we had to be prepared to debate

either side of an issue.

Today, however, people seem to find it a requirement

to be 100%, totally, completely on one

side or the other of any and all issues.

No compromise. No exception.
Most of us in no way believe there are two
sides to every issue.
Only the right side--our side.

What shall we consider first? How about immigration?

It's either "Build a wall, close the borders, and

'throw the bums out that are here illegally.'"

Or...

"Put out the 'Welcome All' mat.'"

 Neither of those in all practicality will work.

Perhaps the hottest debate in Texas:

Gun control.

It's either "Let anybody who passes a

 background check of some sort own an AK 47,"
Or...
"By law take away all weapons from everybody!

Then we will live in safety."

Or this: Most of you either think the Democratic
party or the Republican party is at least almost
 completely right.
You may not like to admit it in the light of day,
but you TOTALLY support one and have no use
whatsoever for the other.
Only JESUS has ever been totally without error.



How about the death penalty?
Have you dug your heels in on that one?
I think I had...until someone I knew was
executed for a crime he did not commit.
Think that won't make you doubt your stand?



I can't even "go there" when it comes to
global warming.
I don't understand enough about the debate to debate!
But I do know the One who "holds the whole
world in His hands."
And I believe He's got this one!



The issue not subject to debate to me is abortion.
I believe that life begins at conception;
therefore, abortion is taking of life.
I have, however, become aware that many are  
pro birth rather than truly pro life.
Where is their support once the baby is born?



When are we going to realize that we are
oversimplifying the solution to problems which
we may not even be capable of resolving.
Everybody needs to take a step back and realize,
"I just might not be the only one with valid ideas."
"Could it be possible that I'm not 100% right?"
When are we going to be willing to see and
consider both sides to our issues?


Let nothing be done through strife...
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others as better than themselves.
Philippians 2:3


And when are we going to
turn back to the source of our lives and
trust Him for the answers to our problems?


If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek
my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then I will hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin and will heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14


Are you one of God's people, called by His name?

2010 Trip of a Lifetime--to Haiti

This morning I was laughing at myself over the way

I am obsessing about taking an outfit or two to my

2 little girls in Colombia.
What do I take? Will it fit? What would they love?

I was remembering that in 2010, just months after

Jack died, I took 3 outfits to each of 19 girls in Haiti.

I was going to repost my blog about that when

I discovered that I had never done one!

I did find pictures from the trip, which I can't

resist sharing with you!

I hope this doesn't appear "braggy," but it was

so special and for various reasons could

not happen now.

Hang in there with me while I tell you how this

came about.

My Edward Jones rep is Britton Wilson who

is Rob's dear friend and roommate at Baylor

and who now offices in Boston.

His secretary is Linda Evans, who is my dear

friend, first by phone and then in person!

Linda's daughter, Kaitlyn, was serving at a 

wonderful orphanage in Haiti called 
Child Hope International.

Kaitlyn had said how badly the girls needed clothes,

but that they could not safely be sent by mail.

The Lord placed on my heart that this was 

something with which I could help!

At this time American Airlines would allow

me to check a 50 pound box to Haiti.

So I began to shop!

When my friend Carol Smith heard about my
venture she told her daughter, Kara.

Kara is an AA flight attendant who was

excited to go with me! And, guess what?
As a flight attendant,

she could check not 1 but 2-50 pound boxes!

Kaitlyn meticulously gathered sizes and sent me a list.

We carried each girl a dress, a pair of jeans, and a top!

Kara and Carol got flip flops for each (a biggee)

and we took some extra games and treats, etc.
Actually...there's no telling what all we carried!

And here we are weighing in at the airport:

 One box weighed 55 pounds, but

the agent acted like she didn't notice!
We were good to go!

Look what all we had in there:

18 new dresses 

 Just part of the tops

 18 new pairs of jeans

 Beautiful bracelets for all

made specially by my precious friend Charlotte Irwin

who has gone to be with Jesus.

And flip flops for all, including some for boys!
Underneath: the jeans!

Underneath: Hundreds of energy drink packs

furnished by Carol!

Now you might have noticed the number above was

 just 18. We had one baby, who you'll meet later!

Here are her things!

Oh, yeah! Dresses, jeans, and a top!

Here Kara is picking up one of our 50 pound boxes

from the conveyor belt in Port au Prince!

Ah, youth! I could not have done this without her!

Kaitlyn met us at the airport to pick up our boxes.

She brought two of the girls with her.

One was the baby, Estaline.

The other was an older girl named Mikaline, who
bonded with Kara immediately.

Here we all are--
That's Kaitlyn, Mikaline, me, Kara, and Estaline. 

We were on a return flight to Miami soon after
we delivered our boxes.
Now I wish I had gone to the orphanage and
spent a night, as Kaitlyn invited me to do.
I would have been safe.
This, however, was as far out of my comfort 
zone as my family and I were prepared for!
And farther than some of my friend's zones allowed!
(I'm lookin' at you, Adelene Howell and Beverly York!)



Some of the tent cities as we flew away and back
to our prosperous country.

Kaitlyn sent me a picture of all the girls wearing
their new outfits.
I've been on luxury cruises to exotic destinations,
but not one was any more exciting than this trip
and seeing those girls wearing those clothes.
No money better spent--no effort more rewarding.
To God and God Alone be all Glory.




******************


Kaitlyn is now Kaitlyn Evans Trabucco.
She and her husband Chad live in California 
and have a beautiful baby daughter, Navy!



I still sponsor Estaline, the baby in this story.
Here is her picture on my refrigerator!

I must admit that I did not remember all
these details.
There were notes on some of the pictures!

Love Was In The Air Yesterday

In case I've somehow missed telling you,

my granddaughter Susannah is a brand new

American Airlines flight attendant.

She is also engaged to a hunk named

Nick McCaskill.

One of the perks flight attendants get is 

choosing a "buddy" who gets to fly non rev.

Now I know you're all thinking Susannah

probably chose moi, but...surprise!

She chose Nick!!!

So I want to show you what yesterday

looked like for this darling pair!

Sus had a layover at DFW.

Nick happened to be in town. 

(He is based in Dallas with

Price Waterhouse, but works in Seattle at this time.)

So the flight attendant got the buddy to

meet her and fly with her to New York 

(her home base.)

Here is what it looked like in a few pics!

Waiting at DFW Airport!

Now this is crazy, but Nick's seat turned out to be

in the bulkhead right across from Susannah's

flight attendant jump seat! 

(Bear in mind, Nick's seat probably would have

cost me in the neighborhood of $60--

in addition to the regular fare!)

Get ready for the cutest from Nick's Instagram...

*All pictures posted with permission of darling couple!

(I think they're just trying to make up to me for not

being her buddy!)