Thailand!!!

I'm here!!! And what a trip it was!!! Well, as you can tell from previous post I had a wonderful time in Holland. On Wednesday we went to Amsterdam to see the replica of Noah's Ark. It was amazing! It is a small scale version and on the inside they have animals but also have many different Bible stories represented. It was cool to see how it goes from creation to the cross!

Jeremy, Kaylie and Keiric needed to get their resident permits in Hoofddrop which is one train stop past the airport. Originally we had planned on all of us going but as we neared the stop for the airport I decided to get out and just check my luggage in early as it was getting close to 4pm and my flight took off at 7pm. We agreed to meet at "the Meeting Place" after they were done and I had checked all of my luggage in and had my boarding pass. Sounds easy enough right?!?

When I got to the counter I was informed that flights to London were being delayed because of fog. I knew I only had a 2 hour window in London before my flight to Thailand so I started praying. The lady at the counter was very nice and put me on an earlier flight that had been delayed and hopefully would get me into London on time. The problem was it was boarding at 4:30pm. I ran back to the 'Meeting Place' praying that I would see them. No luck! I waited a little bit until I realized I HAD to get to the gate. I rushed through immigration and headed to my gate. I was glad I had given the kids hugs on the train "just in case," but sad that I hadn't gotten to say a proper goodbye!

At the gate I found very few people and no agents. I wondered if I had the wrong gate or had missed the flight all together. Shortly after an agent arrived and stated the flight had been delayed even longer and in fact she didn't know when the plane would be arriving from London. She thought I would have time to go back out and try and see the Stephensons. I again rushed through the airport, out through immigration(now 2 stamps for Holland!) and ran to see if I could find them. I got to the spot and they weren't there. I wondered around and decided to sit where I could keep an eye on the clock, just then I saw the family of 4 headed my way :)

We had a very Dutch dinner of frites (french fries with sauce of your choice on top) and talked. They walked me to the check point. It was so nice to have a proper goodbye. I headed through immigration and to my gate. My flight ended up being delayed another 2 hours. Again with the praying as our depature time was almost an hour after my original flight was suppose to take off. This didn't leave me much time in London where I had to switch terminals and get a boarding pass!

We landed in London and found ourselves exiting the back of the plane onto the tarmac and getting on buses to take us to the terminal. I rushed to the next bus to head from terminal 1 to terminal 4. At the counter I was informed that because I wasn't flying from the US I was actually only allowed half the weight that I had taken. However, the lady at the counter was kind and let it go. She said for my return flight I would have to pay extra if I tried to bring home as much! (God was looking out for me!)

I rushed to the gate and found myself with less then 30 minutes to boarding. Of course once we got on the plane we waited for over an hour. Due to late passangers, trouble with another plane earlier and the fog we were not cleared to take off until almost an hour after our scheduled departure time. Knowing I had a driver waiting to pick me up in Bangkok I prayed that we would make up some of the time and get to Thailand quickly!

God anwered my prayers! We arrived about 10 minutes before my driver was suppose to meet me. I rushed out of the plane, through immigration, exchanged some cash and was able to get my luggage. (which was about the 4 and 5 pieces out!!!) I went through customs and out to find my driver. I looked and looked for my name with no luck. I waited thinking that maybe they had accounted for the plane getting in late. I walked up and down looking and looking. After an hour I called the missionaries and was told that due to some new regulations that only certain drivers are allowed past a certain point...I had not walked that far! I dragged all of my luggage down to the "meeting point" and found my name.

1 1/2 hours later I was at their home. They along with another couple who had just flown in took me over to my new home! I crashed shortly after arriving as I don't sleep on planes :)

I had breakfast with the two couples and we went shopping for food and various supplies. We will be joining up again tonight for dinner and to talk about the schedule for the Chinese New Year.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. I look forward to sharing more with you and the time I have here to minister!