Hello from Byron Center! We made it back safely yesterday evening, but not after a day of hair-raising travel. When we arrived in Valencia, the line to check luggage was particularly long, and by the time we got to check our luggage, we didn't have a whole lot of time until our flight was to leave. When they checked our tickets online, however, they said they had been cancelled and we wouldn't be able to fly. Needless to say, we were not happy with the situation. I had to go to another place to speak with a woman who could hopefully help us to sort things out. Karin and Rebecca kept assuring me that God would take care of things, and even though I knew they were right, they also couldn't understand everything that was being said to hear how hopeless things seemed. The woman who was helping was very sympathetic and kind, but couldn't bend the rules for us. To make a long story short, she was finally able to contact Northwest airlines and discovered that when they redid things for our trip from Uganda to Spain, they inadvertantly cancelled our return-home tickets. They were able to resolve everything, and though we were almost the last ones on the plane, we made it. We had some issues again in Paris, but made that connection just in the nick of time, too.
Our days in Spain were such a blessing. We were able to take my friends' (Alicia & Luis) boys for an afternoon to give them a break, which they don't often get. It was great to hear from them how God has been working in their lives and in their town and church. We were also able to connect with some other dear friends, Ruben and Elizabeth, who were also a great encouragement. It is so exciting to see how God is using His children in Spain to make a difference. Their culture is in such need of the Lord, too, and although it is a very different context than Uganda, it is so clear that Christ is the answer for all of their problems---and ours. We were able to enjoy some quiet time right on the beach of the Mediterranean, and to relax walking around the town. And even though it was awful that Karin got sick, it gave Rebecca and I a chance to be alone----which we were needing after so many days of constantly being surrounded by people. So, God is good. We had a wonderful trip, but we are also so blessed to be home safely. The boys, and our dog, are all looking a little shaggy (but cute), so I think we'll be getting hair cuts this week. It is so nice to be back to my house full of men---the big one, and the little ones. They welcomed us home with a boquet of flowers for each of us, and with lots of hugs and smiles.
I will try to insert some pictures from our trip, but no guarantee how well this will work.
