Sunday, March 23, 2008
Angels Among Us
Sorry for the delay y'all. It is sometimes hard to find time on these AIM trips to sit down and type up a detailed blog; and internet is hard to get at "The Gateway" (AIM's Base in Mexico). But I wanted to share a total "God Story" with you. It is a little long, but it is good!
It all started about 1:00 pm last Saturday (March 15). I arrived at the airport in Charlotte, NC, and I was ready to start my trip to Mexico with a short, hour and a half long flight to Houston, TX. I boreded the plan and everything seemed to be working out great. The flight was packed so getting my guitar on the plane was tough. There was no room in the overhead compartments on the small jet I was on for the flight, but there was 1 empty seat...right beside me. So I was able to keep my guitar beside me the entire trip.
Everything was running smoothly till I looked out the window just before we were to take off and I noticed the rain had started. There were major storms coming from the South and I was praying they wouldn't hinder our flight. We sat on the runway for several minutes and then the pilot informed us that flight control had changed our Flight Plan and added an extra 300 miles to our trip in order to avoid the storm. No big deal right? Wrong! Our plane did not have enough fuel for the extended trip, so we had to taxi back to the ramp and wait for a fuel truck. One problem posed itself...by the time we reached the ramp, the storms had reached us. Heavy rain, heavy wind and LOTS of lightning. This ment no fuel truck. So we waited for a total of 3 hours before the fuel truck finally was able to give us the fuel we needed. We finally were able to take off and we were headed for Houston.
But misery loves company I guess, the "small" delay in Charlotte posed a problem for me...I took off from Charlotte about the same time that I was originally scheduled to leave Houston. So I called the airline company and notified them of the situation. The put me on standby for the last flight out of Houston heading to Harlingen, TX (my final destination). So upon arriving in Houston, I race to my terminal and head straight for the ticket counter. I give the lady there my information, and fortunately she is able to get me a seat on the plane due to a cancelation. I this point, I begin to relax a little, because I know I am going to make it to Matamoros, Mexico the same night and not be stuck sleeping in George Bush International Airport in Houston, TX.
Well about an hour or so later, we begin boarding the plane. I had seat 2A which is a Window/Aisle seat in the front of the little "puddle jumper" that I would be flying on. Knowing this, I waited till basically last to board. The plane is tiny, so I know I am going to have to Gate Check my guitar, because it won't fit on the plane...this didn't thrill me at all. And adding insult to injury, as I started to board, a lady at the counter handed me a gate check pass and I took it from her. I turned and asked her if there was any way I could get it on board. I tried to explain to her that the pressure changes and temp. changes damage my guitar. She was quite the smart-alic and her reply was something to the effect of "well maybe next time you will just buy a second seat for your precious guitar". As you can imagine, I was not happy. I had already had a long day; I didn't need lip from a lady at the airport who thought she would be funny.
So I walked out or the gate and headed for the plane. I put my guitar on the gate check cart and started up the steps to board the plane. As I reached the top the Flight Attendant greeted me and ask how I was doing. I replied "I am doing ok, but I'd be doing a lot better if I could get my guitar on the plane with me". I was basically venting to this flight attendant because I was frustrated, but I tried to do it with a smile. She told me that she understood my frustration and would see what she could do about getting it onboard. Of course, this excited me. I sat down and a few minutes passed by. She continued working and helping other passengers...specifically the ones who seemed to be unable to put carry-on in the overhead compartments and the ones who couldn't open the bathroom door. I found this rather ammusing because I knew at least someone else on the plane was sharing in my frustration with that evening's flight.
A few minutes passed and she walked up and told me to go get my guitar and move to seat 6b. She had gotten a gentleman to switch seats with me because he had an empty seat beside me. So I ran out and got my guitar and buckled it in beside me. Then I noticed more passengers coming on board. They were sending "standby" passengers down to the plane. The flight attendant came back by and told me to "hang on" cause I may have to take the guitar back outside. Well a few minutes passed and the people stopped coming on board. She came by and told me it was "my lucky day". The people inside had miscounted and sent 49 passengers down to the plane...the problem was, there were 50 seats. She assured me that "she wasn't going to alert them of the mistake". So My guitar was on the plane for good. I was elated. I thanked her repeatedly and told her how much it ment to me that she did that for me; especially after the day I had been through. I mean, talk about personal service. It was a wonderful flight and I made it to the Gateway before Mid-night. As I went to bed that night, I thanked God for the blessing of a caring flight attendant and a safe guitar.
It was such a great way to kick off a great week of ministry. The trip was wonderful and I saw God do some pretty cool stuff. The week ended and I said goodbye to the particpants and prepared to catch a flight back to Houston, TX then onto New Orleans, LA. I remember thinking as I packed; I sure hope I get a great flight attendant for this flight as well.
I was again on a tiny puddle jumper and just knew my guitar was going to have to be gate checked. But I was a little happier than I was preparing for the flight a week before. I mean God had blessed me once so I couldn't complain. I arrived at the airport with a father and daughter who had been on the trip that week. They had decided to skip out on the 20 hour bus ride back to Birmingham, AL. Their flight left about 45 minutes after mine, so we killed some time at a restuarant in the airport. We got to talking and I lost track of time. I heard an announcement about boarding for my flight, so I knew I needed to hurry and get through security. I told them by and hurried to security. I was in a rush so I wasn't really paying much attention to what was going on; I just rushed to get my stuff through. As I was gather my stuff up on the other side of the security check-point, I looked behind me and saw a flight attendant. I took a double take because I thought I was seeing things...then I just started to laugh...it was the same flight attendant from my flight a week before. She hadn't noticed me yet...she was focused on "just getting through security". I tried to get her attention by saying "what are the odds" and it worked...she looked up and took a double take as well. We both laughed as we continued gathering up our things. I opened up my guitar case and quickly detuned my guitar...saying to her "I doubt I'll get lucky 2 flights in a row" she laughed and responed "well, we'll see what we can do. We walked to the gate and talked the whole way there. I told her why I had been in Mexico and how the week had been great. When we reached the gate, she proceeded onto the plane and I waited for boarding to start. A few minutes later I see her wal out of the gate and motion for me...she told me that the flight only had 46 passengers and she was having the ticket lady switch my seat so that I could have an open seat beside me for my guitar.
I was in shock! I mean, I couldn't believe it. Agian, the wonderful flight attendant had taken time to take care of me personally. As we approached Houston on the flight, she walked back and we chatted for a few minutes. I thanked her again and told her how much of a blessing she had been. She asked me about my music and we talked about other things. She then informed me that she was a Chrisitan and that she had been excited to hear that I was too. Yet another wow moment.
I mean, the whole thing was like a movie...it was just too good to be true...haha. Just goes to show you how the little things make a huge impact on people's lives. Katie (the flight attendant) blessed me in a HUGE way just by simply caring about a passenger she had never met. I wonder how many people I can bless just back taking a few minutes out of my day to show them I care.
Looking back on the whole thing, I still say WOW! I'm not convinced that my Katie wasn't an angel sent just to remind me that God is in control of everything...even the little things. I may never know for sure...but then again, she did have a set if wings (pinned to her uniform that is).
It all started about 1:00 pm last Saturday (March 15). I arrived at the airport in Charlotte, NC, and I was ready to start my trip to Mexico with a short, hour and a half long flight to Houston, TX. I boreded the plan and everything seemed to be working out great. The flight was packed so getting my guitar on the plane was tough. There was no room in the overhead compartments on the small jet I was on for the flight, but there was 1 empty seat...right beside me. So I was able to keep my guitar beside me the entire trip.
Everything was running smoothly till I looked out the window just before we were to take off and I noticed the rain had started. There were major storms coming from the South and I was praying they wouldn't hinder our flight. We sat on the runway for several minutes and then the pilot informed us that flight control had changed our Flight Plan and added an extra 300 miles to our trip in order to avoid the storm. No big deal right? Wrong! Our plane did not have enough fuel for the extended trip, so we had to taxi back to the ramp and wait for a fuel truck. One problem posed itself...by the time we reached the ramp, the storms had reached us. Heavy rain, heavy wind and LOTS of lightning. This ment no fuel truck. So we waited for a total of 3 hours before the fuel truck finally was able to give us the fuel we needed. We finally were able to take off and we were headed for Houston.
But misery loves company I guess, the "small" delay in Charlotte posed a problem for me...I took off from Charlotte about the same time that I was originally scheduled to leave Houston. So I called the airline company and notified them of the situation. The put me on standby for the last flight out of Houston heading to Harlingen, TX (my final destination). So upon arriving in Houston, I race to my terminal and head straight for the ticket counter. I give the lady there my information, and fortunately she is able to get me a seat on the plane due to a cancelation. I this point, I begin to relax a little, because I know I am going to make it to Matamoros, Mexico the same night and not be stuck sleeping in George Bush International Airport in Houston, TX.
Well about an hour or so later, we begin boarding the plane. I had seat 2A which is a Window/Aisle seat in the front of the little "puddle jumper" that I would be flying on. Knowing this, I waited till basically last to board. The plane is tiny, so I know I am going to have to Gate Check my guitar, because it won't fit on the plane...this didn't thrill me at all. And adding insult to injury, as I started to board, a lady at the counter handed me a gate check pass and I took it from her. I turned and asked her if there was any way I could get it on board. I tried to explain to her that the pressure changes and temp. changes damage my guitar. She was quite the smart-alic and her reply was something to the effect of "well maybe next time you will just buy a second seat for your precious guitar". As you can imagine, I was not happy. I had already had a long day; I didn't need lip from a lady at the airport who thought she would be funny.
So I walked out or the gate and headed for the plane. I put my guitar on the gate check cart and started up the steps to board the plane. As I reached the top the Flight Attendant greeted me and ask how I was doing. I replied "I am doing ok, but I'd be doing a lot better if I could get my guitar on the plane with me". I was basically venting to this flight attendant because I was frustrated, but I tried to do it with a smile. She told me that she understood my frustration and would see what she could do about getting it onboard. Of course, this excited me. I sat down and a few minutes passed by. She continued working and helping other passengers...specifically the ones who seemed to be unable to put carry-on in the overhead compartments and the ones who couldn't open the bathroom door. I found this rather ammusing because I knew at least someone else on the plane was sharing in my frustration with that evening's flight.
A few minutes passed and she walked up and told me to go get my guitar and move to seat 6b. She had gotten a gentleman to switch seats with me because he had an empty seat beside me. So I ran out and got my guitar and buckled it in beside me. Then I noticed more passengers coming on board. They were sending "standby" passengers down to the plane. The flight attendant came back by and told me to "hang on" cause I may have to take the guitar back outside. Well a few minutes passed and the people stopped coming on board. She came by and told me it was "my lucky day". The people inside had miscounted and sent 49 passengers down to the plane...the problem was, there were 50 seats. She assured me that "she wasn't going to alert them of the mistake". So My guitar was on the plane for good. I was elated. I thanked her repeatedly and told her how much it ment to me that she did that for me; especially after the day I had been through. I mean, talk about personal service. It was a wonderful flight and I made it to the Gateway before Mid-night. As I went to bed that night, I thanked God for the blessing of a caring flight attendant and a safe guitar.
It was such a great way to kick off a great week of ministry. The trip was wonderful and I saw God do some pretty cool stuff. The week ended and I said goodbye to the particpants and prepared to catch a flight back to Houston, TX then onto New Orleans, LA. I remember thinking as I packed; I sure hope I get a great flight attendant for this flight as well.
I was again on a tiny puddle jumper and just knew my guitar was going to have to be gate checked. But I was a little happier than I was preparing for the flight a week before. I mean God had blessed me once so I couldn't complain. I arrived at the airport with a father and daughter who had been on the trip that week. They had decided to skip out on the 20 hour bus ride back to Birmingham, AL. Their flight left about 45 minutes after mine, so we killed some time at a restuarant in the airport. We got to talking and I lost track of time. I heard an announcement about boarding for my flight, so I knew I needed to hurry and get through security. I told them by and hurried to security. I was in a rush so I wasn't really paying much attention to what was going on; I just rushed to get my stuff through. As I was gather my stuff up on the other side of the security check-point, I looked behind me and saw a flight attendant. I took a double take because I thought I was seeing things...then I just started to laugh...it was the same flight attendant from my flight a week before. She hadn't noticed me yet...she was focused on "just getting through security". I tried to get her attention by saying "what are the odds" and it worked...she looked up and took a double take as well. We both laughed as we continued gathering up our things. I opened up my guitar case and quickly detuned my guitar...saying to her "I doubt I'll get lucky 2 flights in a row" she laughed and responed "well, we'll see what we can do. We walked to the gate and talked the whole way there. I told her why I had been in Mexico and how the week had been great. When we reached the gate, she proceeded onto the plane and I waited for boarding to start. A few minutes later I see her wal out of the gate and motion for me...she told me that the flight only had 46 passengers and she was having the ticket lady switch my seat so that I could have an open seat beside me for my guitar.
I was in shock! I mean, I couldn't believe it. Agian, the wonderful flight attendant had taken time to take care of me personally. As we approached Houston on the flight, she walked back and we chatted for a few minutes. I thanked her again and told her how much of a blessing she had been. She asked me about my music and we talked about other things. She then informed me that she was a Chrisitan and that she had been excited to hear that I was too. Yet another wow moment.
I mean, the whole thing was like a movie...it was just too good to be true...haha. Just goes to show you how the little things make a huge impact on people's lives. Katie (the flight attendant) blessed me in a HUGE way just by simply caring about a passenger she had never met. I wonder how many people I can bless just back taking a few minutes out of my day to show them I care.
Looking back on the whole thing, I still say WOW! I'm not convinced that my Katie wasn't an angel sent just to remind me that God is in control of everything...even the little things. I may never know for sure...but then again, she did have a set if wings (pinned to her uniform that is).
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Kentucky Mission Trip Video
Thought I would share some memories from my trip back in January...enjoy!
Friday, March 7, 2008
Memory Lane
To my regular readers, Sorry for the lack of posts of the last couple days. I have been busy and just not taken the time to sit down and blog. So I am going to try to make up for it with a entertaining blog today. Sometimes you just have to have a little fun, and that is what we are going to do.
My good friend Travis sent me a video link today in which Optimus Prime was dancing. I instantly took a trip down memory lane thinking about Cartoons and TV Shows from my childhood. So today I have decided to share a collection of my favorite childhood shows with you. Below are the titles to some of the shows I grew up on. If you click on the show's title, you have the chance to take your own trip down memory lane as you watch the Opening Theme to each of the shows.
After you watch them, make sure to leave a comment about your favorite show or shows. I hope you enjoy your trip down memory lane!
G.I. Joe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Smurfs
Muppet Babies
Fraggle Rock
My good friend Travis sent me a video link today in which Optimus Prime was dancing. I instantly took a trip down memory lane thinking about Cartoons and TV Shows from my childhood. So today I have decided to share a collection of my favorite childhood shows with you. Below are the titles to some of the shows I grew up on. If you click on the show's title, you have the chance to take your own trip down memory lane as you watch the Opening Theme to each of the shows.
After you watch them, make sure to leave a comment about your favorite show or shows. I hope you enjoy your trip down memory lane!
G.I. Joe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Smurfs
Muppet Babies
Fraggle Rock
ThunderCats
The Care Bears
The Wuzzles
Ghost Busters
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Mickey's Mousercise
Kids Incorporated
TaleSpin
Scooby Doo
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Inspector Gadget
Transformers
Reading Rainbow
Welcome to Pooh Corner
The New Adventure of Winnie the Pooh
A Pup Named Scooby Doo
The Jetsons
The Flintstones
SuperBook
Today's Special
Saved By The Bell
Family Matters
See wasn't that fun!!!
The Care Bears
The Wuzzles
Ghost Busters
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Mickey's Mousercise
Kids Incorporated
TaleSpin
Scooby Doo
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Inspector Gadget
Transformers
Reading Rainbow
Welcome to Pooh Corner
The New Adventure of Winnie the Pooh
A Pup Named Scooby Doo
The Jetsons
The Flintstones
SuperBook
Today's Special
Saved By The Bell
Family Matters
See wasn't that fun!!!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
A little love goes a long way!!!
Ok, so let me tell you a little bit about this puppy. It has an amazing story!
It started one afternoon on the soccer field. I was out playing soccer with some of the local children before Bible School. The hope was that we could get them to come with us to Bible School when it started. The plan hadn't worked the day before, but we thought we would try again. As we were playing, a little boy walked by carrying a dog. I didn't think much of it, just thought the little boy was excited about his new puppy. Some of the children ran over to see it and then came back and rejoined the game; never saying a word about the puppy.
About 10 minutes later I saw the boy walk by again. This time I begin to wander what was going on. One of the youth yelled for me to come look at the dog. I ran over and to look, thinking I was just going to see a new puppy and an excited child. When I got there, I realized that the boy wasn't excited. His little puppy had been bitten across the neck by another dog. (If you look closely at the second photo, you can see the scar)
My heart went out to the little boy. He was so worried about his dog that he was just holding him and walking around, not knowing what to do. It broke my heart. (To really grasp this next part, you have to understand a little bit about me...Sometimes I speak before I think...This would be one of those times) I told one of the youth (who spoke Spanish) to tell the little boy to take the puppy over to the medical clinic that the church had set up (The church that was on the trip does a medical clinic in Matamoros every year. They had brought a doctor and several nurses with them...I will tell you more about it later)
My only thought was...lets help this puppy and make this boy feel better.
So off the boy went with his puppy to the medical clinic. But not just the boy, all the children who had been playing soccer with us went too! So I panic...I jump in the van I had driven and try to beat them to the clinic to warn the doctor of the approaching mob. I walk in and say to him "Doc, you are probably going to kill me, but there is a little boy on his way over here with a puppy." Needless to say, he thinks I am joking. But just a minute or two later, in walks the boy and all his friends. The Doctor was overwhelmed. He was with a family in the procedure room, the waiting room was full, and here stands a boy with a puppy.
Are you getting this picture in your head? Kind of a funny scene don't you think? All of this craziness was my fault too...I just knew this guy was going hate me for life!
Well a few minutes passed and the Doctor decides to go ahead and bring the puppy in ahead of the patients in the waiting room. As the boy is walking in, the Doctor looks at me and tells me he is nervous because he has never worked on a dog or any other animal before. He cleaned the wound and decided that it needed stitches. He tried to give the puppy a shot of Novocaine but he couldn't get the puppy to sit still log enough to administer the injection. As you can imagine, the puppy was not happy. He was yelping and trying to get away the entire time. It was more than the little boy could handle, he ran outside crying.
So the nurse put the puppy on her lap and held him down as the doctor put two stitches in its neck. When he finished he looked at his nurse and asked "can we give this dog antibiotics?" After a little discussion, they decided to give the dog amoxacilin (sp). I prepared the medicine and we brought the little boy back in so he could see that his puppy was ok. The doctor showed the little boy how to give the dog the medicine he then told the boy, "give him 2 1/2 cc of the medicine 3 times a day" The little boy watched and listened and assured the doctor that he would do it.
The doctor then asked the boy if he could bring the puppy back the next day for a "check up" and the boy said he was going somewhere and wouldn't be able to make it. The boy was smiling from ear to ear at this point and thanked the doctor over and over for "saving" his dog. We finally got him to leave and we all celebrated a little and applauded the Doctor for his outstanding work. He was thrilled about the situation (which thrilled me!!!). He remarked that it was the highlight of his week. So the story ends here right?
Wrong!!!! The best part is still to come. The next day I walk into the clinic (which was at the same building as Bible School) and I notice one of the youth holding a dog. Not just any dog, our little medical miracle! So I inquire as to why the puppy is there when the boy was supposed to be out of town...I thought the dog had ran away. The youth that were standing there told me to turn around, and you won't believe what I saw. There gathered among all the Bible School children was the little boy, and guess who was with him...all his friends. They had come to Bible School!!! These were all the children from the soccer field that we had been trying to get to come all week long. I was blown away! The Doctors act of kindness had a dramatic impact on that boys life and the lives of his friends. A little love goes a long way!
Monday, March 3, 2008
It takes a child
Ok, so this might be the most amazing image I have from my time in Mexico. Take a long look at the picture then I will explain what is going on.
So let me set the scene; it is a Thursday afternoon in Matamoros, Mexico in the Oasis Colonia
(A colonia is similar to a neighborhood within the city)
The picture you just looked at is of a dad and his little girl. I know what you are thinking..."John, what is so amazing/life altering about that?" To fully appreciate the photo, you have to understand a few things. One, the picture was taken during Bible School at the Temple Bethel Church. Two, the Bible School was designed for young children, not adults. (There were a few adults there, all moms except for this one dad.) And three, in the colonia we were in, you rarely found a home where the dad was still present...much less a dad who would leave home to take his daughter to Bible school, help her participate in the activities, and stick around himself and sing the "kiddy" songs and do crafts.
Not only did he sit there and help his daughter, he was engaged in Bible School himself! He was actually enjoying it!! It was such a blessing to watch. I sit here tonight and look at the photo myself. I think about how often I go through the motions of Christianity. I know the stories, I have heard them a thousand times. I sing the songs, I do the crafts and I play the games. But I am missing the joy and the excitement. Why is that? I mean, aren't these the same "stories" that held captive my interest as a child? Are these not the same songs that I danced to as a child in VBS? Am I not learning about the God of the Universe? Can anything be more exciting that that?
The answer to that question is easy: NO! Nothing should excite me more than to hear stories of God's grace. Nothing should bring more joy to my life than to sing His praise; no matter how "childish" the song may be.
I look at this picture of this dad. I don't know if it was his first time hearing about God or his 100th. I don't know if he thought the songs were "hip" or if he thought the crafts were "cool". Maybe he was just excited that his daughter was getting to take part in Bible School and hear about Jesus. But I do know that he had joy. I know he was happy to be there. I watched him play, I watched him sing, and I watched him listen with attentive eyes and the group shared Jesus. And I thought, here is a guy who brought a child to hear about Jesus and he was blessed as well.
It made me think, maybe we receive our greatest blessing when we least expect it. Maybe we see God the most when we bring others to hear about Him. Maybe we need to all be "dads" who bring Children to Jesus! Maybe thats when we will get excited about "childish" things...maybe thats when we will find Joy...Maybe thats when we will understand what Jesus meant when He said it takes the faith of a child.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
A Language I Understand
I may not be able to speak much Spanish, but Futbol is a language I understand!!!!
Soccer...Mexico style!!!!!!!!!
Soccer...Mexico style!!!!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
