1 Peter 5:6-11

1 Peter 5:6-11

Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of sufferings are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.


On the plane, six hours have gone by. An entire day on this slightly cushioned, foot-and-a-half by foot-and-a-half seat is not the most comfortable day ever spent. My neighbor, 52-J, and I haven’t quite figured out how to share these armrests. That gets awkward. I am feeling a bit fidgety and anxious at this point…this halfway point. That is where I’m at.

Having my previous trip behind me, travel logistics included, helped a lot with the inevitable anxieties that come hand-in-hand with anticipation. I could follow whatever memory I had left of the route I took just five months ago, taking the same venture. Print ticket…check luggage…security…finally making it to gate G-4 after wonderful and tearful goodbyes. Bittersweet goodbyes. I sat among the same vast sea of Filipinos that flooded this same gate in January. An extremely large group of Filipino students were crowded together in several different cliques and huddles. Parents sat watching their kids run around, weaving in and out of each and every chair in each and every row…their last chance to embrace the somewhat open area before the first plane ride of twelve hours. Their last chance to exhaust their soon to be confined children. A group of about fifteen all wore neon green t-shirts and walked around together. They basically sum up the Americans on this flight. I boarded, fighting how surreal it all felt, found 52-H, sought and found help with my overly heavy carry-on, and settled into this slightly cushioned, foot-and-a-half by foot-and-a-half seat.

‘On the plane.’ I text my mom. I look up from hitting the Send button on my phone, and Jeff Long was walking down the aisle of the plane. Jeff Long, the Director of the Children’s home and all of Kids International Ministries, who I had no idea would be on this flight. He stopped, as did most of the plane, when I shouted, JEFF!?! But he was not walking to say hello to me. He was walking to greet the neon green t-shirt group because they are all on their way to Manila. More specifically, they are all on their way to Cuatro Community for two weeks on a short-term missions trip, serving alongside Kids International Ministries. I could have cried when I saw Jeff…it wouldn’t have been hard seeing as my emotions were and still are shaken just from leaving. Instead, I just laughed. I had to be confident in travel logistics from Minneapolis to Tokyo, Tokyo to Manila. I was, too…but lightly put, those neon green t-shirts are nice checkpoints to have. And a bus is picking up them, Jeff Long, and me in Manila on June 11, 2008 at 10:50 p.m.

All seventeen of us.

It will be impossible for me to get lost.

I watched the first movie of the trip, What To Do If We Crash, located my nearest exit (keeping in mind that it could be behind me), checked my buckle, and watched the life size Land of the Free momentarily turn to Lego set size. I turned on my iPod and reveled, once again, in the ways of the Lord.

My first Blog when I arrive in Manila will again be a tale of the very first miracle in the very first moments of my journey…unexpected as always. Glory, glory , glory…as always.

Restore.
Confirm.
Strengthen.
Establish.

To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.