We’re all Here and There and Everywhere

            Bueno Dias! Vermonters and friends who live in their own little corners and nooks, how are you today? What is new? I hope you have heard of the amazing news that Allen Iverson (a.k.a artificial intelligence) and the Pistons are on quite the streak, seven wins in a row I believe (trust me, this information is very important in the grand scheme of life). Also, I have been playing some great basketball with my teammate Baker and the locals and their so-called “rules.” It is great though; we met this huge man named Chris from California who is a mix between Italian, Nicaraguan, and the straight up gangsta look who has been filling us in on the way that Nicaraguans play basketball. For one, if they are embarrassed during a play, they call a foul, if they are touched in any way during a shot a foul is called, and on game point if you try and make a great post move you are going to be wrecked because there is no such thing as an “easy win” in Nicaragua. It’s a great time though, you should suit up and come down here–.

My flights coming here were wild-and I am sincerely thankful for any prayers that went out because God was working to get his sons and daughters where he wanted us. Here is how it went down in Miami: I arrive in Florida, feeling slightly relaxed because my itinerary dictates that I have about 2 and a half hours before I have to fly out. I fetch my guitar from the luggage claim (and yes I will be the next Elvis when I return if you were at all wondering) and walk upstairs to the Taca International Airlines desk in order to claim my ticket and make sure my bags are okay. For some reason, for the first time in my life I do not seek to satisfy my hunger pains and actually feel a little nervous and antsy as I walk up to the Nicaraguan lady. I tell her my flight information and she smiles and checks her computer. A sudden sick feeling enters my stomach, like the one I experienced when I ate pickled octopus for the first time, as concern is shown on the lady’s face.

“I am sorry, your flight is already closed…” She says.

“What? I went straight to the baggage claim and straight here after landing, how is that possible??” I interject.

“Here, look at my flight itinerary, it says I am leaving in 2 hours!” Says Joe.

“Let me check…well…we can fly you to El Salvador (pretty much China) and then we will connect you to another flight to Nicaragua.” Says she.

            Then something beautiful happened. Something that doesn’t normally happen in life; a question that few have asked me in my life:

“Can you run?” She challenges.

“Absolutely.” I answer.

“Follow me and come quickly.” Like a line in a mission impossible movie, she initiates the chase.

            The large line that seems to always be in front of the metal scanning line was cut through like a Rambo knife against butter. She leads me straight through and we hurriedly take out my computer and remove my shoes and my belt and my fleece and she takes off her stuff and then just like that it is all back on and we are racing through a never-ending hallway.

“Do you see that woman in the white dress? She is going to your gate, you can follow her if you want to get there quicker.” She says in dramatic fashion.

“Are you going to the same place?” I ask in a manly voice.

“Then I’ll stay with you.” I say as she nods her head to my last question.

            This dramatic event ends in me jumping in line with Caleb Spitler and Sarah Morgan and I make my flight on time. All prayers that were said for me saved me from going to El Salvador and it is so awesome to see God’s hand in such a personal situation. God is just like that though, looking out for his sheep-every one of them. As I was reading the Bible today, I was directed to Jeremiah. It speaks to me because it says that wherever we are in life, wherever jobs or spouses or schooling has brought us, God is ready to bring us back home where we will be without fear with nobody missing. In Jeremiah 23: 3 it says: “I myself with gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing.” Take comfort and knowing that you are one of these sheep-and if you are not, there is never a time when God is not ready to accept you into his flock. In Isaiah 43:1-3 it says: ” But now, this is what the Lord says-he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” This is awesome because God knows all of us so personally and longs to bring us all into his Kingdom. It goes on to say, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” Saying that when we pass through hard times, God will never let life’s events separate us from his love. “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” In other words, if we are worried about suffering for God, things will be okay because the arrows people can send at us will have no effect. It finishes, “I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior.”