Early Adventures

After waiting 7 weeks for my visa, I was about to head to the airport when I found out I would have to wait a little longer. My flight from Manchester to Chicago had been delayed by an hour and a half, but I could still make my connection to Frankfurt.

At the airport a little later, my friend Jackie helped me awkwardly lug my 250lbs of luggage to the check in desk. "What's your destination?"

"I'm going to Windhoek, Namibia, through Chicago."

"Not tonight, you're not," replied the attendant.

My heart about dropped. The flight had been delayed even longer and now I wasn't going to make the connection. I was at a loss. Did this mean I would have to wait even longer to get to Namibia?

But God continued to provide. Due to my father's frequent flier status (he's the one who booked the flight), they put me in a taxi to Boston to catch a direct flight to Frankfurt later that night! No connection, no flying west to go east, and less time on airplanes!

My taxi driver was a friendly Egyptian man. Only about half of what he said was intelligible because of his thick accent. He immigrated here over 20 years ago and now has 5 grandkids who all have very American accents. We talked about how languages carry culture, how soccer is the universal language around the world that brings people together, and how 'Middle East' is a political term and Egypt is really part of Africa. As we parted ways I greeted him with the one Arabic phrase I know and then I was left alone on the sidewalk trying to figure out if I could drag all three of my own bags inside without paying $4 for a rolling cart (I quickly determined I could not).

All my luggage checked through to Windhoek and the rest of that night went according to plan. I got about 6 hours of inconsistent sleep on the plane, but enough to help me feel rested. In Frankfurt I found my way to the Business Lounge (thanks again to my dad's status) where I got a shower and some food and feel like a new man! My next flight doesn't board for another 4 hours so I'll enjoy the buffet line and free wifi for a little longer before heading off to Joburg tonight.

Chapter 2

My friend Sarah is a missionary doctor in Zambia. She once told me that in missionary biographies all the preparation and training stuff only makes up the first chapter. It's not until they head off to the field that you turn the page to chapter two. Today I start chapter two. When I finish writing this post I'll head off to the airport with my three suitcases to start a new chapter of my story in Namibia. I'll spend the next two days hopping planes and airports and finally land in Windhoek on Thursday afternoon.

When I take short-term teams I like to give them a few recommendations to add to their playlist as the soundtrack for our trip. I also have a few books and sermons to accompany me along my 40+ hour journey I thought I'd share with you. So these are currently the top hits on my travel playlist:

One Life by Boyce Avenue
Simple Life by Casey Abrams
Oceans (Where Feet May Fall) by Hillsong United
Oh How I Need You by All Sons & Daughters
Love Laid Down by Green River Ordinance
London by Tim Stop
Christ Is All by Matt Chandler, from T4G 2014
Never Spoke A Man Like This Before by Kevin DeYoung, from T4G 2014
The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis

You have any other recommendations for me?

Looking Ahead

I got to preach one last time at Christ's Church on Sunday. We looked at Christ's second coming and how our theology of the end times affects our lives today. You can listen to it below or click here to download an mp3. [Sorry for the poor sound quality until 9:22, but it does clear up after that.]

Ready or not, Here I Come!

Time to repack my bags, return the borrowed car, and say my final goodbyes. That's right, I'm headed to Namibia! Seven weeks to the day since I found out my temporary visa was denied, I finally got approved for a 2-year work permit. So next Tuesday I'll catch a flight and spend the next two days hopping airports on my way to Windhoek.

I've gotten so used to being in waiting-mode, that it's interesting trying to reorient myself back into leaving-mode. Despite the delays, this has actually been a really good time to invest in relationships here, continue researching and learning in preparation for ministry in Namibia, and allow my faith to go through some necessary growing pains. Through this process I've come to learn that just as God is glorified by providing in answer to our prayers, so also is He glorified in our faith and trust in Him while expectantly waiting for that provision to come.

Practicing Patience

I'd planned to arrive in Namibia one month ago today. I was going to be involved in a preaching conference last week and an Easter conference next weekend. I was going to start researching and visiting youth ministries in Namibia and reconnect friends and co-workers from past trips. But according to God's plan, He still wants me to be in NH right now. I know that because that's where I am and I know "He will accomplish all His good pleasure" (Isa 46:10).

The latest on the visa situation is as follows: Apparently there's a huge backlog of pending applications for work permits at Home Affairs, so the only real news I have is that they're still working on it. I have a few other friends who are also still waiting on their approvals, so I know it's not just me. My co-workers at NETS are checking in on a regular basis, so as soon as something comes through they'll let me know and I'll let you know.

Thanks for your patience and continued prayers about this situation. We continue to trust that for God this is no big thing, nor is it out of His plan. It's not like they somehow messed up His plans and now He's scrambling to figure out what to do. He will accomplish all His good pleasure in His perfect timing.