A Wonderful Send off!
I am writing this part while I am flying over Hawaii ~ how cool is that? I wish it wasn’t dark, ha ha! Jennie, Robert, Robbie, Mason and EJ took me to the airport. Marianne not only had our last lunch with us (Jen and I) but came to the airport; we love her!! Stephanie, Erik, Kate and Nicholas were there as well as a surprise bon voyage from Linda, Nancie and Kelly! What wonderful people You have surrounded me with Lord! It didn’t occur to me that anyone other than Jen and co. would be there. Thank you & I love you all.

So we get my (heavy!) luggage up to check it in and the lady doesn’t have the reservation for my authorization for three checked bags. Long story short, she was able to talk to my travel agent (yeah!) and after $108 swipe of my credit card… we were on our merry way. A huge blessing is that the agent told me that she is going to transfer that $$ to my PBT account. Thank You Lord! It was then that we discovered people we knew and that felt really good. After a bunch of pictures and all I could see were spots before my eyes (ha-ha!) we made a big circle and I was (preciously) prayed over. I was good until the first teardrop (it wasn’t me) and then it was all over… sniffles around the circle.

I made it through security with the body scan and the TSA agent rummaging through my bag. I think there was so much to try to look at in the x-ray machine that they needed a good visual. She swabbed it and told me that there were no explosives, I was glad to hear it. I put my fancy hiking boots back on and made the trek to my gate. 

Did I tell you that my luggage was heavy? Well, my carry-on bag was 2” too tall to go in the overhead bin and couldn’t possibly make it under my seat so I was moved to a row with 3 seats so that it could sit in front of two and my feet only had my computer bag (filled with an amazing amount of things). I arrived in Dallas Fort Worth airport, holy cow that place is HUGE!! I took a tram around to where I would catch my Qantas flight. I felt like I should see Mickey Mouse along the route. All the while I was thinking “boy if this thing stops and I have to walk… my luggage is gonna be a pain to manage while walking on those little rails…” I made it to the right area just in time to hear them call my name to come to the desk for “a special announcement.” She wanted to see my visa for Australia. What? I don’t have one of those. After a little poking and prodding (Lord I hope that this is the last luggage question) I was safely seated in my isle seat… 5 rows from the back of the plane… this thing is HUGE!!! I had a wonderful little chicken and rice dinner.

I just checked the time to Brisbane – 8 hrs 23 minutes… altitude 10,363, distance traveled 6206 km, distance to go… 7387 km, ground speed 927 mph; modern technology is really cool. Hmmm… I wonder if I can sleep anymore? I am so thankful to Jennie for mixing the oils for me… especially the one that helps me sleep… be back in a bit… it would be cool if I could get wireless and send this to you from Australia… holy cow… I am going to Australia… I keep having these “moments.”

Yep… I slept. Then I got off the plane in Brisbane. I had time to change into a skirt and cooler shirt so I was better suited for the PNG culture. It was a nice rest. I didn’t have to get my bags, yippee! On the flight to Pt Moresby I was seated by the window with one man next to me. Shortly after take-off he spoke to the stewardess and then turned to explain to me that he had flown from LAX that day and was going to go to an open seat in the back and stretch out for the flight. Cool, I could spread out again; thank You Lord :o} they served us lunch and then we were here before we knew it. When my seat partner returned we talked a little and it was totally a God thing! He is an Elder in his church and his dad is a translator… I can’t make this stuff up, it had to be God!! But wait (I sound like a commercial) there’s more! He told me that he would get me through the Pt Moresby Customs and help me recheck my bags. Remember when I said that they (my bags) were incredibly stuffed?? They are, and since I am only allowed one carry-on (and I chose my computer bag) I had to check 4 bags… Air Niugini allows 1 checked bag (I could be fibbing, I am exhausted, but I believe this is what I just experienced) and one carry-on. I had to check 4 bags!! 4 very large overstuffed bags… Elder David and his whole family came with me to help. He warned me before we got to the desk that it could cost me $400… boy was I praying! He talked to them for me. The guy behind the desk went to talk to his supervisor (with my passport, I think I was holding my breath as I prayed). Then he came back and did some figuring on paper, talked to the guy helping him… and I stood there and prayed as I began to sweat profusely (welcome to PNG, ha!!). It seemed like a long time as he went to another lady to ask questions, I could see her gesturing but she didn’t turn to see me. He came back, did more figuring, picked the two heaviest bags and sent the through. I thought that meant that I would have to pay for the other two. He said, “you are set” ~ I just looked at him. Elder David said they were letting the others go free too!! What the heck Jesus, that’s so cool!!!!! Thank You!! Elder David, his wife and two little ones walked me over to the next security check and told me that they would be praying for me. We exchanged email information at the desk. I told his wife that I was very grateful for their help. They made me feel like family! So now I am sitting by the door that I think I will board through. There is a nice breeze… loving the cool breeze!! My flight will start boarding in a little over an hr. When I sat down I felt compelled to open my Bible; like He had a message for me. I opened to Malachi 3 “A call to faithfulness,” and the beginning of the New Testament. I felt like He was telling me that He is faithful and that I had been faithful to get this far and that it would continue. With the next page being the beginning of a new chapter; a new book… I felt like He was saying that this is a new chapter… a whole new book Sharon. Wait till you see what I have planned next.

What a trip… I am sitting in Papua New Guinea, wow… I don’t know if it has really hit me yet… it still feels like a dream. Of course I am completely exhausted :o} and that could be helping. I wish they had a water machine here… they have a water dispenser, like Ice Mountain, but not… so I will just sip the tad of water I have left and pray that He blesses it like he did the oil for the widow and her sons :o} I hope to add more when I get settled in Madang… but if not… I just wanted to let you know that ~~~~ I am here!! Thank you all for your love, prayers and support… clearly God heard you!

OK, so the water lasted and it was great… I am in the office. I arrived safe and sound with luggage all intact last night. Too bad it was rainy… I couldn’t get any photos from the air. But it was a pretty sight, the little I could see. Emily picked me up this morning and brought me into the office. She and I walked to the store to get the SIM card as my phone charged. It is up and running… so excited!!! I pray that the time that is on it will last as the oil for the widow too 😉 . Water (might be the South Pacific?? or an inlet??) is just across the street from where I am staying! I need to see it again.
I slept pretty well for my first night, only up a couple of times. We are getting ready for Emily to take me to Jim and Joni’s place. I am excited… then I will most likely go take a nap. I will watch for the water when they walk me home… I hope to send cool photos soon!

Thank you SO MUCH for your support, love and prayers… I am so grateful!