August 17th - Back to the States

This morning we woke up to the roosters calling at 6:30am. They run free around the yard. We all got ready for the day and Berta made some excellent bread and coffee. She and I prayed together for safe travels. She is very passionate in her faith. She wanted to show me so many things (in her country), but because of my flight leaving when it did...she could only take me to her sister's house (who now lives in the States). Her pastor drove us to the airport; but rather than taking the highway, they chose to drive on the country roads, so that I could "see the country better". Of course, that took longer and we didn't arrive to the airport until 11:30 (remember, my departure time was 12:47pm).

The check-in line was VERY long, so Patti's cousin stayed by the suitcase of items her mom had sent along with me while I ran to the bathroom. As I was washing my hands, I heard my name called over the airport's intercom system...to come to the front desk immediately. This, of course, made my heart race! Was there a time difference between Honduras and El Salvador that I missed?...Did they change the flight time and I missed my plane?...or What??? I ran back to the Delta area and Patti's cousin was still standing in line with the suitcase - holding my spot. When I went to the front desk, a lady reassured me that they were just making sure I was in line to get on the plane. Whew!

I checked in the suitcase (which came out to EXACTLY 50 pounds) and Berta invited me to eat with them at a restaurant in the airport called "Pollo Campero". Her nephew told me that "it's sort of like KFC, but much better". It was now noon (& I wasn't sure I had the time to eat, since I still hadn't went through the police check to get into the flight gates). Before the food came, Delta announce they were beginning to board for flight 404 - my flight. We had to get a bag "para llevar" and I said my "goodbyes". Patti has such a wonderful and supportive family!

When I boarded the plane, I was extremely surprised to see my seat was in the business class area. I have NEVER sat up there before on an airplane! When the food came, it was all on ceramic plates (rather than the plastic containers I am normally accustomed to), and the drinks were served in actual glasses (rather than plastic cups). The steward and stewardess were SO pleasant, offering us the local newspaper (which I kept).

We got in to Atlanta on time, but I still had to go through customs before catching my connecting flight. When I went to get my 2 suitcases, one had been 1/2 ripped open! Thankfully, Delta had "suitcase bags" for these events. As I was about to enter the customs gate, an officer looked at me and said "Excuse me, miss, but you can't take that Pollo Campero through customs." I said "really?...should I through it in this garbage then?" (I hadn't even gotten a chance to try it!) He got a BIG smile on his face and said "I'm just kidding you!...go ahead." I told him not to scare me because I didn't know all of the rules, since I hadn't traveled internationally in over 10 years! The next guy that I had to deal with (when you put your stuff through that x-ray machine) asked me if he could have some of the Pollo Campero, so I did offer him some...but he responded by saing, "If I took some, I'd have to have it all". Apparently they are very familiar with Pollo Campero in Atlanta!

When I got to terminal B-20 to Chicago-Midway, I sat down and began to read. I saw a girl put a quarter into a pay phone only to not be heard by whomever she was talking to - and not get her quarter back. She leaned against the wall, sunk down and started to sob. When I asked her what was wrong, it only made her more upset. She said she had been trying to call home and had tried different phones in the airport, but none had worked...and now she was out of quarters. I asked if she'd like to use mine (knowing full-well what it's like to miss your family, since I was feeling that too), but she refused. I took it out of my bag and handed it to her, insisting that we don't use nearly all of the minutes we're alloted each month...so she took it and made the call. She was so grateful when she handed the phone back, but just the look of relief on her face in being able to tell her family that she was okay was enough for me.

I got to talk to Bob, Andrés and Noah as I was waiting for my last flight. It was delayed by a 1/2 hour. On all of my flights from Honduras back to the States, I've been occupying myself with reading "The Shack" by William P. Young. It is, without a doubt, the best book I've ever read in my life to date! At this point, I'm not even able to put into words my feelings on this book. I have about 1/3 of the book left to go, and may blog a little more about it when I've finished.

When I arrived to Chicago-Midway, the baggage came quickly and I was out the airport doors in about 20 minutes from the time we landed. Jim & Jeanne pulled over to pick me up almost right as I came out. They said they had only made 3 loops around the airport (hopefully that wasn't a lot). We went back to their place, where I got a great night's rest!