The morning of my trip was very relaxed. Having finished my packing the night before, I was able to enjoy a smoothie and squeeze in one last episode of American TV (hopefully I can figure out how to watch some here in my down time).
Before long it was time to head off to the airport. Once arriving I met up with family and friends who came to wish me a wonderful year. I was not sure that I would actually cry, though I was positive that I would be sad to leave. When it was time to say see you later to everyone, I cried a little bit. It was not until after I went through security that I had a major breakdown. When I got to my gate, several strangers gave me sympathetic looks as I struggled to get myself together.
I talked with God through my tears. Telling Him that it was just the two of us. I'm sure I was also telling Him how much He was needed.
Well God presented Himself to me in the people I met along the way. First was an older man and a women as we waited to board the plane to Chicago. The lady at the gate was very adamant about passengers only having two items in hand. I had three: my backpack, suitcase and book full of encouragement from my church members. As I struggled to fit the book in one of my bags, the older man behind me offered to help. Once done he asked me where I was going, the lady in front of us turned to listen in as well. I started crying and told him I was going to Poland, explaining to them that I was emotional because I was leaving my family for nine months. They asked what I would be doing and I said I was going to be a student missionary. The older man told me that he would be on my flight to Frankfurt. I was very thankful for this, though he was a stranger, he was a familiar face. The lady saw me later on the plane and wished me good luck. She told me that I was going to be just fine. I feel like God knew that this is exactly what I needed to hear at that time.
Next I met a kind woman in the Chicago airport. She explained to me that she and her husband were going to be touring Europe. In fact because of another airline, they had missed their flight and were behind schedule. Though I felt bad for them, it was nice to focus on someone else's problem, rather than dwelling on how much I was going to be missing my family and friends. Not only is this trip my first time in Europe, it was going to be their first time as well. We started talking about other trips we had each taken and I found out that they were Christian. It was an excellent way to pass the time.
My next few encounters were very brief. When waiting to board the plane to Frankfurt I had a discussion with a high school girl. She was giving up her senior year to participate in an exchange student program in Croatia. How brave of her! Here I am a college senior struggling to leave my home, good for her for possessing the bravery to take it on at such a young age. In the same line I met a man from the UK who now lives in Texas. He asked me where I was going and I said to Poland. He asked me if I knew Polish and I said I did not. We discussed language learning, and he emphasized how actually spending time in a place helps one learn so much more than simply sitting in front of computer, or just using a book.
When I got to my seat on the plane I was a little skeptical. Here was an older European couple, who were staring at me in an uncomfortable fashion. It was only through the power of God that we started talking. I don't remember exactly how the conversation came up, but the older gentlemen next to me said that he and his wife were from Poland. I got very excited and explained I was going there. The couple's faces lit up. Though they did not speak much English, they tried their best to communicate with me. I was able to use the book my church gave me to explain what I was doing and where I was going. The older gentlemen told me that he thought I would be able to learn Polish in three months time. At the end of our journey he wished me the best of luck.
Before long I had made it to Frankfurt where I met up with the other student missionary. From there we traveled to Berlin where we met the third member of our team.
It was so awesome meeting all of these people along the way. I really feel that God used them to encourage me, whether they knew it or not. This trip did have its stressful times. But with encouraging conversation I was able to make it. God gave me what I needed for each leg of my journey.
Before long it was time to head off to the airport. Once arriving I met up with family and friends who came to wish me a wonderful year. I was not sure that I would actually cry, though I was positive that I would be sad to leave. When it was time to say see you later to everyone, I cried a little bit. It was not until after I went through security that I had a major breakdown. When I got to my gate, several strangers gave me sympathetic looks as I struggled to get myself together.
I talked with God through my tears. Telling Him that it was just the two of us. I'm sure I was also telling Him how much He was needed.
Well God presented Himself to me in the people I met along the way. First was an older man and a women as we waited to board the plane to Chicago. The lady at the gate was very adamant about passengers only having two items in hand. I had three: my backpack, suitcase and book full of encouragement from my church members. As I struggled to fit the book in one of my bags, the older man behind me offered to help. Once done he asked me where I was going, the lady in front of us turned to listen in as well. I started crying and told him I was going to Poland, explaining to them that I was emotional because I was leaving my family for nine months. They asked what I would be doing and I said I was going to be a student missionary. The older man told me that he would be on my flight to Frankfurt. I was very thankful for this, though he was a stranger, he was a familiar face. The lady saw me later on the plane and wished me good luck. She told me that I was going to be just fine. I feel like God knew that this is exactly what I needed to hear at that time.
Next I met a kind woman in the Chicago airport. She explained to me that she and her husband were going to be touring Europe. In fact because of another airline, they had missed their flight and were behind schedule. Though I felt bad for them, it was nice to focus on someone else's problem, rather than dwelling on how much I was going to be missing my family and friends. Not only is this trip my first time in Europe, it was going to be their first time as well. We started talking about other trips we had each taken and I found out that they were Christian. It was an excellent way to pass the time.
My next few encounters were very brief. When waiting to board the plane to Frankfurt I had a discussion with a high school girl. She was giving up her senior year to participate in an exchange student program in Croatia. How brave of her! Here I am a college senior struggling to leave my home, good for her for possessing the bravery to take it on at such a young age. In the same line I met a man from the UK who now lives in Texas. He asked me where I was going and I said to Poland. He asked me if I knew Polish and I said I did not. We discussed language learning, and he emphasized how actually spending time in a place helps one learn so much more than simply sitting in front of computer, or just using a book.
When I got to my seat on the plane I was a little skeptical. Here was an older European couple, who were staring at me in an uncomfortable fashion. It was only through the power of God that we started talking. I don't remember exactly how the conversation came up, but the older gentlemen next to me said that he and his wife were from Poland. I got very excited and explained I was going there. The couple's faces lit up. Though they did not speak much English, they tried their best to communicate with me. I was able to use the book my church gave me to explain what I was doing and where I was going. The older gentlemen told me that he thought I would be able to learn Polish in three months time. At the end of our journey he wished me the best of luck.
Before long I had made it to Frankfurt where I met up with the other student missionary. From there we traveled to Berlin where we met the third member of our team.
It was so awesome meeting all of these people along the way. I really feel that God used them to encourage me, whether they knew it or not. This trip did have its stressful times. But with encouraging conversation I was able to make it. God gave me what I needed for each leg of my journey.