Tanzania To North Dakota

“Are you glad to go back? Was it hard to leave?” Yes and yes. I assimilated very quickly to Tanzania, loved learning the language, and developed quick relationships with all the missionaries I met. By the last day, I knew I was going home, and I missed my husband and family greatly. However, I was also overwhelmed by not wanting the trip to end so soon. The journey was stretching for me, and I enjoyed feeling flexible and walking with God every second without the distractions of home.

I thank God for my travel home. It was a long journey back, and the time change got me this time. But the Lord truly made it the smoothest trip possible. On the first flight, we had a stop in Dar es Salaam, spent an hour there loading more passengers, and then flew nine hours to Amsterdam. I only managed to doze for about three hours because a kiddo next to me kept kicking or jabbing me in her sleep, but three hours is more than I got on the way to TZ, so I'll take it!

I went through Amsterdam security easily and took the eight-hour flight back to the States! After more security, I went to find my gate and I saw that there was an earlier flight to Minot that hadn’t boarded yet. It was to depart at 2:40, whereas my flight was not leaving until 6:15, putting me at 31 hours of total travel when I arrived home. I ran to that gate where she said the seats were full but sent me to another desk to jump on the standby anyway. I waited around since I had nothing to lose, and the Lord blessed me immensely! I got a seat on the flight! I would be arriving home four hours early! Of course, I would still have to return to the Minot airport to pick up my checked bags on the later flight. There was no way they could have gotten them across the airport when I got on the plane only moments before taxiing away.

I was so thankful to have arrived home early. I decided to wait around the baggage claim, just in case. I was thinking to myself, “There really is no way my bag could have made it all the way from the gate I was at or my next gate if it went there already.” As I was thinking this, my suitcase popped out on the belt! I was shocked and immediately turned my eyes to heaven and told God that He never ceases to amaze me with His care for the little things in life. Whether you believe it or not, I know God did a little miracle just for me, and I am overwhelmed by His love for me.

My first thought as I laid eyes upon Minot again was how clean, manicured, and bare everything looked compared to Tanzania! No crazy drivers, no endless lines of boda bodas swerving about, no dukas lining the end of the roads. The grass was so clean and mowed. However, it snowed the week before I left, so I was glad to see summer at last. Minot truly is beautiful too.

I have a lot yet to process and fatigue to battle. But I am so thankful for the Lord caring for me during the trip and getting me back safely. Thank you all for your prayers concerning my family member who was in the hospital. Praise the Lord that they are back home and feeling much better!