June 28, 2008

The Triple 7 touched down after taking a large circle and then a small circle over Shanghai. The group took an uneventful romp through customs and then we found our luggage on the carousel. We marched down through another check-point, where we were escorted in smaller groups on to our bus.



It was raining, a heavy down-pour, as our bus cut through the narrow congestion of the Shanghai city streets. There seemed to be an hour of stop and go traffic. Out of the window we watched a river of water run along side the bus. At some points it looked s if it may wash us away.

In the street men and women wore cheap plastic rain parkas and rode mopeds and bicycles. On the buildings, I recognized brand names, such as the large Sony billboard, or KFC, or a picture or Jackie Chen and Yao Ming's face next to a Visa card. Most of the signs at this point are written in Chinese block letters. Our bus dodges the on-coming traffic and plows through the large dollops of rain.

On man, I'm not sure if he works for the bus company or he school, sits on the massive stack of luggage and hovers just above our head. Two hours later I just want to get off this bus and collapse in our hotel. We have been traveling for twenty-four hours now.

Finally we are off the bus and into the hotel. It is nicer than I guessed with large chandeliers, marble, and the big classic vases that you see in movies. There are thin trees that have been trained to cross-hatch their trunks into each other. We quickly find our room. It has a great view overlooking a canal.

June 26, 2008

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Romans 10:15

I have a confession to make to you. I have ugly feet. My toes are hairy like that of a Hobbit's. I'm sorry to say that I rarely if ever cut my nails. They are misshapen and course and any chance I would every have as a foot model...would be considered a pipe dream.

I was really glad when my wife Caryn gave me a early birthday present. A pair of North Face hiking shoes. They are two shades of grey, with a stylish burgundy stripe that runs along the side. The were exactly the type of shoe that I have been looking for, for quite sometime.

I am presently traveling at 560 miles per hour from Atlanta, Georgia...over Wisconsin and Canada and will be just shy of the North Pole...After that we will zip over Russia and touch down in Shanghai China in our hopefully reliable Triple 7.

The captain's voice rang over the intercom and advised us that the flight will take approximately fourteen hours. Three full course meals, seven movies, a long nap, and the next thing that we know we will be in China.

I'm anticipating something on this trip. I'm eagerly awaiting a miracle. A case of the supernatural made visible...as clearly noticeable as the golden-tipped clouds just off our airplanes wing.

I've already witnessed the hand of an invisible force that has brought me to this point. I saw his dexterity in the way that my airline ticket was paid for, the way that my comp time was adequately accrued, the way that co-workers banded together to donate funds to an unknown cause. I've already witnessed so many obstacles that have been pushed out of the way and prayer concerned that were granted.

I can't help but thinking that there is a bigger reason that I am here. If only to observe something and bring it back...so that others faith may be increased. Maybe to share my experience of a loving Father with someone who may have never experienced grace. I guess that is the reason that I am anticipating something...the reason that I feel like a miracle is right around the corner.

It is also the reason that I think that my feet will become beautiful. It's not my stylish North Face footwear and it's not my own pedicured deficient feet. It is because we are on our way to deliver good news. In fact, it is the best news out there. And it is the news that we carry that makes our feet look better. There is something about receiving good news. Whether it is "The battle is over," "We're having a girl!" or "It's benign, you are going to be okay." There is something amazing and wonderful about bring the good news to people.

I know that these thoughts are pretty jumbled up, but at this point it is really hard to know what is about to happen or expect.

- - -

Our aircraft is directly over Russia. It is 8:28 AM at our destination. However, my brain keeps telling me that it is 8:28PM the day before. I haven't slept for more than three hours since Tuesday and now suddenly its Friday. It can be a little jarring to one's system. My personal on board video screen indicates that we are flying at 38,000 feet just north of the sea of Okhotsk. The arrival time is listed as 4:53 minutes.

Here we go!