For some of us, getting to Lakeshore wasn’t the easiest thing we’ll be doing this week! Pauline Trummel of Livermore Baptist Church recounts her group’s story of traveling difficulties and blessings.
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We began planning our trip to Lakeshore in July. I can’t believe how quickly time has passed raising money, praying and planning. It’s a little sad leaving today without the rest of LRBC - everyone in the church has been so much a part of this trip even though they aren’t able to accompany us to Mississippi. I pray a special blessing on them - the moms with little kids, those who have to work, those who aren’t physically able - I feel as though we are going to represent all of LRBC, not just the 21 on the travel itinerary.
3am came very early and sleep was elusive before we felt rested for a trip of this magnitude. I wrote on our blog last night, “May the Lord give us a safe and uneventful travel or patience to equal travel frustrations.” That was more prophetic than I knew at the time because we needed more patience than I ever expected.
Upon arrival at San Jose airport we found travel arrangements had been changed and apparently they canceled our last leg of our trip into Gulf Port. I was thankful that Larry (my husband and pastor) was there — already, patience was needed. He worked with the lady from the airline for one hour, trying to set our arrangements in order. He arrived at the gate as our first leg was loading — I was nervous when I saw the length of the security line and didn’t see Larry. We didn’t want to leave without our pastor, and I especially didn’t want to leave without my husband! We all breathed a sigh of relief when he was escorted through security to our gate by the ticket agent. The plane left SJO 1/2 hour late, and we settled in.
It was fun traveling with 20 other people. As we neared our first stop (the non-stop flight to Atlanta was changed last week) in Salt Lake City, Utah, the captain said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be circling because SLC Airport has been closed. We have about 1 hour of fuel remaining and it is reported that the airport will open in 1-2 hours.” Now, I’m no math whiz, but I understand 2 hours is more fuel than we have.
After circling about 45 minutes, the captain addresses us again: “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are headed to Idaho for refueling and will then return to Salt Lake City when it’s opened.” I can see the day getting longer by the minute. Again, “Ladies and Gentlement, SLC is now open - we are turning around and going back.”
We had a scheduled 1 hour layover, but with the airport closure, it evaporated and we deplaned with 5 minutes to catch our flight to Atlanta. Brian Clappin took off and saved the day — he got to our next gate (which was nowhere near where we deplaned, of course) after it had already been closed. He asked if they would open the plane for him and they said, “yes!” — the then added, “Good, because there are 20 more people coming down here right now!” We were definitely NOT the most popular people when the flight attendants told everyone to move back to their original seats. They had all spread out a bit and grumbled about moving. We were just glad to have made the connection.
Atlanta — we got to know ATL! Our original plan that Larry got was to arrive at ATL, then after a short layover, head down to Gulf Port. Oh no — not for us — the trip had been morphed by Delta for a 17 minute ground time before leaving for Gulf Port, and since we were an hour late getting to ATL, the GPT plane left without us. This was the leg that was messed up that Larry took the hour at 5am to sort through.
New plans were made: 7 were scheduled on the 3:38pm flight, 5 for a 5:30pm flight, and 7 for 9:30pm. Once again, we scrambled, and everyone but 8 of us got on that 5:30 flight! It was a huge blessing and answer to prayer. Prior to everyone getting on the plane, Larry called us to prayer — How good God is to keep us reliant upon Himself and not what we can do. Supposedly the flight was full, as was our later one, but all the people except one were able to go. We all thanked the Lord with them, though 8 of us remained until 9:30pm.
I am especially thankful for those answered prayers as a witness to our young people, and encouragement of God’s blessing on this trip to remind us of His graciousness to His very tired people. Also, I must say, I’m proud of everyone on the trip — no one was grumpy, irritable, short, or complaining. We all knew that we were going to help the people of Lakeshore who have suffered for 2 years - how could we complain about 1 very long, frustrating day?
As the 8 of us said goodbye to our team members, we prayed that Jim Mackanic could get on our 9:30pm flight. He was on stand-by with a ticket for the following morning. God had this under control as well, so no one stressed. It was the time to relax a little. The four teens with us — Jeb, Patrick, Meredith and Kirsten — went off exploring the airport. Riding the tram and eating were of first importance. Larry, Jim, Dick and I watched the luggage. When the kids got back, the adults ate and the fellowship was great.
9:30pm turned into 10pm, but we did get Jim on the flight to GPT. We received a call from those who had previously arrived — no luggage came through. We made plans of how to survive the week without anything, but the camaraderie and joy were evident — no complaining! What an adventure we were on! The plane remained dark the entire trip and everyone was tire as we left the gate (no surprise by now). As we got ready to land, a clear thought entered my mind — “don’t leave assuming we have no luggage… check!” All of us had assumed in our dead brains that we were doomed, but Alas, all the luggage (except 2 pieces) came out on the conveyor belt — Yea!
Scott and Carol Kemper joined us from Florida. They found conditions to be very cramped at Lakeshore, so got 5 rooms for us in neighboring Bay St. Louis. We all fell into bed when we got here around 11:45pm. My final prayer of the night was “thanks for God’s guiding and sustaining hand that holds us and directs us, even through mazes like today!”
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