You may or may not know that Dana was in Amsterdam last week and unable to return home on Friday due to the volcano eruption in Iceland. After rescheduling flights several times to no avail this weekend, he began to pursue ways to get to Southern Europe where airspace is still open.
The kids and I are doing quite well, by the grace of God. It's no secret that our home runs more smoothly when Dana is home, but we are fine. (No one is out of clean underwear yet.) The kids are largely independent and the biggest challenge is just getting everyone where they need to be at the right time. My main concern is my husband's safety. I'm happy to wait as long as necessary for his safe return home.
But he has been miserable. He has literally only been home for 36 hours since April 2 between our spring break trip to Mexico and his trip to Amsterdam. He just wants to be home. This volcano last erupted in 1822 and did so for TWO YEARS. Additionally, there is another volcano in Iceland that geologists are concerned may also erupt. This has the potential to disrupt air travel for weeks - even months. He's desperate to be home and has been working
every angle to get here.
After repeated "roadblocks" he was feeling frustrated and discouraged, but God really had a Word for us yesterday. (Thank you, Wayne Lewis!) In His infinite wisdom, God's ways are first and foremost for HIS GLORY, but
then for the best of the greatest number of those who love Him (that's us!!) for the longest amount of time. His wisdom is flawlessly perfect. (Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.)
Despite how bad things seem, God is in our every circumstance waiting for us to turn to Him. Where does our help come from? The maker of Heaven and Earth!! (Psalm 121). The details are so small for Him. His greatest desire is for us to call on His name - turn to Him - and submit ourselves to His Ways.
Dana spent Sunday morning at the train station trying to get a train south, but striking railroad workers in France made training to Spain or Portugal impossible. His next plan was to rent a car and drive to Madrid or Lisbon but there were absolutely
no rental cars available whatsoever.
Just as I began to get discouraged
for him, this happened.
I was at church early for vocal team rehearsal Sunday morning and was struggling to want to be there. I was tired from racing all day on Saturday to have Rob at four different back to back events and literally being gone all day. Then I was up in the night with him and his wicked allergies. I was tired and began to feel discouraged.... the Enemy clearly did not want me there. (Incidentally, he almost kept me from being at rehearsal on Wednesday night as well, which would have kept me from singing on Sunday - but God had a purpose.)
As we were rehearsing, I was texting with Dana and he said,
no cars whatsoever. He's pursued everything, is out of options and is stuck for real. I moaned upon reading it - feeling so helpless and stymied. A new friend from vocal team standing next to me said, "Are you alright?" I was honest and said, not really, telling her that my husband was stuck in Amsterdam. Her response blew me away.
"Mine too!" Her husband has been there since April 10th and she has been home alone with their 6 month old. She needs her husband home!
Within the hour, God's word about His infinite wisdom fell on our ears and our husbands had made contact with one another in Amsterdam. Dana managed to find
one rental car that would be available Monday at noon. (Supposedly. No real guarantee that it would be there though!). In the meantime, it felt like such a God thing for Dana to have someone else to make the drive with. (I mean no disrespect, but I'm not exaggerating when I say the man cannot find his way out of the mall.)
HAD I NOT BEEN AT CHURCH TO SING, WE WOULD HAVE MISSED GOD'S PROVISION THIS WAY!
The guys booked tickets from Madrid (in Dana's case, Madrid - Santo Domingo - Atlanta, home on Wednesday). However, by Sunday night, rumors of airspace reopening in Amsterdam had them conflicted. Who wants to make an unnecessary 14 hour trip in totally uncharted territory if flights are going to resume?
We prayed that God would be
unmistakable in His direction and waited until morning for the latest air space info.
Our God is unmistakable.
At 6am this morning (noon in Amsterdam), I got a text from Dana that they had a rental car from Hertz and had picked up another passenger who is
fluent in Spanish. Yeah.
That will come in handy!! What's more they were all booked on the same NON-STOP FLIGHT from Madrid to Atlanta arriving home
Tuesday afternoon. (Dana even got his first class seat he'd originally paid for).
We have this confidence. Without knowing what still lies ahead, open doors in the form of an available rental car, travel companions and direct flights from Madrid
have to be God's unmistakable hand of direction and if He wills it, providence and favor.
How to pray, if you feel so led.
- Protection, obviously! Pray that they get to Madrid safely and in plenty of time to catch their flight at noon on Tuesday (6am here). Pray that their flight from Madrid to Atlanta - or whatever flight they get on - arrives home safely, free and clear of volcanic debris or any other potential hazard.
- Peace Chichi and I obviously desperately want our husbands home. But above that, we want their protection and God's will to be fully accomplished. My only concern really throughout is this drive. I wouldn't worry so much if it were in the U.S., but everything is so unfamiliar! I am so grateful for the travel companions - grateful that God is using Dana to be a blessing to Prince and Caroline in return, but I'll be glad to know they have arrived safely in Madrid. I didn't love the idea of him flying in Northern European airspace.
- Divine appointments. Dana and Prince had never met, but we attend the same church. Not sure who this other passenger is, but her name is Caroline. God has them in that car together for a reason - of this I am confident. He is going to accomplish greater things. Things that could not have happened any other way. God, let Your Will be done.
- Continued favor. There's a slight issue with Prince's airline ticket, but Caroline is Diamond medallion on Delta and feels she can get him on the flight. Both Dana and Prince are so incredibly blessed by corporate expense accounts. Thousands upon thousands of travelers are stuck without hotel accommodations, even money for food. I've read stories on Fox News about families on vacation, broke, having trouble getting funds wired, people concerned about missing work, losing pay - some not even able to get return flights until
May or June. There's price gouging going on by hotels who are quadrupling room rates simply because they can. But because we call on the strong and mighty Name of our GOD, He is making a way. Pray that He continues to do so in His infinite wisdom, and that Dana, Prince and Caroline see and acknowledge our God as the Lord of these circumstances - whether they understand and enjoy them or not. As for "roadblocks", we are confident each and every one has been or will be for the purpose of God's protection or His re-direction to a better Way.
- That others affected will turn to God, giving Him the chance to prove Himself merciful and MIGHTY. Travelers everywhere need mercy. God is the source of all mercy and longs to pour it out on those who seek Him. In these end times, God is delaying His return for the sole purpose of giving people a chance to turn to Him. To seek Him, repent and find salvation. God, let it be done.
As I close, it is 9:45am in Atlanta, 3:45pm in Europe. Dana just texted and said they are in France, 2 hours from Paris. 900 miles to go. He is driving the whole way because the car is a stick shift and he's the only one who knows how to drive it!!!! (And it's been a while at that!) So add that to your prayer list. I'd thought they could share the driving..... but it looks like Dana's going to earn his first class ticket (read: sleep) after staying awake and alert for a 14 hour drive. I'm just glad he has company to keep him awake!
Caroline has a camera, so hopefully they'll get this journey somewhat documented, although they are not lolly-gagging. They need to get to Spain with all haste. Under any other circumstances, a road trip through the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Spain would be such a treat!! I'm sure it will be a beautiful drive while they have daylight.
I will post updates to Facebook as I receive them. If you aren't on Facebook and would like for me to email you, please reply to this email.
Thank you for interceding on our behalf. I pray that you are blessed and encouraged by God's evident faithfulness!
May God receive all glory and honor. He is good all the time!
