It's amazing to see how already God is in the "little" things on this trip. This morning our team leader, Chris Weaver, had us all out packing the vans at 6:30…which seemed a little early since our flight didn't take off until 10:20am. Turned out his earliness was a God-thing. Van #1 made it to the airport safe and sound, Van #2 was delayed as they stopped to get air in their tires, and Van #3 had to call for a back-up since they blew a tire on the way. So, a 20 minute van ride turned into 1 1/2 hours, which meant by the time we were all accounted for with our luggage, we didn't have much time to spare. We may tease Chris about his early, early time schedule, but it served us well!

This trip has had crazy, crazy issues with luggage. First a few of our team members are still missing their bags, and we're only praying that they arrive on the next flight to Blantyre on Saturday (mostly because one of the bags held the spices, sauces and brownie mixes that Rob Christman had packed for our meals!!). We knew there were going to be issues when a few of our team members saw the team bags being unloaded from the plane and wheeled back into the airport in Columbus. Day two of the trip and already we're putting Pastor Mark's talks on "flexibility" to the test.

Then, this morning in the Johannesburg airport our team is all checked-in and ready to head through the passport line, when out of nowhere we're stopped again and asked to weigh our carry-ons, despite the fact they had already been weighed at check-in. One of the officials was laid back, but the second one was insistent that we were only allowed one carry-on (every other flight was two) and we were going to need to check them, which would mean a lot more money. Rob & Chris took him aside, tried to reason with him, which did no good, but once Chris slipped him some money, the man let us pass! They operate a little differently than we do at home…and we learned quickly that when certain officials see a group of Americans traveling, they know a bribe shouldn't be too far behind (even from a church group!)

It was so wonderful to finally land in Blantyre. For those of us returning, it was a little like coming home. There is something about this place that draws you in, and as Mike & Chris said tonight at team time, the country gets its claws in you and won't let go. We had a great time at team time just going around the table, sharing how God got us here to this place. Every one of us is excited to see what God is going to do in us and then, in turn, through us.

Tomorrow we're meeting with the staff of the Passion Center and then seeing the children. Just thinking of their smiling faces makes me even more excited!

Please keep praying for our team.…we're praying specifically for the missing supply bags to arrive on Saturday's flight.

—Brooke