So, the first day was a little rough. The flight was long and tedious, but that was expected. We landed safely though which is the main thing and quickly taxied into the fray of never ending lines and baggage security checks. Mike, Brad and Andrew got their bags at the very end which put us at the end of the security line so we were not only exhausted from the sleepless flight, but now waiting yet again. The airport was much better this time with very few people wrangling to “help us” with our bags.
Around 9am we found our curly headed young tour guide and proceeded to our hotel. Trying to stay awake until bedtime was going to be difficult at best I could tell, so I asked our tour guide to take us out. We went and had coffee (which yes Mrs. Otto your husband actually drank an entire cup). This was an instant pick me up with the amazing coffee that even I drink. Our tour guide proceeded to take us to a museum which while interesting to the living, made zombies of the tired and not all there. We made it through the museum and the dinner with the NGO’s and finally made it to bed with the chickens howling and the dogs crowing and the horns of the buses constantly blaring.
As the “leader” of this trip it has been a frustrating day because I know what is coming and what is out there for them to experience but I want them to see it all in one moment. I woke up steadily at 1am ready to go, with nowhere to go but to just sit alone. This is when God showed up. As I sat and pondered about the day, God just spoke to me and made me realize it is not me who will speak to them, but Him. I must decrease so that He can increase. I must let them see the things for themselves and experience for themselves through these experiences as well as the ones to come. I want things to be perfect for them and He just wants them. He wants to show them and love them and walk with them through this process in His way, not mine.
I went back to bed with a new vigour, a new excitement and a new mindset to just let things be as they are and let God do the thing that He does best in His amazing, awe-inspiring way. As the creator of the universe and all that is, you would think that we would see that He can actually handle the good as well as the bad.
I do not know what our internet access will be as the hotel does not seem to have it, but I will continue to keep you posted the best I can. Until then, Godspeed.

Mike Koch

 

So, the first day was a little rough. The flight was long and tedious, but that was expected. We landed safely though which is the main thing and quickly taxied into the fray of never ending lines and baggage security checks. Mike, Brad and Andrew got their bags at the very end which put us at the end of the security line so we were not only exhausted from the sleepless flight, but now waiting yet again. The airport was much better this time with very few people wrangling to “help us” with our bags.
Around 9am we found our curly headed young tour guide and proceeded to our hotel. Trying to stay awake until bedtime was going to be difficult at best I could tell, so I asked our tour guide to take us out. We went and had coffee (which yes Mrs. Otto your husband actually drank an entire cup). This was an instant pick me up with the amazing coffee that even I drink. Our tour guide proceeded to take us to a museum which while interesting to the living, made zombies of the tired and not all there. We made it through the museum and the dinner with the NGO’s and finally made it to bed with the chickens howling and the dogs crowing and the horns of the buses constantly blaring.
As the “leader” of this trip it has been a frustrating day because I know what is coming and what is out there for them to experience but I want them to see it all in one moment. I woke up steadily at 1am ready to go, with nowhere to go but to just sit alone. This is when God showed up. As I sat and pondered about the day, God just spoke to me and made me realize it is not me who will speak to them, but Him. I must decrease so that He can increase. I must let them see the things for themselves and experience for themselves through these experiences as well as the ones to come. I want things to be perfect for them and He just wants them. He wants to show them and love them and walk with them through this process in His way, not mine.
I went back to bed with a new vigour, a new excitement and a new mindset to just let things be as they are and let God do the thing that He does best in His amazing, awe-inspiring way. As the creator of the universe and all that is, you would think that we would see that He can actually handle the good as well as the bad.
I do not know what our internet access will be as the hotel does not seem to have it, but I will continue to keep you posted the best I can. Until then, Godspeed.

Mike Koch