After many months (almost a year of planning) the day has arrived when we will depart for the First Aldersgate Conference in the United Kingdom. In the final days leading up to the conference we have been pestered by many small details both in our personal lives and in our secular occupations. We have sorted all of those out and we are ready for our adventure to begin.

The day began with plans to leave for the airport at about 2:45 PM (even though our flight did not leave until 5:55 PM) At 2:42 PM the American Airlines messaged us to tell us the plane was to depart @ 7:30 because of a weather delay. We went ahead and left for the airport and called American Airlines because the delay put us getting to Philadelphia @ 09:00 PM and our flight for Manchester, UK was set to depart @ 8:50. After being on hold for 30 minutes( We were pulling into the airport the American Airlines agent offered to book us for a flight the next day. He suggested that maybe we could check the ticket counter at the airport for other arrangements.

At the counter they did tell us an earlier flight had been delayed also and they were at the gate awaiting boarding the plane.(Answered Prayer # 1) The agent at the counter was so helpful in booking us to catch the earlier flight. They were able to arrange for our luggage and us to be on the awaiting flight. Passing through security went pretty smoothly - except Virginia had peanuts in her carry on bag and apparently peanuts and marijuana look the same on the scanner so their suitcase was pulled for more intense scrutiny. We hurried to the gate as the plane had already boarded and they were waiting for us. We boarded and I was fortunate enough to have a front row seat next to my new friend Susan. The pilot came over the intercom and told us we were scheduled to be able to take off is about 20 minutes so he was going to turn the engines off to conserve fuel. We were actually glad for the slight delay which gave us the opportunity to calm down after the adventure it was getting to the airport and onto the waiting plane. After 20 minutes the pilot came back on the intercom and told us our departure had been delayed for another 35 minutes. This slightly concerned us as we have sat on the runway too long before and had to turn back for fuel. Doug and I decided we should pray for our departure to be expedited. Withing 30 seconds of our prayer the pilot came over the intercom and said he was not sure what had happened but the control tower had just released our plane for an immediate take off. We Taxied to the runway and took off. (Answered Prayer # 2)There were storms in the area and the takeoff and flight were "VERY" bumpy. Doug and I decided to pray again and withing one minute the clouds lightened and we were into clean air and we had a mostly smooth flight for the rest of our journey to Philadelphia. (Answered Prayer # 3) Doug and Mary Miller flew out of Charlotte and Matthew flew out of Raleigh and neither one of their planes ever had a smooth portion of their flight all the way to Philadelphia. I did make friends with Susan who sat next to me on the flight to Philadelphia and we had a very good conversation and I did have the opportunity to pray with her. She was musically gifted and hoped to start part time at a Contemporary Catholic church as a musician/pianist. We prayed for her three sons and where God would be in their life. I have a lot of compassion for her as Lynn and I have three sons also.

The time spent at the airport in Philadelphia was pretty uneventful but we were glad that the storms at home had not caused any one to miss out flight to Manchester. We did have the chance to meet and fellowship and prepare ourselves for our two week adventure with a group of old friends. Our overnight flight to Manchester was very smooth and we did have a chance catch a small amount of sleep. It has been an exhausting but good 24 hours!