The morning was filled with checking and rechecking lists, making sure for about the millionth time that we had our passports, and lots of yawning. We woke up around 3am to finish packing the last few items and get to the airport by 5:30am. Once we got to the airport there was the usual weighing of bags, and shifting things around in order to be under the weight limits.
As a group we prayed for the trip, our travel, and favor going through security, customs, and immigration. (Last year going through customs and immigration I completely blanked when asked where I was going and had to get help from our team leaders!) After praying we took some group pictures and then we were off to the airline ticket counters, or rather the long lines to the ticket counters. This was to be the start of a test in patience as the computers were having issues and would only print 1 persons luggage tags at a time before freezing up or something like that. On the plus side the waiting time provided a space for some good bonding as a team.
Once all 27 bags had been checked in it was off to security lines and metal detectors. I'm not sure if it was just being surrounded by fellow dog lovers or what but I have never noticed so many dogs at the airport, both security dogs and traveling pets. Let me just say that it's REALLY hard some times not petting the security dogs. We wove back and forth through the security lines, giving fellow team members high-fives as we passed each other. At security I got pulled aside to have my bag searched, apparently my gummy vitamins were marked as questionable by the x-ray machine, and silly me I stood there insisting that I didn't have any food in my bag (vitamins aren't food, right?), before realizing what was flagged on security.
When we finally finished the whole security process it was off to breakfast and our gate just in time to catch the plane. The trip down to Belize is spread out over 3 airplane flights and layovers in Houston and Belize City. Each flight isn't particularly long, yet because of layovers and everything it takes almost a whole day to travel.
In Belize City we caught a small plane to get into Punta Gorda. Last year this was the most apprehensive portion of the travel for me, yet this year I was pleased to discover that I felt only excitement, which was an answered prayer for me. The plane was actually so small that we were faced with the challenge of deciding which pieces of luggage went down with us on the plane and which would have to wait for the next flight the following day. Yikes!
As I sat on the plane on the way there I struggle with feeling unprepared and inadequate for the challenges that I know the trip will hold. I know that the next 10 days will not be easy, it will be uncomfortable at times, spiritually trying, and physically hard. Despite these feelings I am excited to see where God leads me on this trip and how I am able to grow from this.
Landing in Punta Gorda I am overwhelmed with feelings of coming home, of returning to a place that holds a piece of my heart. I left last year not knowing when or if I would ever be back and here I am, the moment is surreal. Familiar sights, places, sounds, and smells greeted me as soon as I got off the plane. In that moment I knew that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
They say that home is where your heart is and Punta Gorda will always hold a piece of my heart. There is a beauty and deep strength to this place that has to be experienced to be understood. The uniqueness of both the people and the country is deeply beautiful and inspiring.
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