Welcome Forward!

Here they are in the Indianapolis airport, having flown through the night from Chile by way of Atlanta. Exhausted, filled with memories, hopeful that they will be able to share the profound ways in which their lives have changed from their sojourn between the mountains and the sea, ambassadors for Christ and the church, both in Chile and the USA.

Thank you, sisters and brother, for serving the church in this way. Thank you for seeking and seeing and sharing God in between with our sisters and brothers in Chile. Thank you for your willingness to seek and see and share God in between with your sisters and brothers here in Indiana and Kentucky and beyond.

And thanks be to God for a safe journey, for the wonder and delight of being a part of the global body of Christ, and for work to do that is inspired, at least in part, by the witness of the people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile.

We've returned!

We returned to the U.S. today safely. Sunday was a very busy day, returning to the hotel only an hour before we planned to leave for the airport. We actually left the hotel early and made it to the airport shortly after 5:00 pm for an 8:40 flight to Atlanta. Most of us were in the very back of the plane. It was not a completely full flight which allowed us to spread out just a bit. We arrived in Atlanta just after 6 am and it took about 1 1/2 hours to get through immigration and customs and rechecking baggage and security and... and... Unfortunately we were all so tired yet happy to be so close to being home that we forgot Mary would be heading to a different gate. Thus we forgot to say our goodbyes and give lots of hugs. Sorry Mary! That was such a terrible way to say "Thanks" for all your contributions on this trip.

We boarded the flight for the final leg to Indianapolis. The flight was quite routine and arrived on time. We were all happy to see Pastor Gafkjen waiting for us as we came out of the secured area and later to find more family and friends waiting for us in the baggage area. When the baggage turnstiles quit bringing luggage, we found there was one bag that had not yet arrived. I certainly hope that by now it has been found and arrived at its proper home.

Thanks to all for your prayers and posted comments during our journey to Chile. We may be back in the States but the blog continues as we reflect on and process this journey. We have formed some wonderful friendships and look forward to sharing more stories with you. I'll get a picture of our return posted tomorrow. For now, I need some rest.

Blessings and Peace.