Departure

Today is the day of departure! We arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport late morning and made our way through all of the required checks and security points. Then the real fun began, as those of us going on the tour starting meeting up and introducing ourselves to each other. Everyone couldn't have been nicer and there's a lot of representation from the Lone Star state. Our flight was delayed a few times for aircraft maintenance and although we were all anxious to begin our journey, we didn't mind. Better to find any problems on the ground than while we're 35,000 ft in the air.

With all of the excitement, it was hard for me to sleep. I managed to take 3 short naps, and woke up the third time to a sunrise over Spain. Can't say that's ever happened to me before. The clouds look like brushstrokes on a canvas. God is an artist! I'm listening to "Multiplied" by the band Needtobreathe at that moment and like the song, my "hallelujahs" were certainly multiplied. What an incredible blessing to be on a plane going to Israel with my wife and so many others that love and support Israel and God's chosen people.

"God of mercy
sweet love of mine.
I have surrendered
to your design.
May this offering stretch across the sky
and these hallelujahs be multiplied"

- Steve