June 4th Recap - Ready... set… wait!

Okay, if you haven't already figured it out the ending from today's previous posts yet, here's a summary of our trek to Alaska today.

We got up early this morning and left for Charlotte between 5 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. depending on the order everyone was picked up.

We stopped for breakfast at Denny's. We arrived at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and parked the van in long term parking. We checked in, got our boarding passes, paid for our checked luggage ($15 per bag), went to the security checkpoint, proved we were who we said we were, emptied our pockets, pulled out our laptops, kicked off our shoes, walked through a metal detector, put up our laptops, refilled our pockets, slid our shoes back on, waited for our flight to board, boarded our flight, stowed our carry on luggage, got out our books and magazines, turned off our cell phones and flew from Charlotte to…

Charlotte.

You read right… Charlotte. We flew exactly nowhere today. It seems as if someone smelled a fuel-like odor and one of the flight attendants felt a little woozy from it. So to be on the safe side Northwest unloaded the plane so maintenance could check it out. The flight ended up cancelled and 120 people ended up scurrying for other flight arrangements.

We have ended up booked on a flight to Minneapolis in the morning and then on to Anchorage. We should be in Anchorage around 2:39 p.m. It's disappointing to get off to such a rocky start, but we are not discouraged. Better safe than dead, I always say. Well, actually I've never said that until now, but it is a true statement nonetheless.

We met Donna and Dawnena Byington at the airport. They are from Mill Creek Baptist Church. We are all members of churches affiliated with the Sullivan Baptist Association, the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Donna is Dawnena's mother-in-law or Dawnena is Donna's daughter-in-law. It really depends on whom you ask the question.

Donna and Dawnena ended up on another flight leaving this evening and will arrive in Anchorage around 1:00 a.m.

All in all it's been a good day. We've had a good trip so far with good fellowship and good company. Plus the airline has done all that they could to alleviate our suffering for leaving for Alaska a day late. They've provided us four rooms at the Holiday Inn, given us 8 coupons for $25 off another flight valued at $100 or more (the flight must be booked by March of 2010), and provided each of us with a food voucher valued at $5 at Northwest approved vendors.

We've had a good dinner and are settled in for some much needed sleep as we await our 5:30 a.m. wake up call. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a much better day. Pray for us, as we continue our trip to Alaska, that we might fulfill Jesus' commission to the church.

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

God bless until tomorrow.

Updated Flight Tracking Information

Updated: Here is the new flight information for Friday, June 5. Go to www.flightview.com and select Northwest as the airline and enter our flight number and flight date and click on find flight and you can get the real time status of our flight.

Our flight number from Charlotte to Minneapolis on June 5 is 1483.
Our flight number from Minneapolis to Anchorage on June 5 is 393.
Our flight number from Anchorage to Minneapolis on June 10 is 392.
Our flight number from Minneapolis to Charlotte on June 11 is 3469.

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Home sweet Holiday Inn courtesy of Northwest Airlines.
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That's it, we quit. We'll try again tomorrow morning.
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Donna and Dawnena Byington from Mill Creek Baptist.
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Flight delayed

Our flight has been delayed and we have been deplaned because of a strange odor. We are working on other flight arrangements. We will keep you posted.
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Like sardines in a can. We're on our way. See you in a couple of hours.
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Breakfast at Denny's 9:25 a.m.

Worley really doesn't talk that much...

Waiting on a bus.

Waiting on bus.
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Riding the tram to the terminal from long term parking.

On the bus to the terminal.
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7:25 a.m.

On our way! Stretching our legs in North Carolina.
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Thursday, June 4, 4:30 a.m.

It's 4:30 in the morning and I'm wondering why in the world we decided to drive 3 1/2 hours and fly out of Charlotte instead of the Tri-Cites. Oh yeah, $350 a ticket less!

Our journey officially begins at 5:00 this morning when Bob Potts meets me at my house. He, Heath, and I will load up and pick up the rest of the team at their houses. This will keep anyone from having to leave their car parked at the church for a week.

Stay tuned and we'll try to post throughout the day.

God bless and keep us in your prayers!