He Goes Before Us

Going into today, it’s fair to say we were a little anxious about all of the logistics that had to come together. We had an early airport arrival, 32 bins to check, a team departing from two different locations, and an incredibly tight connection in Atlanta. Over the past several weeks, we’ve gone over every detail, made Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C, and if we’re being honest, spent some time worrying about all of the things that could go wrong.

But God.

He did what He always does. He went before us and made a way where it seemed impossible. Here’s the story of how He showed up on day one.

This morning, 19 of our team members met at Richmond International Airport long before sunrise. We showed up in our matching yellow shirts with our bags packed and smiles on our faces. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a more joyful group at four o’clock in the morning than ours.

Together, we unloaded all 32 bins, gathered 19 passports, and began the check-in process. For a group this size, that moment can easily become stressful. Instead, it was calm, smooth, and surprisingly peaceful. What a gift that was at the start of such a long travel day. The Delta crew members were incredibly kind and helpful, and it’s one of the many reasons we love flying with them.

From the moment we arrived at the airport until every bin was checked and every boarding pass was in hand, only 50 minutes had passed. Fifty minutes! What looked like a mountain in front of us, God carried us over with ease.

“I will go before you and will level the mountains.” Isaiah 45:2a

After getting everything checked in, we circled up as a team to pray before heading through the TSA checkpoint. Everyone made it through security with plenty of time to grab breakfast and snacks for the flight. We gathered at our gate, enjoying one last meal together before taking off. Since we still weren’t sure how much time we’d have during our connection in Atlanta, it was important that everyone had a chance to eat. Once again, God provided.

When the gate agents called for Zone 7 to begin boarding, we all lined up. Just as we reached the front of the line, they announced that all remaining carry-on bags would need to be gate checked. For some, that announcement brought a little anxiety. For us, it felt like a small wink from God. By gate checking our carry-ons, we would be able to step off the plane and head straight through the Atlanta airport without stopping to gather luggage from the overhead bins. It was one less thing slowing us down as we raced to make our connection. The funny part? Once we boarded, there was actually plenty of overhead bin space available. When someone asked about it, the flight attendant simply said it was “a precaution.” Maybe to everyone else it was just a precaution. To us, it felt like another reminder that God was already going before us, making a way before we even knew we needed one.

A sweet moment from our Richmond to Atlanta flight was a warm welcome we received over the speakers from the flight crew. They announced “a special welcome to the mission team heading to Belize today”. It felt so special! 

We arrived in Atlanta 25 minutes ahead of schedule, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Right outside our arrival gate, we ran into Naomi’s husband! He’s a Delta pilot, and Naomi is one of our team members, so getting to see each other before we continued on to Belize was such a sweet surprise. From there, we made our way through the airport quickly. Before our trip, our boarding passes showed that we’d be arriving and departing from opposite sides of the airport. With such a tight connection, we knew every minute would matter. But when we landed, our departure gate had changed. Instead of crossing the entire airport, we only had to travel from Concourse B to Concourse T, saving us valuable time. We hopped on the Plane Train, made our way to the gate, and arrived with time to spare. There was a Dunkin’ right next to our gate, so we got to order a little pick-me-up before boarding our flight to Belize. Even better, this is where we were reunited with the final two members of our team, Jon and Stephanie, who were flying in from Atlanta. After months of planning, virtual meetings, and prayer, this was the first time all 21 of us were together in one place. There was something really special about finally seeing our entire team gathered at the gate, ready to continue the journey to Belize together.

We scanned our passports, boarded the plane, and settled in for the three-hour flight to Belize. The flight was smooth for almost the entire journey, with just a few bumps during the final few minutes as we flew through some storms. We were so thankful to land safely and finally be in Belize together as a complete team.

Stepping off the plane onto the tarmac never gets old. We made our way down the long hallway to Immigration, collected all 32 ministry bins and 21 suitcases from baggage claim, and headed through Customs. Everything went so smoothly that it almost didn’t seem real. Every line moved quickly. Every bin was accounted for. Every person made it through without an issue. God had gone before us at every step of the journey, just as He always does.

We stepped outside to wait for our bus, and it gave us the chance to enjoy some special time together as a team. We took photos, shared snacks, laughed, and finally got to connect in person after months of preparing for this trip. Not long after getting through Customs, our bus arrived. We loaded up all of our luggage and ministry supplies and began the two-hour journey to Pomona. After being awake since 2:30 or 3:00 that morning, only one team member fell asleep on the bus! I think that says everything about how excited everyone was to finally be together.

When we finally arrived at our hotel, our home for the week, we unloaded all of the luggage and ministry supplies before heading upstairs for lunch. The rooftop of the hotel is where we get to enjoy all of our meals. It was so beautifully decorated for us with centerpieces down the long family-style table and a banner that Annamay had made for us. It’s always such a warm welcome getting to come home to a place like this. We loved getting to introduce our first-timers to our home away from home. 

For lunch, we enjoyed chicken burritos, watermelon, pineapple juice, and sweet tea. After a long morning of traveling, it felt so refreshing to sit around the table together and be still for a little while. After lunch, we gathered for a brief introductory meeting before everyone had some time to rest. Some team members took a well-deserved nap, while others spent the afternoon talking and enjoying time together in the common area.

Around 6:30 p.m., we gathered for dinner. We typically eat our meals on the rooftop, but because of all the rain Belize has received this week, the bugs were a little too excited for us to enjoy dinner outside. Instead, we gathered in the upstairs lobby. Honestly, it ended up being one of those unexpected gifts. Some of us sat on couches, others gathered on the balcony, and a few even claimed spots on the floor. It wasn’t our usual dinner setup, but there was something especially sweet about sharing a meal together in such a simple way. 

We enjoyed fried chicken, white rice, beans, salad, fried plantains, coconut tarts, and lime juice. After dinner, we moved right into team worship. We typically do this in the building in front of the hotel, but chose to do it in the upstairs lobby of the hotel. Again, it ended up feeling so intimate and sweet to get to worship together in a smaller space. We sang Yeshua (Friend of Sinners) and I Give You My Heart. Then we got to spend some time individually reflecting and writing on postcards. Our theme this year is “Don’t Miss This”. It’s a reminder to slow down and look for the ways God is already at work all around us and not miss anything He has for us. 

After worship, everyone went to their rooms to shower and get ready for bed. We’re hitting the ground running tomorrow with prep work for our programs this week. We’re so excited to get started! Thank you for following along today and for covering us in prayer! Follow along on Instagram tomorrow throughout the day! We’ll share a full recap here tomorrow night!

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