A friend from my church in Iowa is joining me on the trip, so I will fly up to Chicago on a Sunday, spend the night, and then fly out with him the next day. Splitting up the trip like this saved almost $800 in airfare and I get to fly with my friend, so it works out well.
When we started to discuss flight options and such, he thought we should stay an extra day after the mission trip for some sight seeing. (After all, when will we be in Nepal again?) Andrea and I prayed about it, and it just didn't feel right. My friend tried to talk me into staying, but it just didn't seem to be the right thing. We tried to come up with reasons: I should get home as early as possible, the trip would already cost a lot, it could be dangerous without the group, etc. In the end, though, none of those reasons were why I ended up deciding not to stay an extra day. All I can say is that it just didn't feel right. So, I went ahead and got online to buy my tickets.
Then came the problem.
There were no direct flights to Guatemala on the day I needed them. Everything had twelve plus hour layovers and would get me back to Guatemala City way too late to get home that same night. The next day, though, had all direct flights. It looked like I could have stayed an extra day to sightsee, afterall! I bought the ticket for Sunday and decided that even though I hadn't wanted to be gone an extra day, spending that time in a hotel in Chicago would at least be restful.
One of the hardest things about being a missionary is decisions about family. You have to decide up front what you will come back to the United States for. Death of a parent? Illness of a friend or famly members? Class reunion? (My twentieth was last week, and it didn't make the "worth coming back for" list unfortunately). These are really hard questions.
When my grandma got sick - a woman I greatly admire and respect and who had been a true spiritual covering for our family - it was hard not to go back and be there to hold her hand to help escort her from this life into eternity. She ended up passing away while we were driving through Mexico to the United States this summer. We came so close to getting to see her again! Had we still lived in Iowa, we would have at least driven to St. Louis and said our good byes. Because of scheduling conflicts, the memorial service was set to be held in October. One more hard thing I'd be missing because of the choice to live in Guatemala...
Two days after buying my tickets for Nepal, we got a message from my Uncle. My Grandma's memorial service was moved to November 7th - the very same day I could not get a direct flight back to Guatemala!
So, this is how my final schedule worked out: fly into O'Hare airport at 1:30 in the afternoon, after a fifteen hour flight. Rent a car and drive the five hours down to Kalona and spend the night. Go to the 11:00 a.m. memorial service. Drive five hours back to Chicago. Spend the night. Fly out at 6:00 a.m. to Guatemala City. Be home with my family by evening.
Yes, it all sounds exhausting, but all I see in this schedule is a God who loves me so much that he set up everything perfectly so that I could be there for my grandmother's memorial service. Why was that weekend the one finally chosen for the service? Why were there no direct flights to Guatemala City for the day I originally wanted? Why was my flight landing so early Friday? And, of course, why did both Andrea and I feel that staying an extra day in Nepal would not be right?
The answer to all of those questions? It's because my Father loves me, and he knew how much getting to be there to honor my grandmother would bless me.
As you can see, this trip has God's hand all over it, and I can't wait to see what other amazing things He makes happen on it, and the ways that I will get to encourage and help others during my time in Nepal.
If you would like to help witht the cost of this trip, you can easily and safely give tax-deductible donations online here. Simply select 'Farrier - Mark and Andrea' from the pull-down menu and follow the instructions. Or, you can mail a check to WOM, PO Box B, Marietta, GA, 30061. Please be sure to write 'Farrier - 251' in the memo section.
Thanks for all of your faith, love, prayers, and support. It is appreciated more than you will know!
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