The Journey Begins

UPI's Director of Special Projects, Margaret Wooten, is leading a vision trip to Malawi. She is taking a team of UPI supporters to visit our ministries, meet our executive directors, and witness the work we are doing in "The Warm Heart of Africa." Check back often for updates from the team!

Day 2: Journey to Malawi

 

As the second day of our journey comes to a close, we have so much to share already.  First and  interestingly, we are still stateside.  A series of unforeseen challenges served to test us and bless us yesterday.  

 

Mechanical failure of our 6:15 AM commuter hop from Philly to DC resulted in a cancelled flight, preventing us from catching the once daily flight to Ethiopia--our connecting leg to Africa. We implemented plan B: split our party of 10 in two-- half would fly to DC that afternoon and half would drive, and we would try to initiate the trip directly from DC the next day. The driving group got as far as Delaware before getting the call about the new plan. Shifting our itinerary by one day proved not to be possible because another set of once daily in-continent flights were fully booked (I.e., we could get to Ethiopia, but not from Ethiopia to Malawi!). Rerouting attempts through two other African countries and from other airports in the U.S. were also unsuccessful.  Finally, after hours of calling travel agents and airlines, we knew we would not leave the U.S. on Monday as planned or even Tuesday as hoped. The car travelers turned around, those at the airport returned home, and we all waited for Plan C.  By this morning, our wonderful coordinator Margaret had confirmed our new itinerary: drive to DC on Tuesday, fly on Wednesday. Our trip was shortened by two days but otherwise intact. 

 

Second and most notable, our delay of departure (while frustrating) demonstrates God's wisdom and the need to trust Him in all things. No wheels up on Monday yielded many blessings we couldn't have had if we had left as planned:  one of us experienced an allergic reaction to the anti-malaria meds and was able to get medical care and a new prescription. Another of us was able to say a happier farewell to family, leaving on better terms than the previous day. All of us got a good night's rest, waking refreshed and renewed.  Driving to DC gave us a chance to bond this newly formed Malawi-bound "family."  Through the changes, we've demonstrated a flexibility and resilience that bodes well for the rest of our journey. 

 

We don't know what tomorrow will bring. But whatever happens, we know we are guided by God's Loving Hand. And with His Grace, our next report will be from Malawi. . .

 --Kelly Donlon Hoy