We Made It!! ... to New Jersey

Greetings! Welcome to the Bulgaria Team's blog. Once again we are blessed to go to Bulgaria (and other 'slight' detours); it's our 5th year going. We left yesterday on our journey... and it hasn't been without its challenges. :) Before we left there were circumstances in Bulgaria that might prevent us from going into some of our favorite orphanages. We realized early on that this was to be a prayer trip as much as (if not more than) a trip to go "do stuff". God has opened doors and we will get to go into the places we didn't think possible. We also expect surprises on the way... and not always in the way we expect. Which leads to the 'slight detour' that we are on now. :) Let's just say that if our first pictures look like New York City... it probably is. We made it from Knoxville into Newark 3 hours late yesterday and Newark was a mad house (late flights were the fashion)... they couldn't get us out last night. It wasn't without trying. We set the new record of standing at the customer service desk: 4 hours & some change. We made good friends though with the ticket agents (several of them) and a pigeon (roaming freely in the airport), and by the end of it they (the ticket agents, not the pigeon) gave food vouchers and free hotel (though they weren't handing those out freely). The 4 hours didn't pass without entertainment - besides the pigeon, discussins of probably losing luggage for several days came up... but have no fear, the team came up with 'plan B': to use the things in our carry on for the entertainment and mission work. Tom created sock puppets and ideas of a puppet song and dance team emerged. Characters in the airport helped keep the juices flowing. We will visit in New York today and fly out tonight for London... then on to Sofia, Bulgaria. We would very much appreciate your prayers. :) We may be the ones going, but our prayer warriors are doing the hardest work. Thank you!!! Ciao!