Journal Entries / Italy 2011- Aug 4th
Last night was a test of faith. It tested what I have learned about myself and endurance through this trip. Mainly Philippians 4:11... "Not that I speak in respect of what, for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Even as I write this my patience is tested. I am flying out of France with a 1 1/2 year old boy next to me who is lying on his back with his legs constantly pressed into mine. Plus I think he pooped his pants and his Dad is sleeping... Awesome...
Anyway, last night was rough. After an exhaustive trek of Rome, my feet were basically ground to dust. And as we closed the evening we were to meet at the Roman train station to go to the airport. As we hauled our luggage, and I mean hauled, we stepped up to our platform, as our train slowly departed... It left early... So as we lay on the platform with no answers at midnight in a shady Roman train station, We were all tested "In whatsoever state I am."
After about an hour of devising, we dragged our luggage (our crosses), back to the main terminal and all let into taxis and sped to the airport. It was frightening but rather awesome to drive in the same vehicles, that so many time, attempted to destroy us. Driving around in Europe is absolutely insane. There are no rules to the road and certainly if there were, no one was enforcing them. So after we topped out at 154 KPH, we arrived at the airport scattered. After rejoining the group we found a floor and slept on it. We spent the hours from 1:30-4:30 am sleeping. Then we arose and went through the airport process until finally boarding our plane with no time to spare at 7:00 am.
I spent the flight from Rome to Paris unconscious. Waking up only to hear the engines fire to take off, and then waking up at our descent. It felt like a 20 minutes flight, it was awesome.
Then of course as we hit France, it was only natural to sprint through it. Security bogged us down and as we only had 1 hour in between flights we booked it. I don't like France...
There was one recurring piece of insight over this whole trek, especially over the past 24 hours... "Therewith to be content." I realized that it wouldn't be a mission trip had we not encountered discipline. For God tells us that he chastens and disciplines the ones He loves, and what father who loves his son does not also discipline him? I count all of our trials on this trip joy, because it has been the chastening of the Lord. Reminding us all of our sonship with Him. What glory and honor we bestow as we sweat and groan restless on airport floors and sprig from plane to plane for Him, and even more noticeable, though we were inconvenienced we were never let down, we may have missed a train but here I am on my regularly scheduled transatlantic flight. Of course, we were the last to board, but God provided, and I am grateful for the strength He has instilled in me... By taking all of the leadership rhetoric I have absorbed and putting it into practice.
I can't believe I did it. I led, and did so not fearlessly but courageously. I feel a change in character. I am eternally grateful. In Jesus name, Amen.
-Ryan Jackson
Anyway, last night was rough. After an exhaustive trek of Rome, my feet were basically ground to dust. And as we closed the evening we were to meet at the Roman train station to go to the airport. As we hauled our luggage, and I mean hauled, we stepped up to our platform, as our train slowly departed... It left early... So as we lay on the platform with no answers at midnight in a shady Roman train station, We were all tested "In whatsoever state I am."
After about an hour of devising, we dragged our luggage (our crosses), back to the main terminal and all let into taxis and sped to the airport. It was frightening but rather awesome to drive in the same vehicles, that so many time, attempted to destroy us. Driving around in Europe is absolutely insane. There are no rules to the road and certainly if there were, no one was enforcing them. So after we topped out at 154 KPH, we arrived at the airport scattered. After rejoining the group we found a floor and slept on it. We spent the hours from 1:30-4:30 am sleeping. Then we arose and went through the airport process until finally boarding our plane with no time to spare at 7:00 am.
I spent the flight from Rome to Paris unconscious. Waking up only to hear the engines fire to take off, and then waking up at our descent. It felt like a 20 minutes flight, it was awesome.
Then of course as we hit France, it was only natural to sprint through it. Security bogged us down and as we only had 1 hour in between flights we booked it. I don't like France...
There was one recurring piece of insight over this whole trek, especially over the past 24 hours... "Therewith to be content." I realized that it wouldn't be a mission trip had we not encountered discipline. For God tells us that he chastens and disciplines the ones He loves, and what father who loves his son does not also discipline him? I count all of our trials on this trip joy, because it has been the chastening of the Lord. Reminding us all of our sonship with Him. What glory and honor we bestow as we sweat and groan restless on airport floors and sprig from plane to plane for Him, and even more noticeable, though we were inconvenienced we were never let down, we may have missed a train but here I am on my regularly scheduled transatlantic flight. Of course, we were the last to board, but God provided, and I am grateful for the strength He has instilled in me... By taking all of the leadership rhetoric I have absorbed and putting it into practice.
I can't believe I did it. I led, and did so not fearlessly but courageously. I feel a change in character. I am eternally grateful. In Jesus name, Amen.
-Ryan Jackson
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| 150 Kph in a Taxi. |
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| France... |
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