Finally, a post from Jon!!

We finally made it to Africa. After three days of traveling and waiting we are here. But we still have one more flight in the morning. (If the people at the airport want to fly) We have taken the snow with us. Mark and I left lewiston at 12:45pm sunday and arrived in Seattle. In Seattle we met up with Kay and Tim from Ellensburg. We all stayed the night in prep for our 6am flight to Atlanta. And to all you that asked if we flew Delta, you were correct. Before we went to bed we looked outside and saw an 1" of snow in Seattle. Our flight left only 1/2 hour late due to defrosting the plane. Which is always a good call! The four of us landed in Atlanta for our 3 hour layover. Which Atlanta had snow also. (Are you seeing a trend) We met up with our final member of our team. (Dave) We ate a quick bite to eat and off to Paris we go. We arrive in Paris at 6am-ish. Which is good since our flight left at 10:45am. In Paris there was about 1/2 inch of snow. From what we were told that is alot for them and when the white stuff comes the people don''t know what to do so the airport gets shut down. Well our flight continued to get postponed. 10:45 turned into 11:30 which turned into 12:30 and 2:30. Our moral continued to say positive. The anouncer said the heater was broken, and plane was not at our gate but was in the airport. We met up with the remaining 4 members or our team from Ohio and Indiana. Guys that I didn''t know were going to be here. But are a great asset since they know alot about steel building. Well to make a long story longer our flight ended up getting canceled. The airline gave us free nights stay and three free meals at out hotel. So off to the Mariott for our team. Each with our own room. Which was nice since my thoat has been sore. So I could go to bed in a bed and not worry about keeping anyone up if I were to snore.

After a 10hour night sleep perfect for ajusting to the time zone. We got up and went sight seeing. Our flight wasn''t going to leave Paris until 9pm that night. So off to the Notre Dome and the Elfle tower. This place is beautiful. So after a quick meal at a close retaurant (I tryed Duck) we jamed back to the airport by subway and hotel bus to retreave our stuff and back to airport to wait. We arrived and our 9pm flight ran into 10pm and finally left at 11:30pm. A quick 7 hour flight landed us in Libreville. I was able to sleep. Praise the Lord! Oh and by the way no snow in Libreville. But 86deg and 80 humity. Gabon will be worse.

In the airport we were to fill out a paper talking about who we were and why we were in Africa. I and Dave made the mistake of saying our occupation was Pastor. The security pulled us aside and questioned us. They do not like people coming with that title I guess. Still not sure why. Well our missionary friend Arney came and spoke french to the guards and saved our hineys. (Dave is a paster at Sattleback). We got into a van and drove to the guest house and met some of the CMA missionaries but then sent the 4 guys from Ohio and Indiana off in a truck to Gabon. Since we are a day behind on the building they needed to get down there to prep the sight. The 5 of us are going to take a flight from Libreville to a city by Gabon and then a two hour drive on crazy dirt roads. In the mean time Tim and Kay have but new screens on the windows here in Libreville, and fixed the dryer. Dave, Mark and I have painted a wall with Kilz paint to seal it. Three coats. Oh how I love oil paint. NOT! But an hour or so of free time and then off to the beach to relax.

My readings in the last few days have been in James 1. Talking about trials of many kinds. The flight delay has been really frustrating for me. I never thought that the USA was so on top of flights and being ontime until now. I know that we have done some cool things but I had in my mind get there and GET ER DONE! God had other plans. A new insight from that chapter was "we are not to say God is tempting me"" I think that means that God doesn''t tempt he tests us.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I really felt it as I was being questioned at the airport and our landings and the strength today to work in the heat and exhastion of traveling. I feel like you all are on this trip with us. If you like it or not.

Pray tomorrow that our flight will leave. Cause they are known for not flighing because they don''t want to. If not we take a 10 hour drive to Gabon. (4 hours paved roads, 6 not)