all night flights

Travel abroad always starts with a test of your patience and commitment. Fatigue sets in about the third watch of the night. You shut your eyes for a few minutes and then suddenly you think it's morning but it's only 3:00 a.m. This is a good time to reflect on your true purpose for this mission. And, this is a good thing. It is also opportunity to really connect with a team member who may be sitting next to you. For me, this team member was Fran Wilson. What a good spiritual friend Fran has become. She was tested, not only by lack of sleep but also lack of clean clothes as her bag was shipped, not to Curitiba but to Rio de Janiero. There were six team members whose bags were lost, so we may be sharing more than our music folders over the next few day.

Our first meal in Curitiba was delicious --- a delightful buffet in a glass enclosed mall in the center of the city. We have just concluded our first rehearsal. I'm so pleased to be able to sing with all these very talented people. Michael McKnight, as always, was superb with his accompaniment.

We leave in a few minutes for a mid-size Baptist church in the center of the city for our first concert.