Part 1:
I have been given an exciting opportunity to travel to Kenya for leadership conferences. What initially was a one-time sharing session with leaders has now evolved into a second visit, where I will be sharing again, this time alongside Rev. Milton E. Williams Jr. from New Life Evangelical Baptist Church. Our responsibilities will be divided this year, with me conducting the morning sessions and Rev. Williams leading the afternoon sessions. As was the case last year, I will have to travel from Guatemala to reach Kenya. I have discovered that the most cost-effective route is to travel from Guatemala to New York or New Jersey, and then catch a flight to Kenya. This time around, I have chosen Newark as my departure point, but as is typical with any trip, especially international ones, there are bound to be challenges.
Although the main purpose of this trip is to attend leadership conferences, I also have a keen interest in Kenya, particularly in supporting 24 street children/orphans who are the central focus of Change Destiny Life Africa, an organization led by my friend and business/ministry partner Rev. Samson Onzare Karens. Rev. Samson is also a board member of my organization, Thirst No More Corporation. Our joint efforts aim to extend our assistance to 3,000 street children/orphans in Naivasha, Kenya by establishing an educational campus, financed through affordable housing and solar farming.
Currently, I am focusing on the initial step of my journey to Kenya. Just as my wife Myra, our "son" Edgar, and I were preparing for the 3 to 4-hour drive from our home in El Molino, Guatemala to Guatemala City where the airport is located, we learned about a significant roadblock that could have significantly delayed our trip. Edgar opted for an alternative route, which took longer but was still quicker than our usual path. Despite a brief restroom break, we ended up spending a total of 6 hours on the road.
It wasn't until midnight that Myra and Edgar returned to El Molino. On a positive note, the boarding pass line was short, so I quickly completed that process. However, my troubles began here. Firstly, why were my checked bags thoroughly inspected by airport staff? Why was I targeted when others with more suspicious-looking luggage were passing through without issue? They found nothing and allowed me to proceed. Just when I thought the worst was over, I encountered another problem with TSA. My military-style carry-on backpack was flagged for inspection due to some unusual electronics detected inside. Despite separating my electronics from the rest of my belongings, I was informed that I couldn't bring the power plug intended for use in Kenya as it violated Guatemalan travel regulations. Although I was frustrated as I needed the adapter, I managed to remain composed as I watched them discard the device.
Can someone please explain to me why United Airlines always changes gates and times for their flights? I am very attentive to the departure and arrival boards at the airport, and I thought I was all set, only to realize I was at the wrong gate because United changed the information right before I was supposed to board. Fortunately, I managed to reach the correct gate in time without any issues. So, you might wonder, why is Mac telling you this? Well, the reason is that my life has been quite similar to this for the past 25 years. As opportunities have arisen for me to spread the message of Christ in different parts of the world, it's crucial for you, the reader, to understand that I'm not sharing these experiences out of frustration; in fact, I welcome the challenges that come with the work I do, and I want to share them with you.
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