Another day of waiting
I woke up in my tent this morning and just laid there for a while. Then I went to shave and there was this terrible wind and sandstorm rolling through. It’s yucky. I went to get some lunch then went back to my tent and the power was out so I went and reported it to the billeting office. They said that they were doing generator maintenance and it should be about an hour so I figured that I could go hang out at MWR for a while but it was packed. I finally went back to the tent after about an hour and a half but still no power (which means no AC). It’s now been over three hours and no power. I need the power fixed. Not just for the AC but so I can repack all my stuff to get ready for my flight home. I hope it’s not too much longer.
I’m on my way…
Made it through the first leg of my journey home. It was a frustrating couple of days but it’ll all be over in a matter of days. I didn’t have a confirmed seat on the flight so I was forced to try to be at the front of the line for every Space Available call. After being told “no available seats” a couple of times, I finally made it onto a plane. Of course then we were forced to unload because of technical issues with the plane. Then had to register for Space A again. A few hours later, I was manifested for another flight. I got my bags loaded and then went to the holding area to wait for loading and departure. Then myself and one other person were pulled off of this flight because they had overbooked. However, they had no way to get to our bags so they actually made it to Kuwait about 4 hours before I did. Was told to check for the next flight 3 hours later. I went and found a comfortable seat to sit in and wait. I fell asleep and woke up after they had already done the Space A call. Thank goodness some one was looking out for me and had already turned in my information to the desk so I made it onto that flight. Altogether I spent about 31 hours at the first airport before I finally was able to leave Iraq. I was able to track down my bags so I could shower and put on some fresh clothes. I got a few hours of sleep in a bed (much better than a concrete floor or a bench in an airport). Now I am sitting in Kuwait waiting for my next flight that will take me back to the US. I doesn’t leave for a couple of days but I have a CONFIRMED seat on that flight and I have been placed in the top priority category so I will be one of the last to be bumped if this flight is overbooked. I will spend the next two days reading and trying to stay cool (it was 124 degrees here today). I’m just ready to get home and get back to some resemblance of a normal life.
Just a few “Random Thoughts”
Sometimes it feels like I am a spectator. What do I mean by this? Well, let me give you some examples. I have been away from my family for the past year and it has been challenging.
Don’t get me wrong. Life has continued and life has been good. I have had some great experiences and seen things that the average American doesn’t get to see. I have had the opportunity to learn about another culture first hand without reading about it in a book. I have made friends from different countries and other parts of my own country. I have learned new skills that may help me later in my life and broadened my horizons in a positive way. I have had the opportunity to worship God with people from the Philippines, Uganda, Mexico and a few Christian Iraqis. I have had a lot of personal time to read and study God’s word on my own and grow closer to Him personally. I have had the pleasure of sharing Christ and showing other people that you don’t have to “be religious” to have a relationship with God. He doesn’t want our “religion.” He wants a relationship with each and every one of us.
Photo with 1 note
I had planned on using a little free time to take some pictures today, but the weather didn’t want to cooperate. This is a picture of the mosque near our offices taken at about 3:30 in the afternoon. This is only about 100 yards away but the dust was so thick today that this is all I could see. I hope it clears up over the next couple of days.
Question with 1 note
tumblrbot asked: WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?
Right now the only place I want to be is at home.
Quote with 1 note
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” - Thomas Edison
