We actually need to start yesterday - Friday. We were supposed to leave Saturday (today) at noon for Newark, and from Newark we'd fly straight to Tel Aviv. I got a call about 4:00 from Les Allred, who had volunteered to open up Les' Taxi service to take us to the airport on Saturday. His opening line was, "You sure know how to pick the day to leave!" He went on to say that he had just checked our flight number and he found out that Continental had cancelled it! This was the reason:

Oh My!

Sure enough, Continental not only cancelled that flight but every thing else out of Charleston as well. Four hours later we re-routed our first day to fly out of Savannah, Georgia to Newark, to catch the flight to Tel Aviv which had not been cancelled. I would love to know why Savannah got to keep their flights to the North, but Charleston didn't.

The new departure was also earlier - 10:43 instead of noon. And because we were flying internationally we'd need to be in Savannah at 8:43. And because we had to rent a car to drive to Savannah, we'd be looking at getting to the Charleston airport car rentals by 6:15. That meant leaving our home at 5:30. Mercy!

Les, bless his soul, was right on time this morning. He had us to the airport at 6:01. That's a.m....

As we arrived he offered a beautiful prayer for us. Thanks so much, Les. Doesn't he look official in that hat?

The trip to Savannah was rainy, but otherwise uneventful. We got all checked in, and I've posted this update as we waited.

This is Savannah

How can she look that good this early?

12:40 - we arrived at Newark. There's about two inches of snow on the ground. Most of the whites stuff is in DC. Looks like a normal February day...
Syl says that big tall building in the background is the Empire State Building. I thought it was taller than that...

Ever notice how generic airports are?

The flight leaves at 4:20, so we have a few hours to kill. We ate lunch at a food court in the terminal.

Our gate was cordoned off and no one was allowed to enter into the area until about 3:30. When we were allowed entry we had to have our carry-on baggage re-searched and we had to be wanded. Double security when one goes to Israel! Here's what the screening area looks like.
I blurred the faces for their privacy's sake.

Oh My! They just made an announcement....
The plane we were going to use got taken out of service. Actually, that's probably a good thing. But we won't have a replacement ready until 6:00. SIX O CLOCK! The flight may leave around 6:30. That's twelve full hours after we left Charleston. And it is a ten hour flight once we depart. Mercy!!

4:40 - It's Here!   We are told they'll need an hour to clean it.

We might be able to leave by 6:00.

Nope. We got off the ground at 6:50. Should arrive in Tel Aviv at 11:45 tomorrow.

This is our plane, looking up the isle from my seat - Row 22.

  There's a full selection of junk views available staring me in the face in the headrest.

The screen also has a full rundown on flight information.
     

There's everything except Wifi! The flight was supposed to have it. I guess that was the other plane that we don't have. Oh well. That means that when you get this update it'll be Sunday afternoon. Sorry about that.

I'm already praying for your Sunday. I know it will be great worship at Holy Cross, or will have been, by the time you get this. Do know that the Burwells appreciate your prayers.

 Goodnight from somewhere over the North Atlantic!