And the Journey Begins (this first post is a long one)!
It’s an hour and a half before take-off from MSP and already I have had quite an experience. It started when I was home packing and tried to access my work files on my iPad, so I could leave my laptop at home. It wasn’t working-that is, they weren’t syncing with each other. So, I called our computer assistance people for trouble shooting but the clock was running as it was two hours before leaving from home to MSP. They said they would have someone call me to fix the problem. They did call-the church office (I was home) and by the time I received the voice mail forwarded via email and I returned it, the “expert” was not available. They said they’d get back to me. When I got twenty minutes from leaving home, I called again, and someone said they could help. We started the process of trouble shooting. Fifteen minutes later, our ride to the airport backed into my driveway, as one of our other trainers (Peter Bergeson-a retired pastor living in New Richmond) and his wife pulled in front of the house. I gave the computer dude a five-minute warning as a dump truck pulled in front of my house. The driver got out and started tossing the 30% or so remaining stumps that were pulled from our lot from the original twelve (plus neighbors), the fallout of the recent Hudson storm. I told the computer guy I would endure my first world challenge of having to take the computer rather than my iPad and thanked him for his efforts.
I hurried outside and greeted the kind neighbor with a dump truck and told him what was going on with the others hanging out in the driveway. He said that was no problem, told me he would be praying for my trip and I turned my attention to Jim Dopkins (driver to MSP), Peter and his wife Gail, who were finishing up loading Jim’s truck not only with our luggage, but four large totes consisting of materials for our trainings, Christmas presents on behalf of the missionaries there, and items related to making jewelry that happens at the site we stay and teach at.
Jim being a full-service transporter, had water bottles for us and started the checklist. Passport, check. Masks---I ran back in the house to grab one (I had some in my bag-not much help there). He continued the check list as we made our way to 94. We picked up Mike Evans on the way (he lives about three miles south of 3M) and made our way to the airport for me to take a one-hour PCR test for COVID.
A little background regarding COVID tests. In our last two trips, we would go to the local clinic, get tested the day before the trip and have the results in forty minutes or so. They no longer offer that test, so we had to go elsewhere to get the required test. Mike did a saliva test in MN, Peter and I got the nasal swab in (he in Stillwater and I was in River Falls). This all happened Sunday between noon and 1 pm. The challenge—the test had to be less than three days from take-off (MSP and Amsterdam), yet we were told that the tests get sent at the end of the day (remember Sunday) and the results come in 2-3 days (take off from MSP 5:30 pm). It would likely come earlier, but we could be very confident in 2-3 days. I didn’t like the math-could we get the tests and results back in the time allotted? These tests are free.
There are also one hour PCR tests available at MSP for $200 (not feelin that!). We all scheduled at 2:15 test at MSP Tuesday, which we could cancel for a 10% fee. We felt a $20 insurance policy was worth it. Turns out Mike and Peter’S results came back Monday, but yours truly was checking his email on the way to MSP.
We got to the airport and the excitement continued. My test prep email told us to go to the gold ramp
