Unexpected Grace

So in case y'all didn't know, the trip to Zambia is pretty brutal. No matter what airline/route you choose, you're looking at 24 hours of flying time, at the very least. Some include 12-hour layovers, overnights, strange connections, and that's just the beginning. It's tiring on the body to go a full (stressful) day without sleep, eating at breakfast at 1am our time, and running down the terminal to catch close connections. With so much that could've gone wrong, we were so grateful for the quickest route without any major issues.

When we were making our way down the plush Business Class of the plane from all the way back in crying-baby-alley to exit our DC-Dubai flight, we casually mentioned to each other, "Someday we're going to make it happen to fly just one flight in Business Class. Someday." We were dreamin' big, y'all. We knew we could never afford it on our tight support-raised budget. We knew it was outrageously priced for these super long flights. We knew we would never get to ride Business Class, but it was fun to dream and pretend we might possibly be able to.

We had a 20-minute connection in what has to be one of the world's largest airports in Dubai before the gate closed for check-in. Basically running like those goobers you always stare at in the airport, we weaved our way though wrestling with our obnoxiously heavy carry-ons, determined to make it. And we did. Hallelujah. We slammed our Passports on the ticketing counter and waited for the Emirates man to do his thing, not really paying attention. He interrupts us to say "You have been upgraded to Business Class." Bam. Just like that.

UM, WHAT?! We were stunned. In shock. Someone might as well have told us we just won a million dollars. Upgraded, fo' free. Wyatt blurted out, "What did we do to deserve this?!" Right on point with that thought. We were the late ones, the last ones to check-in from our back-of-the-plane economy seats with our stinky clothes and sweaty faces. But this sweet man chose us for a free upgrade. When we sat down in our plush leather seats (that laid all the way down!), we just had to stop everything else and soak up the moment. The little dumb dream we dreamt just minutes before had come true. We did absolutely nothing to deserve it. Yet God chose that man to show us His infinite grace that is always immeasurably more than all we could ask for or imagine (or dream of). It wasn't chance or luck. It was Jesus giving His children good gifts by grace alone, giving two people (one sicky) the gift of a few hours of sleep after a sleepless flight. It was all Him. And it was such an incredible moment to view the act of being given the upgrade as the heart of Jesus. We didn't worship the Business Class (though it was a sweet set-up); we worshiped the creator and giver of grace, God. Boy was that a fun surprise.

Here are a few pics of our journey of over 20,000 miles across the globe. Oh and by the way, we have safely arrived in Zambia with all of our luggage here! Praise like woah.

Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement that have made for one wonderful start to married Zamlife!

Love,

A&W