Leaving Charlotte

We took the boys to Carolyn's on Thursday night and went home and checked our packing again. The kitchen was waiting for Brian to come over and paint while we were gone; he came over earlier that evening to get an idea of what to do. We'd also eaten out with the Holtons that night.

Good times.

Got up and showered Friday morning and then packed. Off to Bojangle's for biscuits and drinks and then to the church. Luckily, we were a few minutes early, but already everyone was there - including Carolyn and the boys. After hugs, kisses, pictures, prayers, and, yes, a few tears, we were on the bus. Oh yeah - Kenn had to see passports before we got on!

The trip flew by to the airport, and then we were offloading supplies and baggage, and Kim was renting carts. At the checkout desk, we had a nasty surprise; Delta charged us extra for our bags. We went ahead and checked them all the way through to Ouagadougou, while Kenn let the FBC Dillon folks know there might be a problem.

We waited a long time in the airport, a "short" delay. Once in the air, we had a good fast flight to JFK. We landed almost on time. Kenn and TJ led the way from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 and then we headed through our baggage screens.

Someone in our group pointed out that TSA should profile. In retrospect, this is a good idea. Most women aren't going to blow up planes, especially ones dressed like American women! I know I look Hispanic or Middle Eastern, and I don't mind being searched. But my wife or some of the kids in our group - come on!

But we went through the humiliating patdowns anyway. Amy's bag was searched because of all the spare batteries she was carrying, plus the motor for the inflatable mattresses. The TSA agent did her job well and professionally...

Then we went off to a hamburger stand in the terminal, where our group, sans Kenn, ate our last American meal for a week. It was still expensive. The FBC Dillon group got in, and it was here that we first met Paulette. We boarded our plane pretty much on time - I think - and got a lasagna meal. Over the Atlantic, I moved to the back of the plane and stretched out in two seats for a few hours of sleep. When we woke, we got some sort of Middle Eastern chicken.

Oh my..........