Road Trip North...

Greetings Followers!
First off, looking at page views, THANK YOU! Thanks for following our journey. We have lots of pictures, stories and videos to share, but we need more technology and time to get them to you!
Stay tuned!

We found all the luggage, minus one scare, and made the call to Rick Doss to pick us up! We greatly appreciate his time to make the round trip for us! We lost Rex to her family who were waiting in the baggage area and we got a welcome home photo moment and said our goodbyes.

We are currently traveling north on Route 77 towards VA, and hope to be there by 6:45. Sunday's services at Thrasher Memorial UMC will include some photos, a sermon, and reflections from the trip...but the best way is to take some time and talk with those who attended! A lunch meeting, a phone call, Facebook stalking, or even Skype... Perhaps next trip you can be a part of making a difference, and to experience the love from our brothers and sisters in Brazil...
Think about it!

Until we are home...
Enjoy your Saturday Afternoon!
And we home to see you at Church Tomorrow!

~Carl

Friday's Post (Finally)

What a great morning! Pastor David and myself woke to get in a 3.5 mile run along the beach one last morning. A cool breeze and a shower earlier this morning cooled things off, for a few minutes anyway. It's great to see this place for all it's glory one last time.

We had devotions from Zack this morning at 10, followed by a team closing, where we each took turns bringing out the best of others from this trip. We also gave Andressa her gift for the countless things and problems she has worked through for us! Pastor, Gallilleo, and Wilmara joined us for lunch after we packed the van with our our goodies. I tried sneaking my luggage into Pastor's car, but they said it was too big. Guess I have to get a taxi to move into her place.

We shared a quick lunch at a restaurant near the hotel and then departed across the rivers and through Recife to another bigger mall. Shaped like a capital D, it was huge. Half an hour to walk one floor end to end, not doing any shopping!

We currently are sitting waiting for the shoppers to wrap up to get through security. We depart our first flight at 7:35, and I think I have several opportunities to get "lost" from the group. I know at least 5 are returning to Virginia.

We are looking good for flights, and baggage is taken care of.

No news is good news folks. See the flight schedule post for details. At this point, all is legit.

For those returning to the other side, they will see you Saturday...

Recife!!!!

Quick update! We landed in Recife and some bags are claimed, so we should be in the clear...

Once we have everything we will head to the hotel with Andressa and get settled in.

Will update later tonight. It's one hour earlier here so keep that in mind.

Your prayers have been a blessing so far! Keep up the great work!

Carl

Flight Change!

Here is an update:
Our third flight has been bumped to Flight 3258: which delays our original plans by 3.5 hours!


Here's a flight status update from FlightTrack Pro on TAM Linhas Aereas (JJ) 3258:

DEPARTURE
Jul 18, 2012, Rio De Janeiro (GIG)
scheduled: 12:12 PM BRT
terminal: 2

ARRIVAL
Jul 18, 2012, Recife (REC)
scheduled: 3:07 PM BRT

We are preparing to board our night flight so well be in touch tomorrow! Goodnight America!
CG

Airport update!

Greetings brothers and sisters!
We arrived safely in Charlotte thanks to our drivers Rick and Pastor B. We met Lindsay Rex in the cell phone lot which is pretty cool by the way, and then headed to check in around 1 and were through security by 1:30!
We grabbed a lunch as our plane dinner will be served at 11 tonight about an hour after the flight departs listed below.
We made it through flight 1 of three the shortest and are not looking forward to the next 2, but will cope.

We are safely in Miami and going to kill 3.5 hours until boarding at 9:30 tonight. We have a small baggage check mishap but are trying to get answers for Bonnie's carry on that had to be checked from overcrowded overhead bins. But otherwise, all ok!

Rain just let up in Miami with temps in low to mid
80's.


Here's a flight status update from FlightTrack Pro on TAM Linhas Aereas (JJ) 8057:

DEPARTURE
Jul 17, 2012, Miami (MIA)
scheduled: 10:05 PM EDT

ARRIVAL
Jul 18, 2012, Rio De Janeiro (GIG)
scheduled: 7:30 AM BRT
terminal: 2

This flight's current status: SCHEDULED on Aircraft: 763

Prayers have been great so far!
Zack says hello from his first flight to EVERYONE!!! Including you!

~Carl Gravely

Travel Underway!

The team met at Thrasher Memorial UMC at 8 AM (minus Lindsay from Charlotte).
We left Vinton at 8:45 and are on the road. Taking 81 S to 77 S.
Here is an 87.5% group picture. Even sporting our new shirts! We gratefully thank Charlotte Carver for obtaining these nice shirts to keep us together! And for the photo!

Until the airport,
Enjoy your day!
CG

Team members include: David Vaughan, Carl Gravely, Bonnie Jones, Carrie Pence, Lindsey Carver,
Mary Ann St. Clair, Zack Doss and Lindsay Rex (not pictured) (names may be out of order)