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

Almost There!

This is David, checking in from the airport in Rio.  We thought we'd be having a longer visit here, since the airline changed our flight last night to a later one, but we arrived here this morning to learn that we're back on the original flight.  So now we're waiting at the gate to board our final flight into Recife.  All is well--we got a little sleep on the plane last night and the food was good--but people sure do speak a lot of Portuguese here!

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)

Today's the Day

Well its time to quit packing and get some rest! I know that I hate over packing, but this year, since my ticket is one way, I have enough T-shirts as gifts that after the leftovers, I can sell and make a living the first 3 months. But speaking from experience of last year, I probably should have grabbed a few iPads and iPods to "coincidentally forget" in Brazil, since taxes and trade nearly triple the cost...but I didn't, so i hope I can make it with t-shirts! (editorial note: Carl is threatening to remain in Brazil...but since his Portuguese is pretty awful...I think the Brazilian government will notice he's not a native).

I'll keep the blog updated as best I can especially during our travels. If anything changes, which it may, I'll let you know. The only thing so far I see is that my Flight Tracker app has indicated a longer plane ride to Rio into Wednesday morning due to gulf currents, but it is noted that times are fluctuating.

But the plan still stands as:
Group meeting and sendoff: 8:00 AM at Thrasher Memorial UMC in Vinton, VA
Arrive in Charlotte: 1:00 PM
Depart Charlotte, NC to Miami, FL: 4:16 PM
Arrive in Miami, FL: 6:10 PM
4 hour (ish) layover
Depart to Rio De Janeiro: 10:05 PM
Arrive in Rio: 7:30 AM Wednesday!!! (6:30 EDT)
Last flight to Recife Departs @ 9:12 AM
We arrive in Recife at Noon on Wednesday, after 20 hours of air travel.

I'll leave it at that for now and update the progress along the way.

Thanks for all the prayers, and support in numerous ways to make this possible.  Its Finally Time!

Almost Ready

336 days ago, I could not believe I was back for a week after visiting Brazil with the Young Adults. Today, I find myself asking why cant the next 6 days disappear with a "That was easy" button?

I apologize as I've been way to busy too write any updates, but should get used to it as I'll try to get one written every day during our trip.

This is Carl Gravely, and I'll be either writing the blog or making people write the blog during our trip. I ask you for your patience and to hold back your criticism. I learned last year that blogging while moving around in Brazil, with an iPhone is an amazing way to keep up communication, but my spelling, and words may not seem right. That why I have deployed my team from Centenary to correct and edit as I post. Thanks Chris Howell and Ida Powell! (you're welcome) If you would like to know something, or want to say hi, send an email to to team account at vaumcmissionteam@gmail.com

So...my summer class got crammed in and finished. A- is not good, but I'll take it. I've been trying to fit in Portuguese lessons in, and may need some more this weekend. To be honest, I forget most lessons trying to communicate with people in New York City, so I think my efforts are hopeless at this point.

I have my masonry skills ready to go, BUT as American models are more...Americanized...than the Brazilian traditional, and I know there are challenges ahead.

David has just sent an email while I'm in the middle of this post and here are a few things I can share:
The team in front of us is experiencing a lot...A LOT of rain...so we will be prepared to get muddy and wet. Raincoats and old shoes, team!

This Sunday at Thrasher, Pastor B. will have a commissioning of the team during the service, to send us off well. I wish I could make it, but I'll be traveling from NYC to Roanoke, so I'll thank you all in advance for the support I can only imagine you'll show this Sunday!

Mission Travel insurance is paid and we are covered.  I hope to not return to the states, and everyone can fight over my belongings, but I believe my mom or my brothers have called dibs on my truck.  I won't be here for the fight..but I hope someone gets that on video. (editorial comment from Chris at Centenary UMC...Carl has been threatening to stay in Brazil. Ida and I are prepared to go and retrieve him if we need to)

The rest of the team is ready to roll! We'll be in airports and closed cramped quarters for extended periods of time, I can't say that I'm looking forward to that. But with some Airborne and lots of fluids, I hope to survive the trek down south without getting sick. I am really looking forward to the wide variety of fruit juices we'll experience during our stay.

Almost packed. I keep trying to cut unnecessary items from my list, but I may just have to take two bags. I mean after all, I'm staying there anyway right? I'll find a suitable replacement in Brazil to fill my seat on the way back, but I claim no responsibility with what happens along the way. I'll be in my homeland.

Thanks again for you few loyal fans. I hope to report amazing stories and news in the days ahead!

Excited and Adventure Bound...
Carl Gravely