Planes, trains, and automobiles

When I was 9 years old, my parents bought me a Christmas present that normal children wouldn't have thought so fabulous. I, however, loved it and used it so much that it is falling apart. When I was sixteen, I got an upgrade of this gift.

What was it, you may ask?

This gift was, in fact, an atlas. A National Geographic atlas, to be more specific. When I was younger, I used to read through all the blurbs about every country in the world and make a list of the places I wanted to visit. The number 1 country was Greece. Last week, I got to go!

My company held a huge conference for all of our workers in this general area. It was a great time of training, fellowship, renewal, and growth. Several hundred volunteers from the States came to make so much of it possible. They were such a ministry to me. I wasn't quick enough on the draw to get in on the haircuts or massages, but I did get to be TB tested. Oh fun. Parents were able to leave their children with fun volunteers who did VBS for them all week. All of us benefitted from the worship team and a great teacher of the Word. It was great. I was so blessed.

Back to the title of this post:
It took FOREVER to get there, considering Greece is only a few countries away from me.

Itinerary:
1. Leave Poltava at 9:20 by train.
2. 4 hours later, arrive in Kiev with another family.
3. Wait with several other families in McDonald's for 2 hours.
4. Wait at the airport for 4 hours.
5. Fly for 2 hours to Rome.
6. Wait in the Rome airport for 3 hours.
7. Fly for 2 hours to Athens.
8. Wait in the Athens airport for 2ish hours.
9. Drive by bus to the island for 2 hours.
10. Finally get checked in and to my room by 4:30 am. In the bed by 4:45.
11. Up at 7:30 for the day to start.

I don't remember much from that morning...