Booking My Flights

I was given a deadline for booking my flights to Cotonou, Benin, which is fast approaching.  It is a big step to actually purchase airfare, and it all seems so much more real now that I will put out a large amount of money.  So I am taking a leap of faith and am booking my flights now!

I chose to purchase my flights through a travel agent recommended by Mercy Ships.  Usually I would organize travel on my own, but since I need to arrive at the ship by a certain date and within a specific time frame that day, I thought it would be easier to let a professional do it. (:

Most people might think I am making too big of a deal about buying tickets, but it is quite expensive to travel to other continents, as Canadians would realize.  We even have to pay a lot to travel within Canada, as we have about 35 million people here (there are cities with populations much larger than us), but the second largest country in the world in land mass.  Even with the expenses of travel within Canada, flying to Africa will cost a lot more.  And after this, it will be much harder to turn back.  I think perhaps the perceived finality of deciding to go to Benin is causing me a small bit of worry.

In all of the planning and challenges, Proverbs 16:9 has come to mind:

The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

I am choosing to trust that God, who has already worked out so many details, will continue to iron out any wrinkles.  He often uses the difficulties in our situations to create a greater dependency on Him, so I really am grateful for the tough times.

Look out world!