The Amazing Race...First stop Toronto Canada

Can you believe I sent in a video to apply for the Amazing Race a few years ago. Well after yesterday’s adventures in the Toronto Airport, I know that is not what I was created to do! At least not a televised race. We are definitely headed towards something amazing, but amazing doesn't just happen....it's a process.

Where to begin…hmmm…well here is the breakdown for you of how our adventure to Uganda via the airlines began:

Waiting to check in at the PDX airport. Notice all the carry-ons

Our friend Janet waiting with Maggie and all of our bags in Portland

Maggie getting ready to board the plane in Portland

•  3am wake up and finish packing up our house as well as our last bags 

•  4am meet our friends who helped to transport our 12 bags plus our dog Maggie 

•  Head to the airport to arrive to the busiest Portland Airport we have seen the last 9 years of traveling (summer travel has officially begun) 

•  Found the Air Canada counter (very small!!!) waited two hours and then finally boarded our plane 

•  While we were on our way to Toronto, I was inspired with an invention….something you can put over your face to breath clean smelling air. You know those times when others are having “stomach problems” and share it with the rest of the plane? 

•  Once we land in Toronto the real adventure began.

The flight attendants handed everyone a customs declaration form. We arrived a little late and our connection was already tight. We had no idea we had to go through customs, but they ASSURED us it would only take 7 minutes to clear customs and make it to our next connection.

Once Mike exited off of the plane, he asked the gate attendant where we needed to go. Since we were headed to Brussels, he sent us to through customs to the international flights. We are flying international right, WRONG!

After our long marathon journey to our gate (each one carrying 2 carry-ons which are packed to the max along with necessary pillows and blankets) we realized we were at the wrong gate. Once we asked the gate attendant, she started shaking her head. We knew our work out moisture (sweat) wouldn’t have time to dry. They then lead us through a “secret passage” to get us back to the right spot.

Guess where we ended up…right back where we originally started when we exited our plane. We were instructed to head to “D” terminal. We followed the signs to “D”.  On our way to our new terminal, we had to go back through customs…even though we had already gone through customs and had our passport stamped. 

After we made it through, we discovered they sent us to the baggage claim. Still believing we were headed to a gate, we kept searching for “D”. Mike ended up seeing a large sign with a “D” lit up. In a slow motion voice, I can still hear him now. T-h-e-r-e is a “ddddddddd” When he got to the “D” it was the place where they keep larger freight bags. I ran back to a baggage service desk almost in tears. I gave him our luggage tickets and sure enough, he said our bags would be on the conveyor belt and we would have to retrieve them.

Imagine, the 5 of us (Brittany included) totally exhausted from running all over the airport, now having to gather all 12 bags, plus find Maggie. I finally found a luggage porter to help. He had a large cart to help us put all the bags on. Little did I know the fee was $36 to have him help, plus a tip for him. In the end it was worth it.

At this point, we are pretty sure we are going to miss our flight. We found Maggie and then again had to go through another customs line. We made it through and eventually made it to a desk where they ended up reticketing us for a flight on Thursday. This was of course after a 3 hour wait.

It is really kind of funny now to think of everything that transpired. Especially since we are still in N. America! We are rested up now and ready for our adventure to begin again on Thursday. The airline has made an exception for Maggie to fly with us (because the cutoff date to allow dogs to travel in the cargo was June 19^th). Unfortunately the temperature is expected to be in the mid 90’s when we depart, so there is always a chance they will refuse to take Maggie because of the heat. Please pray someone would be willing to keep her in the air conditioning until our flight is about to leave. 

Thanks for being a part of this journey with us! We are hoping to be intentional to find the good in everything that comes our way. This last experience was a good "trainer"! I think we are rested up and kind of  more prepared for whatever might come our way!

Lori (for the rest of the family!)