Friday, April 19 th Packing, Shopping, Audit, and paalam! We start the day at 8:00 a.m. to meet and go to McDonald’s for our final Philippines breakfast under the arches. No discussion of prison services or assignments but only of packing timeline and when to be ready to leave for the airport. It’s slightly surreal it’s actually time to leave. Pastor Noel arrives at the hotel for the Progress Report/Audit with GVT, Eddie, and Tim. This is a time for asking Pastor Noel how PFC can best support his prison ministry efforts and brainstorm solutions and strategies for the future. The rest of the team is packing and preparing for hotel check out. And there is some time left for last minute shopping and Polly graciously agrees to take some team members to a nearby market. At hotel check out, we now have an entourage to accompany us to the airport, but first a last lunch at Jollibee! Small gift bags are prepared of GVT books, PFC logo sunglasses and PFC logo padfolios and pens for Polly, Pastor Noah, and Pastor Luis. And one last basketball goes to Pastor Noah. Just a token of our deep appreciation for all they have done to make this trip happen for us. We can never thank them enough or show our deep respect and admiration for them.
We have a 6:30pm flight but due to traffic and International baggage check-in lines, we arrive by 2:00pm. And good thing as our line for check-in at Eva Air is a half mile long. Lots of standing, lots of waiting. Dee offers GVT some Tylenol for his back and he says it “saved his life”. Finally getting through to baggage screening, we are delayed as three team members have their baggage inspected. In the delay, GVT who is feeling better now, finds a fun photo op. Eventually we board our flight for our first short flight from Manila to Taipei. Our flight is delayed but not enough to be concerned about making our connecting flight from Taipei to Seattle, in fact, it makes for a quicker layover. GVT promises to treat the team to a light dinner when we get there. We find there are not many eating places open at the Taipei airport at that time of night but find some Bubble Teas and light snacks. All is well as the team meanders on to wait at the gate to board our
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