I arrived in Manila on Saturday evening, stayed awake all night (there is a 13 hour time difference) and then flew to Baguio (Northern Philippines) on a prop plane. I've been in a few planes in my life - but never have I flown on a plane where the mechanic took my ticket stub (I'm serious), the landing-gear tires were bald (yes I was checking it all out), the floor was bowed in the middle (not part of the original design) and water leaked on my newspaper from the overhead vent that didn't blow air. There were probably 20 people on the plane and I providentially sat down next to Tony, a down-to-earth, well travelled business man who is an exec for an international tobacco company (he had reps on board with him from Philip Morris). He asked me if I had ever flown "Asia Spirit Airlines." I told him this was my first trip. He proceeded to tell me with a smile, "They say of Asia Spirit Airlines that you go up Asian and come down a Spirit." (I guess they've had an accident or two over the years.) We had a great conversation, and even after I "witnessed" a bit - he gave me his card and said, "Call that number, use my name and you can play golf at the country club while you are here." (I'll let you know if I'm able to do it.)
It was a very nice 50 minute flight. I've been told that it's much safer than the 6 hour bus ride winding through the mountains. Upon arriving at the airport I understood why they only fly prop planes in here. We landed on a short, narrow airstrip atop one of the mountains. In the words of Tony, "It's like landing on an aircraft carrier." It was kind of fun.
I have begun giving lectures already. Providentially I happen to be here with one of our missionaries, Dr. Larry Armstrong. He lectures four hours in the mornings and I lecture four hours in the afternoons. Larry is a 70+ year old, travelling missionary-professor who has been giving his active retirement years to teaching on the field. (He served here in the Philippines as a missionary.) I asked him if he was thinking of retiring any time soon. He looked at me and laughed as if to say, "You've got to be kidding me." He then said, "Retirement's not for me - I want to die doing what I'm doing right now for the kingdom." I just love that. Love it. Love it. Love it. In the words of John Piper, "Don't waste your life!"
It was a very nice 50 minute flight. I've been told that it's much safer than the 6 hour bus ride winding through the mountains. Upon arriving at the airport I understood why they only fly prop planes in here. We landed on a short, narrow airstrip atop one of the mountains. In the words of Tony, "It's like landing on an aircraft carrier." It was kind of fun.
I have begun giving lectures already. Providentially I happen to be here with one of our missionaries, Dr. Larry Armstrong. He lectures four hours in the mornings and I lecture four hours in the afternoons. Larry is a 70+ year old, travelling missionary-professor who has been giving his active retirement years to teaching on the field. (He served here in the Philippines as a missionary.) I asked him if he was thinking of retiring any time soon. He looked at me and laughed as if to say, "You've got to be kidding me." He then said, "Retirement's not for me - I want to die doing what I'm doing right now for the kingdom." I just love that. Love it. Love it. Love it. In the words of John Piper, "Don't waste your life!"
No comments:
Post a Comment