Getting to N'Awlins Day 1: Part 1

To give you the full experience of our trip I will start for the beginning...getting to and meeting at the airport.

Because we had to pack bedding for the bunk beds in NOLA we packed extra community bags so that we didn't each have to pack bedding in our own personal bags. I collected all the bedding and a few extra bags and packed the bedding in community bags. It was an easy task but what wasn't so easy was getting the 15 extra bags to the airport. My wonderful Dad volunteered to take myself, my husband-Matt and our great friend and intern Rob to the airport at the wonderful hour of 4 in the morning.

** A little side note on Rob**
Rob was not scheduled to go to NOLA until Thursday-We left Sunday morning. We had one student drop from the trip and our tickets were nonrefundable although we could do a name transfer for no charge. So, that is where Rob comes in. He had been begging us to let him go but since he is only one year out of high school we usually do not allow them to go on high school trips. Matt and I thought about it and decided Rob was the best candidate for the trip so we called him up and gave him the good news...not the Good News...he already knows about Jesus dying for his sins but this could be the second best good news that he has ever received. We convince Rob that is was not a late April Fool's joke and then he was in.
**Back to the main story**

We cram the extra suitcases into the suburban and Matt and Rob sit not so comfortably with the bags while my Dad and I sit very comfortably in the front seats. We arrive at the airport a little after 5:00am and begin making bets as to which team member will be the last to arrive. The students begin to roll into the airport...all in matching bright green team shirts designed by one of our leaders and my good friend, Jenna.

I begin to hand out the tickets and extra bags for students to check-in and right as the first group of students get to the front of the line at the ticket counter the attendant informs us that we are in the wrong line because we were a group. I would have assumed that they would have noticed that a few minutes earlier since we were all in matching bright green shirts but it's a mission trip so I take a deep breath and let it roll off my back. So, they get into the other line and more and more students begin to show up. We get all checked in and to my surprise almost everyone, except two, arrived early. Two students arrived 6 minutes late and were ridiculed endlessly for not making it on time...not really...but they were made fun of.

All 35 of us make it through security without any problems and board our plane like pros. The flight attendants even made an announcement about our team and thanked us for our volunteer work we were heading to do. (one reason we always decide to wear team shirts is for the incredible conversations it can spark...and it makes it easier to keep track of everyone.)

We land in Las Vegas for our 2 hour layover and that is where the "fun" begins! We find our gate for the next flight, tell our students what time they need to meet us back at the gate and remind them not to do anything stupid since they are all under 21 and this is a mission trip.

Airport Entertainment:
See how many celebrities you can spot...we saw Usher and George Lopez...okay, look-a-likes...but it is a lot of fun!

See how many people stare at your group as they try to figure out if you are a sports team of some sort, a cult, a school group or what...

Make guess on who will show up last or late for the scheduled meeting time...

Lesson Learned: Subway in the Las Vegas airport does NOT partake in the $5 Foot Long promotion but the do prefer the $14 Foot Long deal which really isn't a deal at all. I suggest Sbarros pizza because it is so delicious and less than $14.

Everyone makes it back on time and we board our final flight into NOLA and again the flight attendants make an announcement about our team. The flight crews on Southwest were very nice and patient with our large group of anxious and excited high school seniors.

We land a few minutes early into NOLA and immediately feel the humidity as we step off the plane. We gather all our bags and head to the rental car place.

We arrive at the rental car location and find that although I called to confirm our reservations (twice) and the exact cars we needed they didn't actually have the right car after all. (I booked 5 vans/SUV's with exactly 35 seats) Luckily, they were able to get us a car that could fit even more so we had a little bit of extra room...well not really because of all our bags...but I didn't notice because I was a driver and didn't have any bags near me!

We finally get on the road, only after breaking a sweat trying to cram all the bags into our cars, getting in a small disagreement with another leader, and dealing with the nonexistent customer service of the South...and answering questions like, how long is the drive, what car do I get in, where is the bathroom....

We arrive at our house at 7:00pm (after passing the Super Dome) and then the chaos of getting the rooms situated begins. Now, there are 35 beds in the house and 35 team members in the house...so, everyone has a bed. Well, that would be too easy wouldn't it? People are freaking out over who gets to sleep where and what?...there are only 3 bathrooms?!? We gather everyone and remind them that although we are staying in a house with electricity and running water which is quite different that Mexico this is STILL a missions trip and we are suppose to be out of our comfort zone and it is okay if you have cold water for a shower or have to sleep on a mattress on the floor...at least you have a mattress!

We place an order for pizzas and I put together a team for grocery shopping at the Super Wal-Mart...stay tuned for what happens at the Super Wal-Mart as it is deserving of a post of its own!