Leaving on a Jet Plane

That John Denver song never gets old, mostly when I'm actually leaving on a literal jet. 

The Vogt family is beginning its adventure eastward. We are going to the ancient Germanic country of Germany. I never really thought this would be the place I would ever take a vacation to as it really never had a particular appeal. That was the case until I realised my wife had relatives there who would be willing to host us. She and I decided that on such an adventure we would like our children to come along. Two years ago we went westward to Oregon. Another amazing summer adventure. We saw whales and touched the ocean. We hope this little blip in time will be equally as memorable. 

We are leaving on Sunday April 28 and will be gone for two weeks. Its strange how much planning goes into a little blip in time. I am conscious that this will be moment in time that will be with me and my children forever. When Doris and I began dating, one thing we shared was a love for adventure. While our lives have not been traditionally adventurous, we never lacked that aspiration. We are deeply privileged to expose our kids to a different culture and to enable them to see that the whole world is not southern Manitoba.

The last time I was in Europe I was at the Frankfurt airport, the airport we are using in Germany. I was coming back from Russia and I had been booked with an 8 hour delay. The Frankfurt airport is the 3rd biggest airport in the world, one can easily get lost. Not wanting to leave an experience unused, I did get so lost. I found myself in a terminal that was closed and I was walking around in the dark. The only light was the shopping area below and the blessed golden arches just out of reach of my hungry hands. I could only watch as other people ate while I wandered around an empty terminal. I did eventually find my way out and did find some food. 

Prior to going on this little adventure, I read some magazine where someone was drugged at an airport and had their kidney stolen. I was clearly not thinking clearly as it is very difficult to drug a person who is just sitting in a public place quietly. None the less, I resisted the urge to sleep in self-defence of the Frankfurt air going public that I thought would make off with my favourite kidney. That leg of my trip was exhausting.   

Now, almost 20 years later. I return to the airport that almost took my kidney and trapped me in its clutches. I am coming back a middle-aged man. Equipped now with a sense of self-sufficiency and technology that helps me out of dark terminals that hide me from food and four extra minds that will say, "dont talk to that woman Papa, she just wants your kidneys." This I vow that once again, upon my return to the Frankfurt airport, I will once again be victorious and not lose a kidney there and will find my way around with the aid of the most valuable asset I have, my German speaking wife. 

I will endeavour to update where and when I can. If you pray, please pray for me and my family for our safety and for wisdom for us to make wise decisions as parents. These types of trips are exceedingly challenging to plan for 5 people and we really are daunted by the weight of it all.