4.21.09 Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean.

Im 11 hours into my 17 hour flight from Newark to Taipei and so far so good. Im so grateful for the send off I received from so many people. So many people interested in my trip … so many people praying. Im humbled. I have been scrambling to get ready and it was only at “wheels up” did it finally hit me that Im on my way. Life gets simple for the next nine days. My work is cut out for me.

My departure was pushed back from 11pm to 2am allowing me the time to connect with an old friend in New Jersey for a steak and a couple glasses of cab. It had been raining intermittently on my way to NJ and things blew into a full blown monsoon. Long term parking at Newark is indeed a long way from the terminal … my experience right out of a bad rental card advertisement … parking and standing in the driving blowing rain waiting for the soul sucking long term parking bus. Of course the first one chose to ignore me, passing by complete with the obligatory curb splash … as if I could get any more wet. Another bus showed mercy and by 11pm the drowned rat was in the terminal checked in and waiting to meet my companions.

They are… a pregnant Kathy Maskell from Love 146, who now seems like an old friend(we will connect with Rob Morris and others from Love 146 in the Philippines). Kristian Rose is from another Acts 29 church in NY called “Apostles Church NY”. Pascha Griffiths from “Greater Boston Vinyard Church” and the Boston Area Love 146 Task Force, Emily Murphy from “Chapel of the Cross” … also from the Boston Task Force … randomly a close friend of a family friend. Sharon Knechtel is from “Grace Community Church” in New Canaan CT. Grace Community Church is also the home church of Love 146 founder, worship leader / recording artist Lamont Hiebert of “Ten Shekel Shirt”. Derek Thompson from “Church of the Palms” in Florida had his flight into Newark cancelled and hopes to connect with us in Bangkok. While Love 146 is not specifically a faith based organization in my experience, most of those who work there are Christ followers … and the church is a significant driving force behind their work. This “Partner Trip” is obviously made up of church based regional organizers.

The flight has been pleasant enough so far. We are seated in a an upgraded version of economy with larger more comfortable seats. With the help of a couple people I was loaded up with in flight entertainment and sleep aids. I actually was able to get about 5 hours of relatively comfortable sleep … which is amazing … or a testament to the power of “sleep aids” and a couple glasses of cab … I never sleep on planes. Watched “The Future is Unwritten”, a documentary about the late great Joe Strummer … and some back episodes of No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain …. one of my favorite shows … watched back episodes of his trips to South East Asia. Reading Che Guevara’s memoir “Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War”.

Already there have been encouraging conversations. I came “fully bought in” to the abolition cause. My purpose on this trip is not to achieve a higher level of “buy in” … but that my time will reveal how more people at Terra and beyond just Terra, regionally, can be more engaged on this issue more deeply. My sense from talking with Kathy is that she is on the same page. We will cover a lot of ground but she has aside time to strategize and brainstorm. Good. Interestingly Kristian Rose has a impressive justice background. Before becoming one of the Pastors at Apostles Church in NY he worked for “Hope For NY”, an organization I admire a lot that grew out of Tim Keller’s church in the city, Redeemer Presbyterian. Kristian’s wife is on staff with “Joe Torre’s Safe at Home Foundation”.

We will stop and change planes in Taipei and then tomorrow morning we will arrive in Bangkok where we will spend the day … touring its infamous red light district tomorrow night. More to follow as access to the web allows. Thanks to all who have supported this trip both in every way

Matthew