She's Getting Closer!!!

Sunday morning we woke up to a short little Facebook message from Haley: 

"ohhhh i am soo ready for a stair hug from papa and to see your smiling face!!!! i cannot wait... i've gots my phone all charged up and ready to call you when i step foot into the states! not that i don't trust you but a quick reminder: ppppplease set up for me a chiro! the african soil has been killin my back! life i...s good here on this side of the world and God is amazing! i can't wait to see all of you and tell you bout it!!!!! love love love love love love! tell mi papa and mi chico chiquito hello:)) see you soon dear!"

And another one posted as her status to everyone: 

"ahhh!!! i am so excited... i get to spend the next 3 days ish of my life in airports! but it means i'm going home so all is well! i do know however that the moment i step on american soil i will miss afrika! i can't wait to see everyone though!"

Between her and her friend Beth's posts, they gave a little bit of an itinerary, but it has differed greatly from what was posted on Global's website since before the trip, so that has caused much confusion for me all day.  I know it doesn't really matter which way she's coming home, but I'll be honest!  Not knowing whether she's on an 18-hour flight from South Africa all the way to the States OR flying home via Paris is just a little unnerving for some reason!  I have found myself trying to track what I thought might be her flights, but it was all so confusing.  I even called the parent hotline, and they told me to follow what's on the website. 

Well, right before I headed to bed tonight, I decided to make one quick stop at the computer just to see if any new information had been posted, and amazingly enough, Beth was online!!  It turns out that the girls knew exactly where they were going when they posted their itineraries on Sunday.  They are currently in the Paris airport as I type!!  Their C group is on a different itinerary than the B trippers, and that was the missing link that we knew nothing about.  Beth wasn't with Haley at the moment, but she said she'd try and tell Haley to get online so we could chat.  I'm still waiting . . .

According to Beth, they should be back in the States this afternoon, and then they will be taken to Global's headquarters again for a time of debriefing before they send them all back to their families.  Haley will be flying home on Thursday, and we cannot wait to see her!!!  She has specifically asked that just her family greet her at the airport, but friends are getting excited to see her too, so we're making plans for that as well.  It is going to be so awesome to have her back in our presence!!!  It just isn't the same around here without her. 

Please continue to pray for safe flights and for a smooth transition back into American culture.  She's going to have to hit the pavement running when it comes to getting back into the groove of things.  Thank you all so much for praying for her throughout her trip!!  God bless you all!

Update!!  Just as I was ready to sign off for the night, Haley popped online, and we were able to chat for a little bit!!  It was so good to "hear" from her.  We were able to discuss a few necessary items, and then we finished up with what she would like for her first meal back home.  She has opted for "steak or chicken and potatoes -- or even pancakes will suffice.  Anything American."  We can do that, baby!  We can do it! 

Another update!!  Evidently Global was avoiding posting their flight plan as an extra level of precaution, so this posting has been modified from its previous version.  If you read this prior to now and were wondering about the changes, that is why.