Catching Up!!

Wow! What a whirlwind the last 24 hours have been and there is much to update! When I last posted late Sunday afternoon, the FUMC Joshua group was sitting in the Atlanta airport with rapidly decreasing patience as our plane, temporarily grounded after the previously crew reported malfunctioning flaps upon landing, seemed unlikely to fly again that afternoon. Sure enough, we got the opportunity to race across Atlanta-Hartsfield from Terminal E back to B from which we had originally come. The flight was assigned a new aircraft and we boarded about two hours after our initial departure time. An hour in line on the tarmac waiting for a departure window for our “unscheduled” flight just about did us in…and that was before we knew that the in-flight Wi-Fi wasn’t working! It wasn’t looking good for the blog!



We knew our chances of catching the New York flight were fading with each passing moment. Originally scheduled to enjoy a 5 ½ hour layover at Kennedy, we arrived with just one hour remaining. While that may seem a significant amount of time to those who have not been to this small city of an airport, it allowed only a window of opportunity to navigate the terminal change (complete with outdoor commute), check in at the Royal Jordanian counter for seat assignments and stand at length amid a wonderfully diverse sea of humanity at the security check point. Those who had hoped for lunch/dinner, coffee, and/or smoke breaks with time to log on to the internet were disappointed as the first boarding call came as we approached the gate. We had only just enough time to make initial introductions and begin to put names with the faces of our new traveling companions. We learned that our Tennessee friends experienced similar travel challenges and had arrived only shortly before we did; in fact, Laura Jean, traveling alone to meet up with her Tennessee group, had not arrived at all. Of course, the New Jersey contingent was looking enviably fresh and ready to begin their journey! Once we were seated on the old but large A-300 Airbus, our bus captain, the Rev. Gene Wise (Tennessee) learned that Laura Jean was in line at the security checkpoint…not good news as we felt the aircraft push back. With only one flight per day to Amman, we prayed we would see Laura Jean in a day or two.


The flight to Amman was uneventful - punctuated by periodic beverage service and a good meal, as far as airline food is concerned, with extended periods of sleep for the lucky ones; others enjoyed award-worthy programming such as "Aliens in the Attic." The friendly RJ flight crew did everything possible to make the very long flight pass pleasantly…and ultimately more quickly than normal. We departed JFK at 10:45pm EST on Sunday evening and arrived in Amman at 4:30pm (local time in Jordan) Monday evening, one hour earlier than anticipated. A representative from Educational Opportunities met us at the airport as promised and, glory be, everyone’s luggage arrived on schedule!! Once through customs and aboard the “Purple Bus” designated for our “purple” E.O. group, we began to relax as we headed into Amman – the hope of a hotel room, hot shower, and meal before us as we thought about getting horizontal for a few hours of much needed rest after a 30 hour travel day.


Leave it to the Joshua group to add a little excitement to the situation: five minutes before we pulled into the hotel one in our group, Sharon Tucker, began to seize and convulse. We got her to the floor of the bus and took on our respective roles: those with nursing and/or emergency response training caring for Sharon, the rest praying fervently that what she was experiencing was “simply” a seizure rather than a TIA or stroke. The ambulance arrived in front of our hotel shortly after the bus pulled in and Sharon’s sister, Marsha, and I were allowed to accompany her to the hospital. What an amazing experience that was! The Specialty Hospital is located less than a mile from The Regency Hotel and nurses and doctors were on hand to meet the arriving ambulance. Sharon, who had regained consciousness just after the paramedics boarded the E.O. bus, could give her name on the ambulance but was still unable to name the U.S. president when we arrived at the hospital. The emergency room was simple and unadorned, but the staff was attentive and caring. Jordanian medical protocol seems much more casual than we are accustomed to, but that may be a benefit in the end. Marsha was asked to place $200 US on deposit as the doctor ordered an EEG and CAT scan and began assessing Sharon. Two and a half hours later the three of us were in a private car sent from the hotel, and Sharon had in her possession copies of tests results that revealed no evidence a bleed, instructions from the doc to enjoy her vacation and return should she experience another episode, and a refund of about $80. That’s right – an ambulance ride, emergency room treatment in a private hospital, EEG and CAT scan all for about $120!! Apparently, it can be done. Who knew?