LUGGAGE, LUGGAGE, LUGGAGE. . .

The group began the journey to David at O'Hare airport where Charles sorted out and tagged luggage. Each person is allowed two checked bags and a carry-on and a briefcase/purse/laptop bag. We had packed all the supplies for the clinics into large suitcases so each member of the team could check two supply cases as their checked baggage. Charles was kept busy numbering, collecting inventory sheets and then moving all that luggage through the airport check-in and security screening. We would see it again until it, hopefully, arrived in Panama City.

The flights took us through Atlanta. . . stopped for a meal. . . and onto our final destination in PC. We arrived there about 9:45 PM to humidity and heat. Even at that hour it was almost oppressive. Almost. Also very welcome to a group who had left the snows of the mid-west only hours before.

The bags came off the conveyors and were checked to be sure we had them all, then passed through customs x-rays and allowed into Panama. Rhett Thompson met us at the arrival hall and directed us to the curbside area where we loaded the luggage into vans. Personal gear went with the people, supplies went off to be taken to David the next day. When it was all piled up on the curb it made quite a mountain of stuff. Most of it will be used in the medical clinic or the health promoter school to comfort and care for people. If you are going to import something into a foreign country, hope, healing and health are all worth bringing.