Adventures
in Italy

We woke up all together in our Rome hostel and packed up for the last time. After turning in our keys, we began the short walk to the train station. We joined other travelers all headed toward the Rome International Airport.

Upon arrival, we realize Shania is in a different terminal and have to say our first goodbye earlier than we thought. Tearful hugs were shared as we sent Shania on her way to Pakistan to share the Good News!

We enter terminal 1 and approach the check-in line for Scandinavian Air. Security was a breeze to get through and then we had nothing but time until our gate was announced. So what does our group do when it’s your final hours in Italy? Get in line for our last slices of pizza, of course!

We found a seat in the food court area and after a while realized that there was a team decked out in “Italia” gear with Olympic rings on their shirts. Viviana, with braveness and curiosity, approached the group to find out it was the Italian Olympic Swim Team! They were super friendly and even shared about how it was some of their second times going to the Olympics and how indescribable and emotional the experience is. We wished them the best of luck!

Finally, our gate number was posted and we headed that way. Our last goodbye on this leg of the trip was Levi who was going to stay with close family friends in Germany for a few weeks. The remnant of our group was now dwindling.

Our first flight was delayed in taking off. As the minutes ticked, we realized our already tight layover in Copenhagen, Denmark was beginning to look bleak. A few of us approached the flight attendants while in flight to see if there was anything they could do to help us make the connection when we landed.

Once we hit the ground, we had less than 20 minutes until our gate closed for boarding on the next flight. The flight attendants opened the back exit to help us deboard faster. And we SPRINTED through the airport. We were at a full-force run toward gate E136. Breathlessly handing our passports to passport control and then barreling down the hallway following signs all along praying the gate isn’t too much further.

WE MADE IT!! Panting, sweating, and out of breath, we approached the gate where the Lord gave us favor with the airport staff who let us get on even though final boarding had taken place. We scanned our tickets and walked through the doors as the alarms rang. The sweetest sight was the open door of the aircraft and the flight attendants who helped us find and settle in our seats so we could begin backing from the gate.

We caught our breath and relaxed into our seats to enjoy our 9-hour flight to JFK International Airport! Coloring, games, in-flight meals, and many movies later we arrived in NY! Home, sweet, home!

After an unexpected hour and a half wait for a de-boarding gate to open up, we had to say goodbye to Mandie who had another sprint through the airport to make her connecting flight to CA. The rest of us headed to baggage claim where we said our final goodbyes as we were headed to different hotels, friends’ houses, or connecting flights for the night.

It was bittersweet to say goodbye, but we know it’s not forever. And if we don’t see each other again on this side of things, we know we will see each other in Heaven!

Our last Italian train ride

Levi playing the airport piano

Our view of Manhattan as we landed

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