Originally Posted on Jan. 18, 2021

After my mama drove me to Will Rogers World Airport, I flew to DFW with my work partner, a U.S. military veteran who has visited multiple different countries. During the one-hour layover in London at Heathrow Airport following an eight-hour flight, we ran—literally ran—up and down escalators and in and out of trains looking for our next gate. Despite the rush, one encounter made me pause and smile. Standing up and holding onto a pole on the train, I listened to the giggles of three children who were apparently oblivious to any jet lag, unlike myself. All under the age of ten, they were traveling internationally. In that moment, I was taken back to being a little girl and thinking, “It would be amazing to travel overseas for work.” After 26 years, I am living that reality—God willing.

After scrambling with our bulky carry-on bags, my work partner and I, though sweating underneath our masks, successfully checked in and flew another six hours to our final destination: Qatar.

Over the next couple months, I have the honor of working here, while exploring Qatar, learning about the culture, and meeting its people. From Doha International Airport to the quarantine hotel, I rode in the taxi in bumper-to-bumper traffic with perfectly paved roads. From the backseat window, I saw boats decorated with lights docked at the harbor, bouquets of white flowers adorning the utility poles along the road medians, and a combination of pink, blue, and purple skyscrapers.

It’s 7:45 p.m. here. As I’m bundled up in my pink robe and still recovering from jet lag, I am reminded of Ephesians 3:20: “Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power, He can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.”

Tomorrow, I plan to knock out some items on my quarantine to-do list.