I was 20 years old when I traveled for the first time on an airplane. That was 49 years ago. However, it wasn’t just any airplane ride. It was the beginning of a mission, a mission that would impact my life for years to come. For the next month I would travel around the world and see some of the most famous locations in the world as well as see what poverty really looks like. It would be my first major battered suitcase experience. In this time of travel shutdown, I’d like to share that mission experience with you as my memory allows. Come back with me to 1971.
It was the summer between my sophomore and Junior years of college. I had already determined to work in missions in the future so when my denomination offered an opportunity for college students to visit some of the mission locations around the world, I jumped at the chance. The trip was offered under a new program called VISA. They were looking for a team of students to minister in four countries. The main focus would be India, but we would also visit Egypt, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. We would literally fly around the globe in a month. I was eager to apply.
I don’t remember much about the process of getting accepted onto the mission team. After being accepted I obviously needed to apply for my first passport but just as important was fundraising for my expenses. I sent out letters to friends and family explaining the mission and got a number of responses. Ultimately, however, it was really my parents who helped make it happen. If I remember right, the total cost for the trip was around $1000. According to DollarTimes.com that would be about $6500 in today’s dollars, no small price tag.
Another part of my preparation was getting ready to take photos. I had a simple point and shoot camera, but I knew I wanted to take a lot of photos. A friend of mine was really into photography. He helped me by buying a big roll of 35mm film and then cutting it up and making the film rolls for me to take. I had at least 10 rolls with me, maybe more. When we got back, he developed them into slides for me. That helped save me money. I have had the slides digitized after all these years and done some work on them so you will be seeing them throughout this series. (Some are not as sharp as I would like, but they are all I have.)
Our travel time was mostly in the month of July. I was the only student from the west coast in the group. Most were from the Midwest or Northeast areas. There were two couples on the trip serving as chaperones. One was from Portland, OR, Dan and Judy Fortune. They were on the trip to see Judy’s parents who were missionaries in India. Bob Crandal and his wife from headquarters were the other chaperones.
Besides being the only student from the west coast, I was one of only two males on the team. The other guy was a big, redheaded guy, Ab. As you can imagine, he drew a lot of attention wherever we went. The rest of the team were all young women.
We were to meet in the town of Winona Lake, Indiana which at that time was the location of our denominational headquarters. That first flight was from Portland to Chicago. From Chicago I took the smallest plane I have ever flown to Elkhart, Indiana. That flight was really wild. It was very noisy, and I could converse with the pilots. Despite the noise I don’t really remember being scared.
Visiting Elkhart was a rather unusual situation. I had a college friend who invited me to come and visit him in Elkhart. The funny thing was it turned out he wasn’t home, and I didn’t know his family. However, his family took me in and made me feel welcome. We enjoyed a fireworks show for the 4th of July sitting in a baseball park. Having never been in the Midwest before, it was all a little different. At one point they pointed out the path a tornado had recently traveled, and I saw the destruction it had caused. That scene I still remember.
After a few days they drove me part way to Winona Lake, and we met someone who took me the rest of the way. There I met our team, and we had a few days of orientation and learning about our mission. I don’t really have any memories about that time other than being somewhat awed at being at the denominational headquarters which I had heard so much about as I grew up.
After our few days of orientation it was finally time to begin our mission. We drove in a caravan to Chicago to get our first flight. From there we flew to JFK in New York. I have a vague memory of sitting around the airport in New York waiting for our next flight. From New York we flew to Brussels overnight. It was an opportunity to experience sleeping on a plane.
Sleeping Across the Atlantic 
Getting Some Shuteye
Arriving in Brussels I have a memory of walking down a long hallway in the airport and looking out the window. I was feeling awed that I was so far from home and in another country. However, we didn’t stay long in Brussels, but took off for a short flight to Frankfurt, Germany.
Hotel Architecture
In Frankfurt we had our first opportunity to see a different world. Our layover was long enough that we were able to get out and visit the city. At least Frankfurt, being European, didn’t seem that odd or unusual. Of course I didn’t know German so that was a disadvantage. We used a trolley system to get around at one point, and that was a fun experience. There was also all the old world architecture and monuments which were unique as well.
I remember we decided to eat in a German restaurant. That was a little challenging for me. I could not read the German menu, and didn’t really know what the food choices were. I don’t remember exactly what I had, most likely some kind of sausage. The reality of being in a different culture was beginning to set in.
German Restaurant
After our day in Frankfurt we returned to the airport for the next leg of our journey and our first mission stop. Our destination was Cairo, Egypt where we would spend a few days. Next week I’ll share my memories from there. It was in Egypt when the reality of being in another culture hit me, and initially I was anxious. I’ll explain why next week.
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My first flight was Chicago to Salina, Ca. Army. After basic training I was blessed with an all expense paid 18 months travel through western Germany. My first German meal, Ine burger, bitta. Great memories.
Sounds like you have more experience in Germany than I do. We would like to go there to see the Christmas markets one of these years?