I just completed an incredible journey taking a 14 day transatlantic cruise with my brother. We visited the Azores and 5 cities in southern Spain.  It was a spectacular trip.

I’ll be writing a blog post about my visit to Spain and about my travel gear. I’ll also be creating videos on my visit to the Azores and what it’s like to take a transatlantic cruise.  

But before I do all that, I have to share something first. Towards the end of the cruise, I got really sick. I was in bad shape and had to cancel my plans to visit London and immediately fly home. My journey home was challenging. But, I made it home and I’m on the mend thanks to my faith in God, a lot of prayers, and help from family. 

I wrote the statement below while I was on my long flight home.  Before I share the details, pictures, and videos of my trip, I’m giving thanks to God, family, and friends first.

The Power of Prayer

God is everywhere. He’s always looking out for us. It’s not always obvious.  Its easy to overlook his presence and what he does for us.  But with a strong faith and connection in my heart, I know he’s there.

An incident happened to me recently that reminded me of this and of the power of prayer. 

Here’s my testimony.

I Got Sick

While on a recent transatlantic cruise and trip to Europe, I got really sick near the end of the trip. It started out as a slight head cold, but quickly got worse.  I had major head congestion, a sinus headache, a sore throat, and some chest congestion. It prevented me from sleeping. In the early morning of our last day on the ship, as we laid in our beds with me coughing, my brother spoke up and said – “Jim you’re in bad shape, you don’t sound good, I think you should head home.” I had been thinking the same thing as I laid awake all night stuffed up and coughing.  I was praying for God’s help to get me thru this and he answered thru my brother. We had planned a 3 day adventure in London after the cruise and I so wanted to enjoy it with him. But my health was at risk and at 70 yrs old these types of things can quickly go from bad to worse.

Changing Plans & Getting Home

So, at 4:30 am while cruising into Barcelona and using my cell phone, I was able to get an aisle seat on a direct flight home from London for the next day (we already had flights booked from Barcelona to London for that afternoon when we got off the ship).  I had to talk with an agent to complete the booking.  All this happened quickly with me on a ship in the Mediterranean talking with an agent in Utah at 4:30 am.  I was also able to get a hotel room right at the airport so I could walk to the gate the next morning. I was amazed that I was able to get all this got done within an hour and before I got out of bed. God had just helped make the way home for me.

My Journey Home – Day 1

After disembarking in Barcelona at 7:30 am, I would start a very long difficult day. We quickly got off the ship and to the airport. My condition was worsening from lack of sleep (I only had about 4 hrs in the past 2 days), but somehow I made it thru the long wait at the airport. My brother was my angel keeping an eye on me and going slow. By the time we boarded my energy was low, my head was stuffed, and I had a tight intermittent cough. But the good news was I had no fever (i.e., no flu) and my SPO2 level (oxygen in my blood) was 98%, which meant my lungs were clear and working. And I kept praying – God please get me thru this, please give me strength, please get me home.

My brother suggested I wear a face mask to protect others on the plane. I put it on before we boarded and during the flight it had a miraculous effect – breathing the warm moist air loosen up my congestion so I could breath easier. 

We landed and breezed thru UK Customs. We then started the maize of making our way thru the long multi layer labyrinth that is Heathrow Airport. We finally got to our train which would take Bob to London and me to my hotel. Thank you, Brother. I was sad to part company. We had just spent a memorable and enjoyable 16 days together.

I had to walk to my hotel which was a laborious up and down journey thru escalators, people movers, hallways, and elevators. I was moving more slowly. I was pulling a 42 lb suitcase and wearing a 15 lb backpack. The walk to the hotel was less than ¼ mile but arduous. I felt I might collapse at any moment. I got lost three times, but people (more angels) were friendly carefully pointing me the way. 

I got to my room and collapsed on the bed. I rested for 30 mins to get enough strength to go down and get dinner. I didn’t want to move but knew I had to eat to gain strength. The first day of my journey was complete 14 hrs after I started. I was in bed and medicated (just ibuprofen and a cough suppressant) by 8:00 pm. I was exhausted but thanked God for delivering me and getting me thru the first day.

I slept surprisingly good and got 7 hours in. I felt better and rested. I was still a weak and very congested but could breathe easier and had more strength than the prior day.

My Journey Home – Day 2

I started my second day with prayers asking God to guide me and deliver me home. I had another long day ahead and a long flight (7+) hrs. My brother checked in on me and asked that I keep him posted on my progress.

My flight departed at 8:25 am. but for an international flight, I had to be there for 5:25 am to check in and get thru security. I also had to find something to eat. God was looking out for me. It took less than 15 minutes to get checked into my flight and pass thru Security. Unlike the airport in Barcelona, which was packed, there were no lines for flight check in or security. I found a place to sit and said more prayers.  I needed to eat before I got on the plane. It looked like all the restaurants I could see were closed at this early hour (6:00 am). But then I turned around and right behind me was a restaurant serving breakfast.  Had I picked a different place to sit and wait, I might have missed it.

I said more prayers for God to help me on the long transatlantic flight.  As made my way to the gate, there was a pharmacy on the way and right there in the front of the store was a display full of cold meds. I bought some Sudafed and water. I’ve never seen a pharmacy at an airport and this one was selling just what I needed. Had I taken a different escalator or elevator to the gate I would have missed the pharmacy. Praise be to God. He continued to open the way for me.

I took a Sudafed and began feeling better. My worries of coughing and sniffling on the long flight were abated.  Another concern was food on the plane. My flight was over 7 hrs. I bought 2 bottles of water for the flight and ate a good good breakfast. Thankfully, JetBlue feeds passengers on transatlantic flights. I had another breakfast and lunch on the plane. God was surely looking out for me.

I did fine on the long flight to Boston. Once off the plane, I passed quickly thru Customs, collected my bag, and there was my son Liam waiting at the exit to greet me and take me home. 

Thank you, Lord for being with me on my trip, for answering all my prayers, for showing me the way, and delivering me home.  Thanks to my brother, Bob for looking out for me and my son, Liam for helping me. Thanks to all who prayed for me.

Prayers Work

I pray at least twice every day. Its part of my daily routine and who I am – a man of faith. I said numerous prayers on this journey home. My wife and members of her church were praying for me and I had family and friends from my church praying for me. I could list numerous Bible verses about what Jesus tells us about prayers, but I’ll condense them all down to two simple words – Prayers work.

I’m sharing this because it’s something we’re supposed to do – to be a witness to God’s presence in our lives.  He is real and if we believe, have faith, and let him in, then he lives within us. One of my favorite scripture verses, which I recite at the beginning of every day, is below.

For in him, we live and move and have our being. (Act 17:28).