Today was our first domestic travel day. We were dropped off at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix (the BEST airport name ever, right?!) and got our luggage checked in and a bite to eat before boarding our first flight. Our destination is Colorado Springs but we’ll get there via short layover in Denver.
The short layover ended up being an hour longer than scheduled but it wasn’t a difficult wait. Short layovers and flights are nothing after a 17-hour flight over the Pacific! The flight from Denver to Colorado Springs was very turbulent but we landed safely.
We were met at the airport by my seminary classmate, Rev. Dan Kletke. I haven’t seen him over 15 years and I nearly walked right by him! The Colorado Springs Airport (pictured below) is nice and small so our luggage was ready quickly and it was a short walk to the parking lot to pile our luggage in the back of Dan’s Suburban and hit the road for the hour drive to Canon City where he lives and works.
If you haven’t been to Colorado before, breathtaking is a bit of an understatement. The Plains kind of roll up into Colorado and break against the Rocky Mountains that jump up out of nowhere and stretch to the sky. In early April there’s a clear crispness to the air. Temperatures are in the 50’s during the day but drop into the 30’s at night. Weather is predicted to be good for the week we’ll be in the area. The sight of massive snow-capped mountains is incredible.
Once to Canon City we were brought to the Kletke abode to meet most of the Kletke family and enjoy some Mexican food (woohoo!). But we had to hurry. Dan and I had to hit the road again in less than 30 minutes, backtracking a little bit to reach Pueblo, CO and my first presentation at Trinity Lutheran Church (pictured below). Pastor Bob, their interim pastor, extended an invitation to take over their Tuesday evening Bible study time. I shared about my work and life in Indonesia, and there were plenty of questions! Two hours passed quickly, and then it was back on the road again.
But this time it was a two hour drive – an hour to Canon City again, but then another hour and change beyond that to Salida, CA where we’d be staying. Dan’s wife Tricia had already taken Gena and the boys out earlier. Now Dan and I headed there and they left us their Camry and he and his wife drove the hour back to Canon City. It was a late night for them and we are grateful for their hospitality. They are providing us with a place to stay as well as a car to use during our time in the area. What a blessing!
Tomorrow will be a long day for me – a 9am time with a congregation in Colorado Springs (yes, a two-hour drive from where we’re staying!) and then a 4pm meeting with a congregation back in Salida where we’re staying. Exciting though!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 