Day 2: Are We There Yet?!
Alright family — let’s just go ahead and title Day 2: Still Not There.
At this point, it feels like we’ve been flying for 24 hours straight … because we basically have. Fuzhou, we are trying to make it to you. Pray for us. Leaving on Monday July 7 and accelerated to different time ones is interesting. Basically skipping a day in between.
But before we give you the play-by-play of how running through Dallas-Fort Worth airport turned into an Olympic sport, let me remind you: this trip isn’t just a trip. This is a mission. A moment few people ever get. We’re not just going to China — we’re representing something bigger than ourselves.
That’s why, months ago, we laid out clear expectations through what we call our PPPP Framework:
PRAYER | PLAN | PATIENCE | PRESENTATION
Prayer isn’t optional. It’s our foundation. We stay prayed up because there are moments like today when all you have left is prayer.
Plan — This ain’t the time to be scrambling. Know the schedule. Keep your documents close. READ the details. (Some of our group heard us say this more than once. For a reason!)
Patience — You’ll be stretched. Language barriers, time zones, delays… and yes, running through airports. Patience keeps us together.
Presentation — Not just how you sing, but how you carry yourself. From how you walk to how you speak under pressure, you’re representing Christ at every step.
Now, back to Dallas-Fort Worth.
Our first flight from Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) was delayed. Not ideal, because our connection in DFW was already tight. The kind of tight where you’re praying midair and stretching like you’re prepping for a relay race. Why? Because if we missed that flight from Dallas to Hong Kong, we weren’t just going to be inconvenienced… we were looking at 37 singers stranded, overnight airport hotel or worse. And y’all know how airports love to charge.
But this is where PPPP kicked in.
Everyone stayed calm. Everyone stayed focused. Everyone stayed… well, running.
Miracle #1: TSA held the check-in open for us. I’ll say it again: TSA held the check-in open. That’s how you know God is moving. We made it on the DFW to Hong Kong flight by the skin of our teeth.
Picture it:
- Me, running through DFW praying and searching for our group
- Separated by a random shuttle detour (because why not add chaos?)
- No cell phone (yes, on purpose to be present — regretting that decision deeply mid-sprint)
- Only armed with an oversized iPad, WhatsApp, and raw faith.
Somehow, by grace alone, we reunited, checked bags, printed boarding passes, and made it through TSA again in time. Barely.
Everyone was believing, hoping, running, rushing, and declaring, “Lord, get us there.”
Why the hustle? Because our amazing hosts arranged for us to fly from American Airlines to Cathay Pacific to finally reach Fuzhou. But landing in Dallas wasn’t just a gate transfer — we had to pick up our bags like we were done traveling and start the process over. New airline. New check-in. New prayers.
It was chaotic. It was stressful.
It was exactly what we trained for.
Thanks to our PPPP Framework — we knew this was all part of it. We’re at the mercy of others in travel. That’s why we prepared. That’s why we prayed. That’s why we packed patience. And that’s why, through it all, we kept our presentation intact — no attitudes, no panic, no drama.
The good news: We are now officially on Asian airspace. Hong Kong next stop. Then, finally… FINALLY… Fuzhou.
We’re still traveling. But we’re together. We’re on mission. And we’re one miracle down. I'm on the plane hopeful this group has what it takes to continue to trust Alexias and I on foreign soil.
Stay tuned… the adventure continues.
As always, thank you for partnering with us. In 2025, several student cohorts embarked on life-changing experiences, including Choral Week in Beijing and Fuzhou. Thanks to our partners, many students have already secured passports and visas—milestones that will serve them for years to come. China was a tremendous success, and we are still processing all that has happened.
But these global moments are just the beginning. These students are part of a larger 2025-2026 movement that includes workshops in entrepreneurship, arts, and technology; training in music, business, and media; coaching from industry professionals; and opportunities to lead youth-driven projects through paid internships.
Together, we are shaping the future.