From MCO to Athens: Delays, Laughs & the Start of Something Beautiful

The journey begins with a test of patience, unity, and divine timing.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Our journey to Greece officially began with an 8:00 AM meetup at Orlando International Airport (MCO)—but for many of us, the trip started long before that. Some of my fellow SEU cohort members had to travel from all over the country: Puyallup, WA; Knoxville, TN; Lutz, FL; McKinney, TX; Harrisburg, PA; Kalispell, MT; Ocala, Palm Bay, Lakeland, and the greater Orlando area. It took commitment—leaving behind families, jobs, and day-to-day responsibilities—to say “yes” to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Greece alongside incredible professors and peers.

As we know, we can make plans, but God always gets the last laugh.

We expected a smooth check-in at MCO, a flight to Canada, and a 6-hour layover in Toronto—long enough to stretch but not enough to explore. But once we landed in Canada, the plot shifted. A delay pushed our flight back by an hour, so we grabbed a sit-down meal and settled in.

Then came the gate shuffle—hot potato style—as multiple flights adjusted due to weather delays. By the time we were told our new boarding time was 10:00 PM, the mood had changed. And just when we thought we were ready, another delay struck. This time: engine updates.

With uncertainty in the air, we were given meal vouchers and began wondering if we’d be spending the night in Canada. But just before midnight, we got the exciting news—we were cleared to fly. Fastest boarding ever! We were all seated and ready by 1:00 AM.

As Professor Jones said, this was truly a test of patience for many of us.

But even through the delays and shifting schedules, a beautiful thing happened—we started becoming a family. We laughed, talked, shared stories, and settled into the rhythm that would carry us through Greece: showing up, together.

✈️ Our flight to Athens lasted about 9 hours, and we landed around 5:00 PM EEST. Customs was smooth—many of us received our first passport stamps, which made the moment extra special.

We were picked up in style by a private coach bus and headed straight to the Greek Bible College, our home for the next few weeks. After dropping off our bags, we took our first walk together to a nearby Greek restaurant, known for local street food.

🍽️ Our first meal in Greece was shared family-style: fresh salads, grilled meats, and flavors that exploded with authenticity. The table was full—and so were our hearts. We finished off with a delicious dessert and of course, we honored Professor Lawson’s tradition with a trip for ice cream!

Our first night was beautiful and grounding—just what we needed to begin adjusting to the 7-hour time difference.

So begins the adventure. Stay tuned as each member of our cohort shares reflections from each day.

➡️ Next stop: Corinth & Epidaurus!

🌹Samantha Kirkland🌹