Panama 2010 - Day... 13???

Hey Everyone!

       Well, as you all know by now, we are not home in Gig Harbor. For some reason, God wanted us to stay in a 5-Star Hotel last night!

        We are still together, still safe, and still well. The story is that yesterday we made it onto our flight, but something with the gas pump was broken, so we had to exit the plane. It was actually quite funny! We were sitting in our seats, and the flight attendant came on the speaker in Spanish announcing something that most of us didn't understand. But then all of a sudden people stood up and grabbed their bags and we just thought... "uh oh...that's not good!"

      After 4 hours of relaxing in the luxurious Panama City airport, playing cards and napping on the chairs, Continental arranged us to stay in the Veneto Wyndham Grand Hotel, complete with food vouchers for our meals. And this hotel is BEAUTIFUL! I opened the door to my bathroom and angels started singing. Bathroom. From. Heaven.
      So we are safe and well and being very well taken care of. But here is our plan for getting home:

      This afternoon, Sunday, we are taking the 4:30pm flight to Houston. Flight # 1950. We will arrive in Houston at 8:10pm and spend the night in another hotel provided by Continental.

      Monday: We are split into two groups to get home to Seattle. There is a 7:55 am flight and a 5:30pm flight.

      The 7:55 am flight is flight # 167 and will arrive at 10:31 am in Seattle. Here are the people on that flight. The assignments were according to Continental, and we did the best we could to make sure that families were together and that there were adults with the students in each group.

     - Marisa Mason
    - Chris Herron
    - Fran B.
    - Trevor
    - Raleigh
    - Bill
    - Ashley Stakset
    - Ashley Smith
    - Ally B.
    - Joel
    - Jordan
    - Hunter
    - Janna
    - John B.
    - Chandler Mason
    - Kayla Stelle
    - Greg Rurik

The afternoon flight is flight # 667 leaves 5:30 pm and arrives in Seattle at 7:58 pm. Here are the people on that flight:

    - Keegan Amrine
    - Adam Caswell
    - Casie Lively
    - Sarah Brooks
    - Eric B.
    - Julie Elliott
    - Mike Stelle
    - Heather M.
    - Jim Graffe
    - Patti Graffe
    - Bryan Amrine
    - Lillina Amrine
    - Katie Wolff
    - Katlyn L.
    - Eric L.
    - Anna C.
   -  Carin C.

Again, we have been doing our best to stick together and make sure that everyone will get safely home as soon as possible. Continental is being VERY helpful, so rest assured, we are in safe hands.

We will be in touch with you all. If you have any questions, please contact Jill Branham (253) - 377 - 4489. She is our contact person at home, relaying information to you all.

Once we get in the States it will be a lot easier for each person to call home. Until then, keep checking this blog for more information.

Again, we are all safe, and livin' the hi-life here in the hotel! :o)

     Love to you all,

  Heather and the Joel Rurik