Chicago was a complete surprise on the day. We had believed to have it on our itinerary when we were setting up the ticket booking in New Zealand, but the rules did not allow it. When we left Seattle we had to pass through Chicago as an airport hub to get to Minneapolis - you actually fly south of Minneapolis but past it on the way to Chicago and then go back up.

So when we left Minneapolis we had to return to Chicago first. They invited us to get off the plane in Chicago and stretch our legs. There was quite a wait and so Michael and I went off to a food court to try and find something to eat. After giving thanks for our food, I was suddenly strongly moved by the Lord to return to the airline desk near our plane.

There were a lot of confused people milling about. Without a full announcement the airline had simply decided to cancel the flight on to New York, and there were some very stressed individuals including an old lady who needed help at the desk. The airline was less than forthcoming. I was quite stunned at the attitude of American businesses in these situations. After quite a wrangle I managed with God's help to get a subsidy on a hotel for the night, and a later booking for the next day.

We took the hotel's shuttle to check in to our room. And after a prayer there believed to head back to the airport on the shuttle and catch a local train into the City of Chicago.

This proved to be an amazing plan of the Lord's making. The sort of thing that you can not see how God has brought to pass when you look back on it .. how does He set these things up!.

Michael sat beside a lady who was reading a book about peace. Eventually he was able to ask her about it. She was a genuine seeker, and was looking into all avenues! <more info from Mike> .

I was standing at first, and moved forward to take a seat when a number of people got off the train. I was sitting beside a young black american. I believed to ask him about his future in the context of trusting and serving Christ.

He was astounded. Just that day he had started his first main job after completing his education. His thoughts were not as he expected them to be. During the day, he said, he had kept remembering the words of his Christian grandfather which had been along the exact same lines as God now had me talking to him. Instead of feeling satisfied at his success in obtaining an excellent job with great prospects, he felt he was not yet about what his life was meant to be.

This was amazing enough to me, but then he asked me if I had noticed the man he had been speaking to before we sat together. I had noticed another young man leave off from talking to my new friend and get off the train.

He was a Christian youth leader, who had also been sharing just moments before with this fellow - calling him to follow Christ as well!

Our time in Chicago was brief, but we were amazed at how God used it fully. We were able to briefly meet and assist people who the economic system there leaves behind. Everywhere we went in the USA we were constantly reminded of Jesus' love for the poor.

The next day we re boarded our AA flight to New York en route to Toronto by Greyhound bus.