Gracee's Big Adventure Takes Off and Then Slows Down

From reading our itinerary you might have expected us to be settling into our hotel in Beijing, but not quite. We are settling into 'our' hotel--but it is in Toyko, Japan (a few miles to the east of our intended destination.) We were preparing for takeoff in Detroit when we heard a bang from outside the plane; fortunately the pilots heard it too (a warning light went off in the cockpit) and everything slowed down at that point. We stayed out on the tarmac, moving very slowly back toward the gate. Mechanics inspected the plane and told the pilot the plane shouldn't move anymore with passengers on board. The actuator on the front landing gear had broken--sounded serious and apparently it was. So after an hour or so we deplaned--the old fashioned way--down stairs and walked across the tarmac into the terminal. While we were less than enthused with the delay, we are grateful to God that the problem with the landing gear was 'discovered' before we took off. We finally left Detroit, on another 747 at 7:45 pm (some five hours later than we planned). Given that turn of events, we missed our connecting flight to Beijing (out of Toyko). So that is why we are spending the first (or is it the second?) night of Gracee's Big Adventure in Toyko. We depart this fine city on the 22nd at 10:25 am on a Japan Air Lines flight. We know you're praying and we are grateful! (But we are really wondering who prayed for us to visit Japan on this adventure.) Blessings from the Orient! [POST DELAYED DUE TO NO INTERNET CONNECTION IN TOKYO.][Time and date shown on post is Japan time zone.]