CHICAGO, IL (February 1, 2007) – Some might chalk it up to coincidence, but Vada Johnson and Sheryl Jamerson believe it was God who brought together the two stranded travelers from different parts of the country for an evening of laughter, pizza, and tears of gratitude.
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\nJohnson and her daughter, Jessica, had left Seattle, Washington, on the morning of January 18 and were scheduled to take a connecting flight from Chicago\u2019s O\u2019Hare International Airport to Greenville, South Carolina. They were set to tour Clemson University, where Jessica is considering attending this fall after she graduates from high school.<\/p>\n
Jamerson and her husband, Steve, live in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook and had tried to leave for Greenville the day before, but were rebuffed due to inclement weather in South Carolina. They were making their second attempt, which turned out to be on the same flight as the Johnsons.<\/p>\n
Continuing poor weather forced more delays and harried arrangements to get on another flight. After the four endured several more hours of waiting, that flight also was canceled.<\/p>\n
Johnson had little experience flying and says she was overwhelmed by all the changes. She dreaded a night spent trying to sleep on the floor of the overcrowded airport with thousands of other stranded travelers.<\/p>\n
But, she had begun a casual conversation with Jamerson, who told her not to worry: the couple would gladly put the Johnsons up for the evening. Johnson accepted the offer, explaining \u201cI normally wouldn\u2019t do this, but I was so comfortable with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the four got into the taxi together, however, Johnson said she had second thoughts about going to the house of someone she barely knew. \u201cI prayed, \u2018Please God, give me a sign that I\u2019m doing the right thing.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
Unaware of the silent prayer, Jamerson casually mentioned her church. That led Johnson to ask about the denomination to which the church belonged. Jamerson recalls, \u201cI told her, I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve never heard of it, it\u2019s really small. It\u2019s called the Evangelical Covenant Church.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI absolutely burst out into tears,\u201d says Johnson. She attends Shoreline Covenant Church in Seattle.<\/p>\n
The four spent the evening laughing about how they were brought together, and the Jamersons introduced their new friends to Chicago\u2019s famed Lou Malnati\u2019s deep-dish pizza, a staple of many Chicagoans\u2019 diets.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was not a big deal,\u201d Jamerson says of her offer to house the Johnsons. \u201cIt was just a joyful time, and it was wonderful to see God work.\u201d<\/p>\n
The four were able to get a flight together the next morning.<\/p>\n