Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 The Gomez family minivan zoomed down the interstate toward the airport. Michael's and Dr. Gomez's backpacks, stuffed full for a trip of unknown length, were crammed between the liftgate and the back seat where Michael, Justin, and Sadie sat. "I was hoping I would get to come with you on your next trip," lamented Sadie. Michael had brought only Justin with him on his dad's Dead Sea dig the previous summer, where they had found Merle and Pearl. Michael had promised Sadie she could come the next time.

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"Who knew that our next trip would be in the middle of the school year?" Michael replied. "Maybe if we're still gone during Christmas break, you and Justin can join us then?" "Christmas break?!" Mrs. Gomez called out from the driver's seat. "I certainly hope you won't be gone that long." She turned to Dr. Gomez, sitting in the passenger seat. "Do you think it could be that long?" "I really hope not." He shrugged. One of the benefits of having a dad who was a professor was that Michael could be excused from his classes at Walnut Creek Elementary school for learning trips. Of course, he would still need to keep up with his homework from the road. "We'll help however we can from here," Justin said. "Yeah! We can track you online and do research," Sadie added. "There's an eight-hour time difference, but we can video chat before school in the morning— which will be your afternoon. It'll take some getting used to."

If you've ever wondered how it's possible that at the exact moment you are going to bed at night, another kid on the other side of the planet is just waking up in the morning, it's because the world is round. The earth takes 24 hours to spin around once— that means there are also 24 time zones. Israel happens to be 8 times zones ahead of Tennessee, so when Justin and Sadie were waking up at 7 a.m. in Tennessee, it would be the middle of the afternoon (3 p.m.) in Israel for Michael. And when Michael woke up at 7 a.m. in Israel, it would be 11 p.m. the night before in Tennessee. It can be confusing at first, and one thing's for sure— at some point, somebody's gonna accidentally wake someone else up. Mrs. Gomez pulled the minivan to the curb in the departures lane, and Michael and Dr. Gomez climbed out. Justin and Sadie helped with the backpacks as Jane remained buckled into her car seat.

"We'll be praying for you," Mrs. Gomez said, hugging her son. "And if you're feeling scared or worried about Merle and Pearl, you can also pray and ask God for help." "Thanks, Mom. I will," Michael said as Justin helped him put on his backpack. After a few more hugs and high fives, Dr. Gomez and Michael headed into the terminal.