Day 1 – Setting Sail from Venice | MSC Opera (Adriatic Cruise)

 Today, we officially set sail from Venice, Italy, embarking on a 7-day journey through the Adriatic aboard the MSC Opera, an Italian-owned cruise line that has clearly refined its process. Everything so far has been seamless and world-class. It's still early, just the first night, so we’ll see how the rest of the week unfolds.

As for the food… it’s decent, but not my thing. I’m not a fan of buffets unless it’s a trusted Chinese buffet and I certainly avoid potluck-style dining. That said, I’ve done my best to find a few enjoyable items The dinner options are much more enjoyable with a great formal setting. Our server was from India, and his colleague, who helped as well, was from Honduras. I connected with her in Spanish, drawing from my past years serving in youth missions in her home country through the Episcopal Church. They were our servers throughout the cruise; the continuity was comforting.

After dinner, Charles suggested a walk by the pool. I agreed and stopped at the poolside bar for an after-dinner cocktail. Amid the many languages floating through the air, I suddenly heard familiar English, Texan dialect, to be exact. Intrigued, I asked if they were from Texas. Sure enough, they were from just outside my hometown and the town of my birthplace. It was a surreal moment: halfway around the world, yet instantly connected by place, culture, and warmth. If we had continued talking, we might have discovered we were distant cousins.

Later, I went to the lounge for a calm and relaxing close to the night. There, I met staff from the Philippines, Georgia, and South Africa. All were incredibly friendly and welcoming. One young South African woman shared an especially touching conversation with me.

She spoke perfect English and told me about her son, Jordan. She named him at age 14 after the Nike sneakers, which caused backlash from her culture and family. But one day, she felt led by God to look up the meaning of the name “Jordan.” She discovered (from her source) that it means “to grow.” She then proudly told me her son is now 19 and studying chemical engineering in college. She no longer associates his name with sneakers; instead, she sees it as a symbol of the growth they’ve shared together.

I listened deeply and then shared my story how my husband and I can’t create life naturally, but we nurture life through our relationships with nieces, nephews, godchildren, and students. I reminded her that the River Jordan and the country of Jordan both hold deep symbolic meaning, and that her son's name speaks to a deeper journey.

We both wiped back tears. Then she told me her surname: King.

I smiled and said, “Like Martin Luther King?”

We both laughed, uplifted in a moment of unity and mutual affirmation