Final Day

The coach was scheduled to leave at 5:00 p.m. so I planned to either catch a train to explore the mountains or just stay at the chalet and build a snowman with a few friends. As I was at the breakfast buffet table I started chatting with Ben, the eleven-year-old son of our speaker. He reminded me a little of Jonathan so I enjoyed chatting with him and teasing him. I had also chatted with his parents and sister, Rebekah, a few times during the week. His mom's knee was severely injured on the first day of skiing and she was in the hospital all week, having undergone two surgeries on her knee. I heard earlier in the week that Tessa (pronounced "TEE-sa") would be released from the hospital in time to catch the coach back to England. I asked Ben how she was doing and he said she now wouldn't be discharged until Tuesday. I asked how she would be getting back home and he said his dad was on the phone with the insurance company and they were going to try to have a friend from England flown down to fly back with her as John was unable to remain in Switzerland. I found a scrap of paper and a pen, wrote a quick note indicating that I had no commitments in England and was available to remain in Switzerland to escort Tessa back to England when she was ready, and placed the note in front of John while he was on the phone. The insurance representative had to look into details as the policy only covered a family member as a non-medical escort, but they were willing to consider it as using me was an easier option than flying someone from England.

John, Ben, and Rebekah planned to travel to Interlaken to visit Tessa so John suggested I accompany them to learn the route to reach the hospital in case I was approved as an escort for Tessa. This was also Ben and Rebekah's first time visiting their mom in the hospital and Ben was particularly nervous about seeing her unwell. I was so thankful that God had me in a place to be readily available to help their family and I didn't hesitate to give up my plans for the day to accompany them. I had a great time visiting with the kids as we travelled to the hospital and John told me he was grateful for the distraction and assistance as he was so preoccupied with both his wife's health as well as health concerns with extended family back home.

The insurance company called us along the way to notify us that I had been approved as a non-medical escort but when we walked into Tessa's hospital room she announced that the doctor said she could be discharged today! We visited with her for a little while and I returned to Lauterbrunnen with the kids as John waited to escort Tessa back to the chalet later in the afternoon. John gave us money to stop at a bakery in Interlaken to spoil ourselves with some treats along the way.


The sun was shining and the mountains were glistening with snow. A beautiful final day in the Swiss Alps and I had a great time hanging out with Rebekah and Ben. John and Tessa are Americans who have been living in England for eighteen years. I've been asked to come and visit their family in Cornwall and I've been promised a big, home-made hamburger... I think I just may have to make the trip sometime.

Some shots from Rebekah's camera... not sure I was the most mature choice to bring the kids back to Lauterbrunnen but we arrived at the chalet safely and we certainly had fun along the way.

Me and Ben walking through Lauterbrunnen.