Travel Day to Guatemala
Before I begin writing about the travel day to Guatemala, I want to write a little side note. I know that I wrote a Launch Part 1..so that calls for a Launch Part 2. I am in the process of writing Launch Part 2, but I don’t know when I will post it because God did a mighty work in my heart one night at launch. I want to share it with all of you but parts of it are deeply personal and I’m having a hard time finding the right words to express it with you. I received a great freedom from some bondage that was trying to hold me down. Satan lost a foothold that night, not just on my life but on many others. Praise be to God! So that’s my side note, there will be a Launch Part 2, but just not yet.
We flew into Guatemala City with the view of beautiful forest filled mountains. It seemed like a dream! All I could say was “We are in Guatemala!” Once we got our bags we headed out on four 15 passenger vans that are called microbuses. We had an additional van for all of our big packs. And oh man was this van jammed full of luggage! The bus driver barely had any room to drive and I was afraid the tires would hit the wheel wells!
As we began our four hour drive to our ministry side, I was quickly introduced to how different the “rules of the road” are. Drivers constantly honking and passing at alarming speeds while leaving only six inches between their vehicle and ours. I don’t know how many times I grabbed the “OH CRAP!” handle. It was quite the experience and by the grace of God we survived.
Once we were only 30 minutes from our ministry site traffic came to a complete stop. We found out that there was a sink hole and it took out a huge portion of the road, and washed it down a 1000 foot cliff. Our hearts broke because we also learned that five people lost their lives due to the accident. We prayed on the side of the road for the victim’s and their family’s for God’s amazing peace and comfort would overcome them. It was an experience that unified our team even more and we praised God for His protection over us.
While we were waiting we found this church that was right beside where our vans were stopped. Immediately as we walked inside we could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. There was a man playing the piano and a woman singing. She had a beautiful voice and we could tell her love for the Lord. In between one of her songs she began to speak…I don’t know what she was saying exactly, but she was speaking with conviction. We could tell it was all for the Lord, because never once did she open her eyes. In that moment I realized that I am not on the World Race to bring God TO these people, but God is already HERE! He has called me to come alongside what He is doing in this place and it is beautiful. Even in the wake of tragedy, we can gather together as brother and sisters in Christ to give praise and thanks to the Lord. I am so blessed that the Lord called me to be a part of the crazy adventure. I want to challenge you though. Where is God calling you to come alongside with what He is doing? He has given each and everyone of us a gift and passion for something. How are you using that passion to bless people and further the Kingdom of God?
After a couple hour delay we were able to pass around the sink hole and get to our ministry site-Agape in Action, in Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala. The property was beautiful and we were spoiled with the news that we didn’t have to sleep in our tents but could sleep in the dorms! We were all super thankful for that news because the field where we were supposed to sleep was flooded, as it normally is in monsoon season. After a long day of traveling it was nice to end the day with a hot shower and a warm bed.
