Hola! We are officially doing it! We are in Guatemala!!! Crazy to think that after a year of waiting for the World Race to start, we are finally in our first country. It has taken me a while to process things and it has been a “pinch me I must be dreaming” mixed in with a “what in the world was I thinking when I signed up for this” type of feeling. We arrived in Guatemala on Monday and left for our ministry in Chiccaman on Wednesday. Chiccaman is a small mountain village located about 6 hours away from Antigua. My team started our adventure to Chiccaman at 8am, but little did we know God was going to reroute us!
To drive to Chiccaman there are not a lot of routes to begin with. The previous night there was some heavy rain so in one of the routes there was a mudslide. Our driver decided to take another route through one of the villlages. After stopping for a bathroom break, we found out that route number two was no good. The townspeople did not appreciate big trucks and lots of vehicles coming through there, so they decided to put up a road block. CRAZY!! We had three options, go back to Antigua, get a hotel and hope the people open up the road later, or take the last route possible but would lead to more travel time.
Well, 11 hours later, we arrived in Chiccaman. We decided to keep going and take the longer route. What should have been a 6 hour drive turned into an 11 hour one. For almost 9 of those hours, I was feeling sick so this ride was anything but pleasant for me.
As I grumbled in my head about the long hours, God really spoke to me. Often times in life, we want to take a route to get to our destination. We’re doing good when all of a sudden a mudslide comes in and makes us take a step back. We try to control the situation so we take another route. Then, we run into a roadblock. Life is all about control and doing it our way. God shows us, even though it takes longer or it is harder, that there truly is only one way to our destination. That destination being Him. No matter how much we want to push God out of situations or our lives, He remains in control of our lives.
The mudslide was supposed to happen, just like life is sometimes going to get in the way. Road blocks are a reality to our lives. We need to embrace those things, but God is just leading us back to Him. Those 11 hours were a lesson to follow the route God is calling me in. I am very excited that He is showing up here in Chiccaman!
Mija si proud of you?? keeping you in prayer always
Joana,
Great stuff sis wow!
I love your breakdown/unpacking of roadblocks. Even in the book of acts sometimes Satan himself was hindering ministry and other times the Holy Spirit Closed the door.
I know the Lord is going to continue to keep you in step with him, discerning his still small voice saying, “this is the way walk you in it. “
Times to let the Holy Spirit reroute us and other times where we don’t take no for an answer and press through or rip the door off its hinges when it seems shut. “The steps of a good woman are ordered by the lord. ““My times are in your hand “, “a man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps. “ The Lord had David right where he wanted him and the same same with Joana.
Great encouragement sis
I love the life lesson. Thanks for the reminder that road blocks are reality. Follow Gods route! Ox
To me this blog is all about submission. Your early submission to His ways and His plans is sooooooo helpful. Wow, what a beautiful gift to receive early. You being unbothered about these constant redirects are a reflection of your ability to TRUST Him. My girl you are doing it!!!