It was four years ago that Doug came to me and told me he felt God was leading our family to Guatemala.  I will admit to you, I laughed at him.  First of all, a person with a chronic illness move to a third world country?  Second, take my family to Guatemala and disrupt our comfortable life, close by to all of our family and friends.  Everything we believed we needed was right here.

Why would we do that?  Doug didn’t tell me at the time, but he began to pray that God would either change his heart or open my eyes.  He didn’t say anymore to me, but I could see him struggling.  I refused to even pray about it because I thought he was crazy.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Guatemala and we do have family there, but to live there…no way.  I was comfortable visiting once or twice a year and sending money whenever it was needed.

We can do what God wants us to do from right here..safe in my comfortable world.  And so, in time, I began to pray.  And God began to open my eyes and heart.  I eventually realized God wanted us in Guatemala, but I was scared to death.

Before our trip in the summer of 2013, I made a deal with God.  Yes, I know that sounds crazy, but I told Him that I needed to see Him on this trip.

Our very first morning there, I woke up early and was reading my bible and He led me to Genesis 28:15 : “I am with you and will watch over you where you go and I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”  And at that very moment, God opened my heart and took away my fears and showed me where He wanted our family : where He is with us, and He will watch over us and He will NOT leave us because we are here for Him.  To show the people Him, to offer them hope and to show them love…God’s love for them.

I won’t lie, the enemy continues to work on me.  He is constantly trying to put doubt in my mind.  But what is so awesome is that my God continues to be my refuge and He drives out the enemy saying “destroy him!”

I look back and our at our lives and see this beautiful journey that God has graciously let us be part of.  How faithful He has been and how faithful He will continue to be.  His journey for us is so far from over and all I can say is “Wow!”

As the journey continues,

Holly Harrold