This morning I left for Guatemala. I was at the airport at 4:30 since my flight left at 6am. With only about 3 hours of sleep at the most, I was at the airport (with help from my Dad of course who dropped me off).
But as I was standing in line, I was remembering when I first went to Guatemala about 5 months ago. I was on a mission trip with 11 other women and we had a big sendoff at our church, at about 6am at the morning. And at the sendoff, we had friends and family there, members of the church, and they were all there to pray over us as we traveled as a team to Guatemala.
However, this time, I was alone. There was no sendoff this morning. Only my Dad dropping me off at the curb before pulling away. And it was just me, heading off on this new adventure.
So, I stood in the check-in line, waiting to check-in my bag and get my boarding pass, when I thought I saw someone.
I yelled… “Nicole!” But she didn’t turn around, and I ended up feeling like an idiot. Her back was to me and I wasn’t so sure if I was seeing correctly, it was only 4:30 in the morning.
I moved up in the line and got closer. She turned her head… “Nicole!” And this time she heard me and said “No Way!”
My friend Nicole, who was in my Small Group before, was standing before me! Nicole has known that I wanted to go to Guatemala and knew I was going. We sent a text to each other this past Easter Sunday saying we should talk about the trip before I left, but we never got the chance to connect. But there she was in front of me. She herself was heading to Cozumel, Mexico for her sister’s wedding. She was on the same flight as me! We were both heading to Houston that morning to catch our connecting flights.
We both laughed and said, wow, God is just showing that he is there.
And if it wasn’t funny enough, she asked what seat I had, and I said 18A – she had 18C. Her friend who was also a bridesmaid for the wedding, accompanying her on her flight was in seat 18B.
I was a bit nervous this morning, knowing I was heading to Guatemala by myself. Although I am meeting with friends and have contacts, this is my first solo trip. How could I not be nervous?
But that nervousness went away when I realized that God would be watching over me… considering he gave me the sign at 4:30 in the morning.
I am in Guatemala now… sitting in the back room of my friend’s internet café. I won’t see him until tomorrow. But I am waiting until his friend Carrie gets off from work where she will meet me at the café at 5-6pm and then from there, we’ll grab something to eat and then head to Julio’s place where I’ll be staying the next two days.
It has been an extremely long traveling day, but I wanted to share with you all the funny story about this morning.
I will also post my observations and thoughts from today a bit later. I’m resting right now and well… it’s been a long day. But I have taken several pictures already, which I’ll share in a bit!!!
For now, Hasta Luego!!
