ROAD TRIP: Guatemala, Mexico, USA Day Five "Blazing Through the US"

3000 miles | 54 drive hours | 3 countries | 5 days

Day One: Guatemala City, Guatemala to

San Cristobal, Las Casas Mexico

Day Two: San Cristobal Las Casas Mexico to

Puebla Mexico

Day Three: Puebla Mexico to

Matehuala, San Luis Potosi

Day Four: Matehuala, San Luis Potosi

to San Antonio, Texas

Day Five: San Antonio, Texas

to Middletown, Ohio 

After finally maneuvering the van through thousands of waiting cars, we pulled into the "Inspection Area" and began a conversation with the Immigration Agent.

Agent: "Is this your van?" Me: "Yes sir, it is." Agent: "You're a US Citizen and you own a van in Guatemala?" Me: "Yes sir, that is correct." Agent: "You drove all the way from Guatemala?" Me: "Yes sir, that is correct." Agent: "Guatemala is a long way to drive." Me: "Yes it is."

Agent: "This is your van?" Me: "Yes, it is my van." Agent: "What is your destination?" Me: "I'm driving to Ohio." Agent: "Ohio is a long way." Me: "Yes, it is." 

Agent: "Why are you driving to Ohio?" Me: "My wife and kids are there visiting her mother. I am joining them."

Agent: "Why do you have so much stuff?" Me: "It is all low value, and it is only personal items for family and kids."

Agent: "You're driving from Guatemala to Ohio?" Me: "Yes." Agent: "It is a very long drive from Guatemala to Ohio." Me, "Yes it is."

Agent: "Why would you want to drive all the way from Guatemala to Ohio?" Me: "It's something that I've always wanted to do, and you only live once."

Agent: "Thank you and have a nice day sir."

After all our worry over the paperwork for the dogs, the agent didn't even ask to see it. The turtles rested safely in the floorboard in a Pops Brand Ice Cream Container. All the way from Guatemala to the US we had only a single police inspection. We had no mechanical issues, and no accidents.

After pulling out of San Antonio (and seeing the Alamo), I had no idea how long we'd drive until we'd rest for the final night. We decided to take it city by city. And so, we passed through: Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, and continued past: Nashville, Louisville, and finally Cincinnati. Our final day hit the road at 10:30 AM and continued until we reached Middletown, Ohio the next morning at 9:00 AM, twenty-two and a half hours.

I'm a bit tired tonight, for sure. Even so, the drive is done. I lost count of the cans of Coke Zero, cups of coffee, chewed three packs of gum, ate a bag a pan de agua from San Martin, and a big bag of pretzels. I listened to Mexican music, pop music, praise music, and talk radio. 

We drugged dogs, watered dogs, fed dogs, walked dogs, and even at times hid dogs. Bark, bark, bark.

The time spent on the road was perfect, blessed, and worth every second. Next time, me and my Uncle Stephen will have to find a longer drive... maybe Panama?

Thank you for your prayers! God heard, and God blessed our travels. I give thanks that He has honored our faithful steps.

ROAD TRIP: Guatemala, Mexico, USA Day Four: "GOD BLESS TEXAS"

God always speaks to me, and sometimes I listen. 

So often people say to me that God just isn't speaking to them. But Jesus said that people who have ears should hear Him, and people who have eyes should see Him (Mt 11:15; Mk 4:9). Paul wrote that God has revealed Himself to us since the beginning of time, through creation (Rm 1:18-30) and Moses wrote that the word of God is never out of our reach, but is in our hearts and words (Dt 30:11-14).

Who are we to say that God is silent? He speaks to us constantly in the world He created. By His words, He spoke creation into existence. Certainly, the action of speaking words from our own mouths is evidence of His image imprinted on us.

Yes, God speaks to me always, and sometimes I listen.

I stood at the base of this cathedral in San Antonio, Texas this evening, reflecting not only on the path that led us through Mexico, but the greater path that has landed my family in this place of obedience as we've listened to the voice of God. 

As I sat beside my uncle at the US border at Laredo, I expressed to him a declaration that had been unspoken and held in my heart.

"You know, I can say from deep inside my heart that we are running from nothing. Everything in Guatemala was being blessed. Our identity as missionaries had been solidified and we had a clear plan of moving forward: with the church, and with the mission. 

With everything that is in us, we run towards the voice of God. He has prepared us for this moment. While it seems hard to understand why we would go when things seem to be better than they've ever been.

But, I know without doubt that this is our call, and so while some might think we run from Guatemala, we use it as a platform to run towards our continued call."

Tonight was such an affirmation of that call as Stephen and I walked along the River Walk of San Antonio. It is no mistake that this was my third time here. 

The first was in 1992 when I was here with Towne Boulevard Church of God, Towne Teens for the International Youth Convention (IYC). Kellie and I were dating and that week was a time of direction for us; both as a couple, and also in our spiritual walk. I remember the call of God on our lives at that time. We knew that He had a plan for us together.

Then we returned in 2012 when we travelled for missionary orientation with Commission to Every Nation before moving to Guatemala as full time missionaries. Again our faith was affirmed and shaped as we began to understand God's call on our collective life.

And now, in 2016 I walk these sidewalks alongside the water, contemplating how this ground now guides me along familiar paths, again with the future spread in front of me and Kellie, each time here like fresh assurance of the days to come.

This is a time of peace in my heart. Through days that many fear are full of uncertainty, I walk with a calm assurance that I have not felt for some time. It isn't such a mystery though... I know that I walk with God. And even though Kellie is now on the road, traveling with her family and our kids to Niagra Falls for a few days of rest... I know that she is right beside me in this walk. 

I also give Him thanks for our children who share this same fearless spirit. It is no mistake that we are called here, for such a time as this. Even as I type in the hotel room with the glow of the television, I here the steady breathing of my uncle in the other bed beside me and I am reminded that God provides exactly what and who we need... when we walk in His path.

Since our separation from Antony (our lifeline), who helped us navigate the Guatemala/Mexico Border and multiple police checkpoints, our progress through Mexico was absolutely providential. Tuesday through Thursday we were stopped at only two checkpoints, one waiving us through, and the other ordering us to pull to the right... but I continued driving forward, and the soldier allowed us to pass. 

We drove through three other checkpoints that were unmanned, or where we witnessed the officials simply walking away as we approached. Our path was unobstructed at ever turn. The drive through Mexico was simple and easy.

There simply is no better place to be on earth, than walking beside our God. The drive continues tomorrow as we begin to head east across these United States, continuing to listen to the words that God speaks.

ROAD TRIP: Guatemala, Mexico, USA Day Three: "Two Gringos, Two Dogs, Two Turtles."

I keep falling asleep. It is ten after 1:00 AM and the soothing sound of the a/c in the hotel room is knocking me out. It has been a long day of driving.

Around 650 miles today, heading north towards Laredo, Texas, we saw crazy sights, and took the van off the highway and down into the ditch line to avoid protestors who blocked the highway. 

All humans, dogs, and turtles are still alive, healthy, and accounted for... praise to God. Thursday should be a short dive to the border at Laredo, and then beyond. San Antonio looks like the perfect place.

God has been with us. Thank you for your prayers. His world is beautiful. 

ROAD TRIP: Guatemala, Mexico, USA Day Two: "The Parting of Antony."

Our group of three left the room in San Cristobal Las Casas at 7:00 this morning, taking Remus and Sirius to the park for some green space. Afterwards we had omelets at a quaint little bistro on the sidewalk, finishing the meal with a perfect cup of espresso.

With the van idling on the side of the street, a quick hug and a back-pat... Stephen and I drove away leaving one of the most loyal men I've ever met on the sidewalk behind us. With some extra cash in his pocket and my Guatemalan SIM card, Antony became smaller and smaller in my rear-view mirror as  our two year walk together on God's path diverged.

As difficult as it was to step into separate directions, I was also comforted to know that Antony is a soul anointed by God, and I have no doubt that his walk will be mighty. My family is working to see him soon in the US.

Stephen and I made our way north towards the coastline, and then turned west before making our way through flatlands, and then back through mountains before reaching our destination for the night, Pueblas, Mexico.

We found a Holiday Inn that was willing to house the dogs for the night, and we again smuggled the turtles into the room. Tomorrow is day three as we begin our approach towards Laredo, Texas.

Tonight while laying in bed, I purchased US auto insurance for the Polar Bear (the van), verified dog import procedures with the CDC website, and reviewed again the process of exiting Mexico with vehicle intact and bond deposit secured.

With all done for now that can be done, I lay my head on the pillow thinking of the scenery of the drive today: massive bridges, bodies of water, windmills, rainbows, snow-crested mountains, and warm sunsets.

After some rest, we'll wake to take on day three. We'll either make it across the border into the US, or we may stop close. Time will tell. We give thanks to God for his providence. We give thanks to God that we can walk in His way.

ROAD TRIP: Guatemala, Mexico, USA Day One: "There is a Turtle Over Here."

To so many of you who prayed for our journey today, here is how the day ended, me with my mouth stuffed full, between two of the most incredible friends in the world, at our intended stopping point, San Cristobal, Las Casas, Mexico.

When my alarm went off at 2:30 AM, Kellie popped out of bed before me, to go downstairs and brew our final pot of coffee in Guatemala. The previous day was our final day of goodbyes, with friends stopping by, hugs and gifts exchanged, and emotions stacked higher than our suitcases.

With our two dogs, Remus and Sirius loaded in the van, along with their required paperwork, Stephen, Antony, and myself hit the dark roadways and made our way out of the city, through Chimaltenango, heading north towards Huehuetenango, and towards the border crossing of Mesia, Mexico.

There were two memorable phrases spoken today, both by my uncle Stephen: (1) "I hear water running," and (2) "There's a turtle over here."

We were driving in the cold, dark, high altitude air of Tecpan when the first phrase broke the soothing hum of the tires on the open roads, "I hear water running," Stephen said. I asked, "Is the five gallon jug busted?" Suddenly we all shared awareness as we heard the sounds of Sirius, our smallest Schnauzer, puking inside of his dog kennel. Ironically, shortly thereafter, it was the sound of water running again as we poured from the five gallon water jug to rinse out dog vomit on the side of the highway.

The second occurred at our stop at the border, where we all nervously approached our first checkpoint, complete with military security, to gain our exit stamp from Guatemala. Our navigation was mobile phone based and my charger had inexplicably stopped charging. After gaining our stamps with little resistance and amazing assistance from Antony, we saw a man selling cell phone chargers on the side of the road.

This was the moment when I heard in a bewildered voice, "There's a turtle over here." He seemed a bit startled. He later said, "I wondered where a Red-Eared Slider would have come from." In that moment of his surprise, I had to confess, "Um, that's Caleb's. Do you perhaps see another... there were two."

This water started out clear this morning.  

Thankfully both turtles were recovered unharmed and I am relieved to report that all the Shep family pets: Remus, Sirius, Anakin, and Luke are safe with us in the hotel room tonight.

Tomorrow Stephen and I will continue our trip north as Antony enjoys an additional day and night here Las Casas before taking the tour bus back to Guatemala. His help has been as immeasurable and valuable as both his friendship and our families love.

We are so thankful to have found a hotel that offered secure parking for our van (in the corner) and is also dog friendly. The turtles were smuggled in,
inside my backpack.

Our target tomorrow is a 480 mile, 9 hour drive to Puebla, Mexico, just east of Mexico City, placing us over halfway through Mexico. Antony helped me get a Mexican SIM card for my phone and we have internet loaded, so the plan is to provide updates along the way. We appreciate your continued prayers that we remain within the path that God sets for us. There is no better place to be than in His will.

Goal: 480 miles to Pueblo by nightfall