SchrockTribe: Oh Beautiful for.....

On the 3^rd of July our family has had the tradition of celebrating the 4^th. We have attended the Village Northwest Celebration for as long as my kids can remember. This year was a bit different though because of our location in Guatemala. BUT, God has a sense of humor as we again celebrated the 4^th on the 3^rd. Do to schedules we celebrated a day early.

The staff at PBM was invited for a good old fashion picnic and fireworks. We enjoyed grilled burgers, potato salad, fruit, and cake and ice cream. The finale was an amazing fireworks display lite by Mr. Dan Smith. We had a good night. I was reminded of our nations independence. But more importantly I was reminded of my right to nothing. I have no right to independence, no right to a beautiful home, and no right to worship my Savior without threat. Yet, my Heavenly Father placed me in Iowa to experience all of these as a norm. Thank you Jesus for your grace on my family and I.

The 4^thof July~ Our family decided to go on an adventure and to visit Lake Atitlan, the 4th most beautiful place in the world according to National Geographic. After riding on some difficult roads about two hours into our trip we came to a river and the bridge was gone. HMMMMM what to do? We’ve foraged rivers before but never with just one vehicle and our kids in tow. What to do? Just then a truck came and crossed the river with no difficulty. So we crossed . . . without incident . . . On with our adventure!

About 2 ½ hours into our trip Justin and I began to question if we were actually on the right road. As we continued on we came around a corner and the lake was there in all of its glory! We passed through a small town and then found an amazing overlook where we could have or picnic! God is Good!

We then got back in our big van and continued on to Panajachel. We found a beautiful national reserve that we were able to hike to a butterfly house, see monkeys swing in the trees, and even spend a few minutes observing God’s amazing beauty displayed in the lake.

Of course there was adventure in this part of our trip too. Naomi is 3 years old and as independent as can be! She would not hold Justin’s hand as we crossed the swinging bridges, now before you think she fell, keep reading!. About 15 feet into the first bridge Naomi’s foot got caught and her beautiful pink and grey tennis shoe fell to the bottom of the ravine. Well, its not the shoe that you should worry about, its Justin and I cause now we have an independent 3 year old, with no shoe and the need to be carried on this adventure.

About 30 minutes later Naomi was riding on my back and she said into my right ear, “I’m naughty Mommy.”

I responded with , “Why?”

“Cause I lost my shoe.”

I calmly said, “Oh, it was an accident, we can’t change it. You are not naughty!”

As I continued up the path I could hear two things, my heart beating in my ears (cause of the high elevation . . . um Riiiiight) and my God speaking to me. HE said, “Vicki sometimes there are things in life that you can’t change and yet you shame yourself for them. Please let it go and just let me carry you up the mountain.”

How many times do I need to learn this lesson?

As we finished our day we spoke with a family (in English!) about the best way to go home, he told us a ‘better’ route and we thought, what have we got to lose? Yeah, the way home was much smoother and less adventurous. As a family we grabbed some fast food for supper in Chimaltenango and continued on our way home.

You know the time when you round the corner and your drive way is in sight and you reflect on your day and think. . . that was a good day. We almost made it to that point. But hold on, our adventure isn’t over J Right before the fork in the road there is a pickup loaded with firewood. I mean loaded. The rear axle is broken and there is no moving this truck and there is no going around it either. Now what? We are sooooo close to home. God’s provision is so great we can’t even comprehend it most of the time. Estuardo, a fellow missionary with us, so happened to be right behind us on our way home (so happened J ). After a few minutes of deliberating of what to do cause we have 6 kids, 3 gas tanks, 2 propane tanks, 1 man in a wheelchair, it was decided we call Estuardo’s son to drive up the road and pick us up. But, that would mean moving all of the previous items past the broken down truck into another van and then, we would park the vehicles up the road a bit and walk back . . . IN THE DARK. Just when we think, oh that was a good day, God says “Oh, you are on MY adventure!”

We pray your day brings you adventure and you can find joy in HIS plan for your life!

~Vicki