The Sinkhole (Guatemala series)

I had recently returned from my mission trip to Tactic, Guatemala (Impact Ministries) with a team from Harvest Bible Chapel in Davenport. It was an amazing experience that will be hard to truly describe and it has and will continue to take me a while to process.  I did want to record a few of the experiences and share where I was truly challenged, convicted, and moved.  I wrote about four topics that I will post within the next week or so, in order for you to have a glimpse of what God showed me and how I was compelled.

PART 2

The Sinkhole

John 1:5 

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

We were taken to a large cave at the end of steep climb. They called it a sinkhole, and it held a lot of history and spiritual darkness. From the top it looked daunting and proved treacherous as we descended down the narrow and muddy trail reaching into its depths.  It was dim and damp, with the aroma of burnt earth and charred debris.  There were scatterings of fire pits, with candle wax residuals that were once burning.  The feeling of heaviness was palpable but paled in comparison to the lies and deception that the people who journeyed down here were faced. 

They were huddled around the fire, performing a ceremony that called out to the darkness for help.

Many hired witch doctors, with money they didn’t have, selling off what they barely owned to have these men and women perform rituals of blessings, curses, and to help those in need.  This is the only solution these people know.  This is the only way they know.  Their fear compels them, and history repeats itself.

But we know better.  We know the Light in the darkness.  We know who has come to save.  We know the grace and forgiveness that is offered to us without performing rituals or hiring someone to interceded for us.  Those who call on the name of Jesus are gifted with the Intercessor, and He is free. The Holy Spirit indwells, Jesus our Savior died and rose again so that we may have life, and life abundantly.

No matter where we stood in that sinkhole, the light shown in from above.  And we know in scripture that His light will prevail.  Light will find the darkness.  We can never outrun it. We can never hide from it.  Our Lord God is the Victor, and ever knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.  So, let's proclaim it now, interrupting the dark traditions, disrupting a broken heritage of evil. Let our light shine in the dark places…and never be fearful, but equipped with the power and might of the great name of Jesus Christ, with surrender in our hearts and worship on our lips.

Matthew 5: 14-16

You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.


*Special thanks to Dennis Wandera for some of these photos