Florida Boys And the Beach

James arrived in El Salvador while Joey and I were sprawled out comfortably across our luggage waiting for his plane to land.  The reunion was exciting but short lived, as I immediately began asking truck drivers if we could hitch a ride with them.  (Taxis are far too expensive, and buses generally require speedy decisions and a sacrifice of comfort.  The beds of pickup trucks are the way to go!)

The three of us were soon saying ‘goodbye’ to the airport as we watched it disappear in the distance from our new friend’s truck.  Before long, we were dropped off at the corner that would begin our chicken-bus journey for the El Salvadorian coast. 

The Florida boys were beach bound! 

In our most recent trip to Central America, Joey and I stumbled upon the surf town of El Tunco.  Here we made great friendships with some of the locals, surfers and backpackers of the beautiful community.  We watched God touch a number of people who had been previously scarred by religious and specifically ‘Christian’ ideals that were presented in condemnation and judgment, rather than understanding, grace, and love. 

Three months ago, shortly after hearing from God that the 60 Days Walking journey would take place, Joey and I drove out to a local beach to pray for the upcoming trip.  As we prayed, the two of us kept separate notes in our phones of everything we felt God was speaking to us individually, that we may later compare what we heard and confirm all that God had spoken. 

The first question to answer: Where does this trip begin?

Joey and I eagerly compared notes to find that we had both heard and written El Salvador as the starting point for 60 Days Walking. 

The night that Joey and I heard we would be returning to El Salvador, we knew that El Tunco was our destination.  And now, after hours of travel by way of a pickup truck and three over-stuffed chicken buses, I am excited to report that last night the three of us arrived safely in the city, and are looking forward to seeing all that God has planned for this first stop in the 60 Days Walking journey.