The first time I met Engel was in our school library. It’s safe to say our story began to unfold among shelves of books, within those quiet, focused spaces where imagination is born. Looking back, I see how those countless hours and our shared history laid the foundation for the greatest adventure we’ve ever undertaken.
Our three sons are avid readers. There is a profound satisfaction in seeing them engrossed in a book, their minds traveling to other worlds while their bodies stay in our realm. To keep that momentum alive, we frequent libraries across our island. These outings have become "mini road trips" sprinkled with rewards. For the boys, the ultimate prize is coming home with six books each: the maximum allowed. It is their version of "maxing out a card," an investment measured in stories rather than cents.
The Seed of a Dream
In 2018, Engel and I took his #12minconvos podcast on the road, driving across 48 states and Canada in 80 days. We often shared those stories with our children, eventually realizing we didn’t just want to tell them about the experience—we wanted to pique their curiosity and satisfy it by seeing. We wanted to show our boys that "Dreams, like books, can take you anywhere."
However, planning for a family of five is a different dance. Our original map included Canada to visit our friend Everold Reid and surprise my nephews, but as the proverbial saying goes, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). Despite our best efforts, the Canadian visa didn't arrive in time. We were all disappointed, but we had to trust that God is the Boss with the Master Plan.
The Leap of Faith
I am the one who errs on the side of caution, and Engel is the one who moves with a spirit of urgency. We found our common ground in what we internally called our "Legacy Project." Based on his expense calculations, 21 states was what our budget could sustain and it was a "safe trek" to test the boys' resilience before eventually tackling all 48 contiguous states. Plus, 12 is Engel’s favourite number, so aiming for 21 states in 12 days felt like destiny.
I will never forget the series of "firsts" that unfolded before our eyes. My heart was full as I watched our children confidently navigate the bustling airport terminal and their faces lighting up with the powerful roar of the takeoff. It was a sound that signaled the start of their own global story. They managed the long flight hours with an individual maturity that surprised us, and even the jolt of a rough landing was met with wide-eyed excitement rather than fear. Did they travel in some previous life we weren’t aware of?
Their expressions said everything when we finally stepped onto U.S. soil. It was the look of dreams shifting from the pages of a book into the reality of their own lives. They were no longer just reading about the wider world; they were finally standing in it.
Back in Trinidad, a one-to-two hour drive takes you from one end of the island to the next. Here, the very roadway was wide, well-paved, and seemingly endless. Even the air felt different; America simply smells different. Our sons, who are fascinated by cars, were blown away by the myriad of sizes, makes, and models. Just choosing the rental car was an immersive experience for them.
Iron Sharpening Iron
Our first stop was Florida, our home away from home, staying with our dear friends Mckenzley and Alicia Cox. Mckenzley’s life is a living testament to pursuing a vision. Years ago, before migrating to become a pilot, Engel was skeptical of the magnitude of the decision. Mckenzley was resolute and in the end Engel lightly said to him, "Send me a pair of sneakers when you make it big."
Mckenzley didn't just make it; he flourished. And yes, he delivered the shoes.
Watching Engel and Mckenzley take an early morning walk, I saw a real-life example of “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). Two friends, 25 years later, still dreaming and supporting one another. Alicia, a powerhouse in her own right, provides the raw, unfiltered truth we so appreciate. She is real. Their combined concern for us and the kids’ stamina was the reality check that helped us prepare our mental aptitude and necessary resources for the road ahead.
There is a comparable difference between the quiet girl who met her boyfriend in a library and the woman I’ve become. Here I am with Engel, venturing down an interstate at 65mph with three boys, guided by a GPS. In the moments of technical failure and the uncertainty of where would sleep each night, I am reminded that man-made signals may drop, but God’s direction is constant. We’ve had to surrender our need for control and look to Him as our ultimate Navigator. I’ve realized that significant growth doesn't happen in the quiet comfort zones; it happens in the stretches, the pivots, and the moments where you have no choice but to let the Holy Spirit lead the way.
3 Lessons from the First 900 Miles
1. True Nourishment Comes from Community
We’ve experienced blessings that were handwritten by God but delivered through others:
Family: We were reminded that the most valuable part of any journey isn’t the miles on the odometer, but the hearts we connect with along the way. Cousin Marcia surprised us with a visit before we left Florida and gave a generous blessing of $100 for the road. The true gift, however, was the introduction of her daughter, Maya. Nothing beats an in-person encounter. Seeing our boys finally meet their cousin for the first time made the world feel a little smaller and our family tree a little stronger.
Legacy: Mckenzley’s gifted Jahaziel a stylish new pair of sneakers. This was more than just a kind gesture; it was a physical manifestation of a 25-year-old promise. Even though it was jokingly said at the time, Mckenzley has proven that his word is his bond. Seeing our son benefit from a seed of friendship planted long before he was even born was a great lesson in loyalty. It showed our boys that “A man who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Those shoes carried the weight of a legacy, proving that when you build on a foundation of integrity, the blessings eventually reach your children.
Support: We ventured into new territory by setting up a "Buy Me a Coffee" page. It was something entirely new for us, and we didn’t know what to expect or if anyone would truly connect with our mission. But God showed us that when He gives a vision, He also provides the "fuel" literally. A past podcast guest named Anastasia, who has evolved from a listener into a dear supporter and friend, became one of our first donors. Seeing the notifications come in was a humbling reminder: our journey is made rich not just by the miles we cover, but by the community that chooses to walk (and drive) it with us.
2. Embrace the Imperfections
We pulled into Best Buy with a clear mission: find a dedicated camera. From our previous 48-state journey, we knew the struggle of asking a phone to be both a cinematographer and a navigator. It’s a delicate dance that usually ends in "storage full" warnings or the dreaded overheating screen that leaves you stranded without a GPS route in the middle of an interstate.
We found the perfect equipment, but we didn’t have the "perfect" budget to match. We walked out empty-handed, choosing to move forward with what we already possessed. Sure enough, the heat came, the phones glitched, and the GPS cut out, but instead of letting frustration take the wheel, we adapted. We were reminded of Exodus 4:2, where God asks, "What is that in your hand?" We realized that we didn't need the most expensive lens to capture a move of God. We learned to release the idol of IG perfection and trust that the story being written in our lives was far more important than the equipment used to record it.
3. The Power of Perspective
Even in a 900-mile sprint, you must breathe. We had carefully plotted our library stops as an evolution of our ritual back home, and though we arrived at our first location a bit earlier than planned, the "wait" became a gift. As we stepped out to walk the streets of Savannah, Georgia, we were treated to a landscape of charm: stylish storefronts, horse-drawn carriages, and a deep sense of history.
When the doors finally opened, our expectations were exceeded. The Savannah Public Library and the Charleston County Public Library delivered more than just a place to work; they offered beauty, quiet, and a warm welcome from friendly strangers. However, the most profound "page" we read that day wasn't in a book.
We became acutely aware of the library as a sanctuary for the unhoused. It provides a warm, free space to stay during harsh weather and essential resources like Wi-Fi for job searches and housing applications. More importantly, it offers social inclusion, reducing isolation and connecting people with community services. It reminded us that the library is the living heart of a community; a place where everyone, regardless of their journey, can find a quiet space to exist. It was a humbling reminder of Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
Day 1 proved that we could handle the "stretch." We had navigated through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. We were progressing on our goal, our sons were tired but inspired, and our hearts were full. Day 1 proved that while we might not have the "perfect" gear or the "perfect" plan, we have a perfect Guide.
Will you join us for Day 2?
