Intermissions Conference 2025

Every year on the last weekend in February we attend the Intermissions Conference.  It is held at Porta Hotel del Lago overlooking beautiful Lake Atitlan in Panajachel. The conference is designed for English speaking evangelical missionaries living and working in Guatemala. It is a time for worship, fellowship, networking, encouragement, and rest.  We love attending and look forward to it every year.

 

Our family leaving out on Friday afternoon driving to the lake.

 

Before checking in, we walked down to the lake to take some photos.

 

Those are volcanoes in the background.

 

 

 

Our program for the weekend.

  

Our speaker was Dr. Steve Moore from Portland, Oregon. Worship was led by Avenue Church in Waxahachie, TX.  We had a preschool team from Scottsdale Bible Church in Scottsdale, AZ. Lastly, the children and youth were led by additional members from Avenue Church. 

Our boys loved their youth leaders and said it was one of their favorite conferences ever.  That is always good for a parent to hear.

 

The conference also provides breakout sessions, counseling sessions, a book exchange, and coffee breaks to catch up with friends or to meet new ones.

 

Intermissions is special to our family and each one who attends.  We are thankful for this yearly event that fills us up in so many ways. 

 

Our Friday night coffee and dessert fellowship time included a fire.

 

The beautiful views on Saturday morning.

 

 

Ben headed out to class.

 

Saturday evening sunset.

 

During the conference we always have a time to remember those who have passed away in the last year.  We also recognize those who will be leaving the field before the next conference.  This year the Stones were recognized for their nearly forty years of missionary service and prayed over for their upcoming retirement.  Their plan is to retire in early May 2025.  The conference will never be quite the same to us without them.

 

The kids having fun in the pool.

 

 

How many boys can you fit in a hot tub?   Apparently many.  We are thankful for a great group of boys that our boys got to hang out with all weekend long.  What a blessing!

 

I never take many photos at the conferences.  I always go with big intentions but never end up doing it. We have many wonderful memories though that carry us through the whole year and make us eager for the following year's conference.  

 

If you serve in Guatemala and have not been attending, make plans now for the 2026 conference.  The dates are February 20-22, 2026.  We would love to see you there!!!

Our 28th Wedding Anniversary

On April 27 we celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary.  This year we decided to celebrate at beautiful Lake Atitlan in Panajachel, Guatemala.

 

Our wedding day

April 27, 1996

 

On the drive to the lake, we stopped for lunch at KFC in Tejar and picked up a dozen donuts from Dunkin for our anniversary dessert.  I love donuts!

 

 

Dunkin Donuts in Tejar, Guatemala

 

 

Yum!

 

The view from our Airbnb at Torres de Atitlan in Panajachel.  On a clear day you would have beautiful views of the volcanoes.

 

anniversary morning photo from our balcony

 

We enjoyed a delicious breakfast for two.

 

Torres de Atitlan in Panajachel, Guatemala

 

 

view of the grounds

 

There were flowers everywhere.  I took photos of a few of them.

 

 

 

View of the pier and Lake Atitlan

 

 

 

 

 

 

For lunch we went into town to eat pizza at Circus Bar. 

Our anniversary lunch

 

We spent time that afternoon sitting on the pier and watching the boats pass by.

 

 

Lake Atitlan

 

David and the boys enjoyed swimming in the pool.

 

We played a lot of cards during our time there.

 

 

I love fireworks!  I was excited to see some on our anniversary night.  We actually got to see two different firework displays, most likely from weddings taking place at the lake.  

 

 It was a perfect ending to our day!

 

 

The view on Sunday morning was the clearest of all but still hazy.  You can see an outline of one of the volcanoes in the distance.  Our favorite part of the getaway was sitting on the balcony, drinking coffee, talking, and soaking in the views.  It was fun, relaxing, and peaceful.

 

 

A video of the waterfall as we drove up the mountain leaving town. 

We enjoyed a simple, quiet celebration.  In this busy season of life, it was wonderful to stop and relax for a short while. I am thankful for another year of life together. 

 

 

  

"True love is spending one day getting married,

and the rest of your life feeling glad you did."

My Birthday 2024

My birthday is February 25.  This year, like many years in the past, it fell during the annual Intermissions Conference.  I woke up in Panajachel, Guatemala seeing gorgeous views of Lake Atitlan.  I was surrounded by precious missionary friends who gave me many hugs and birthday wishes.  I was serenaded many times with the "Happy Birthday" song, and one of those times was on the marimba.  I had delicious buffet meals for breakfast and lunch.  A highlight was a fantastic time of worship and preaching.  If it had ended there, it would have been a perfect day.  But, when the conference was over, we drove back home to another beautiful location, Antigua, Guatemala.  I ended the day walking around our beautiful streets and enjoying a supper meal at Hector's Bistro.

 

Happy birthday to me!

 

My guys had me cookies from San Martin bakery, a homemade card, and a new set of sheets. 

 

 The hotel staff sang to me at breakfast and at lunch and brought me cake both times.

 

 

 

 

Here they are singing to me at breakfast. 

 

a photo with the Stones

 

Strolling through the streets of Antigua later that evening.

 

It is Lent season so our town is extra busy these days.

 

There was a processional passing through later that evening and the sawdust carpets were already being made for it.

 

A sunset view of Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes from the rooftop of Hector's Bistro, which is where I chose to eat at for my birthday supper.

 

My current favorite meal in town- skillet steak, veggies, and fries.  It is delicious!!

 

 I ended the meal with my most favorite dessert of all- crème brulée. 

It really was a perfect day.  I felt loved and celebrated all day long!