Mississippi Summer 2026

For the past few years we have been spending a few weeks of our school summer break in Mississippi.  The boys strongly desire it, and we have been trying to provide that for them.  Their time with us here in Guatemala is coming to an end much faster than we would like.  We realize that in just a few short years they'll be moving permanently to the U.S. We hope that by making these summer visits back home that it is helping them put down some roots and deepen relationships with family and friends there. It’s just another way to help prepare them to launch and transition well. 

Here is a look at our visit home this summer. 

 

We left Guatemala on a Saturday afternoon. Our excitement was high!

 

 

A beautiful sunset greeted us in Atlanta. We had a twelve hour overnight layover there and didn't fly out until the next morning.

 
We arrived in Jackson, MS on Sunday morning which also happened to be Father's Day.

 

 

We headed straight to Crystal Springs where we joined David's family for a delicious Southern Sunday lunch meal. It was great to see all of his family at the same time.  We especially enjoyed seeing baby Lake who was just two months old when we returned from our Stateside Assignment in December.

 

visiting my mom 

We had a meal with my family members at the local Mexican restaurant the following night.

 

We enjoyed several visits with the Browns while home.  Here we are having ice cream at Dairy Freeze in Crystal Springs 

 

Ben 

 

Cruz 

 

I love getting to be home for the annual Tomato Festival.  This was the 30th year for it. 

 

 

During the festival, we always enjoy the Friday night street party with the Browns. 

 

 

me and my longtime friend Malinda 

 

Another thing I love about summer visits is getting to celebrate the 4th of July in the U.S.  It was especially memorable this summer because it was the 250th celebration. 

 

 

We spent the day with David's family.  Here we are that evening at Lake Copiah getting ready to watch the fireworks show. 

 

We enjoyed a Sunday lunch meal with David's sister, Robin, and some of her family. 

 

David and Robin 

 

Robin and the boys 

 

 

us with sweet Lake 

 

 

We spent most of our Sundays and Wednesday nigths at our home church, Harmony Baptist, in Crystal Springs.  Here is Cruz serving as a greeter one morning.  

 

 

We went one Sunday morning with my mom to her church.  They were having a special 4th of July service that included a hamburger and hot dog cookout afterwards. 

 

us with Mr. Thurman at church 

 

We always enjoy getting to see our former youth ministry students and their families.  The Johnsons have us over every time we are home.  We love catching up with them and our kids hanging out together.

 

Ricky was another former student.  He came to visit us one evening.  He brought pizza, and we watched a U.S. soccer game together.  

 

 

Cruz upgraded his learner's permit to a regular driver's license while we were home.  He enjoyed a lot of driving freedom on the trip.    

 

 

He started a pressure washing business with his best friend, Jude.  They went door to door asking for work and ended up getting several jobs.  It kept them busy on the hot summer days and provided them with a lot of spending money for the days ahead.

 

 

They even had work t-shirts made.  

It was a fun learning experience for both of them.  

 

 

When he wasn't working, Cruz spent many days playing golf with his friends from Brookhaven at the Wolf Hollow Golf Club in Wesson. David's uncle gifted him a set of clubs, and he was thrilled to get to use them. 

 

 

Here is Ben on an afternoon there at the driving range.

 

 

David and Cruz went on a frog grabbing night outing.  That was a fun adventure! 

 

 

We made a visit to Oxford to see David's dad.

Here are three generations of Whites. 

 

 

Us with Mr. Harold and Jodi 

 

David's family

 

 

Another thing I love about summer visits is getting to attend the Miller family reunion.  This is my dad's family.  Now that he is gone, I like attending to represent him.  It is fun to see everyone and catch up in person.  This is me with two of my cousins. 

 

me and my mom

We enjoyed several outings for shopping and meals. 

 

I especially enjoyed a day outing with David's three aunts.  We had a lot of fun and laughed the whole day.  We started with a lunch meal at Mama Hamil's in Madison, and then spent the rest of the day visiting thrift/ antique stores along Hwy. 49. 

 

 

Another fun day was spent with my friend Malinda.  We had lunch at Aplos in Ridgeland and then spent the afternoon shopping. 

 

Enjoying one last meal with the Browns at Arturo's in Crystal Springs before we left.

 

I didn't get photos of all that we did, but this is a good overview of our time there.  It was fun-filled, and we made some great memories. 

 

Life Lately December 2025

December was a busy month.  We wrapped up our speaking engagements and our school semester.  We celebrated Christmas with family and then packed all of our belongings and returned to Guatemala.  For a month already known for it's hustle and bustle, we were running wide open.

 

 

We began the month by participating in a weekend long missions conference at FBC Jackson, MS.  It kicked off their Lottie Moon giving emphasis.  It was fantastic!  We shared numerous times over the three day event and met so many wonderful people.  We left feeling very blessed to have been a part of such a wonderful event! If you would like to read about it click on this link-  Lottie Moon World Mission Weekend.

 

 

The following Monday night we attended the Christmas parade in Brookhaven.  It was a cold night, but we loved the parade. 

 

 

Later that week, we had supper with a dear sweet prayer supporter of ours.  We have known Ms. Martha for many years, and she is such a great encourager to us. She cooked a huge spread of food, and it was all delicious!

 

 

The following day we had lunch with Chad McCord.  He is a former IMB missionary and is currently serving as the Missions Mobilization Director for the Mississippi Baptist Convention.  I am glad our paths crossed during our time in the States.  

 

 

My dad's family has a reunion twice each year.  They meet in July and again in December.  I was able to make both reunions while we were home.  It is sweet to gather with family and now that my dad is gone, I especially like to be present to represent him.  Here I am with some of my cousins. 

 

 

In mid- December David preached at our home church, Harmony Baptist in Crystal Springs, MS. 

 

The church praying over us after the service.  It was a special time with our church family!

 

After the service we had a covered dish lunch and Christmas party with our Sunday school class.  We played the dirty Santa game and had a really fun time.  Afterwards, the boys went home with friends for the afternoon, and we went to visit with family.  

  

 

loving on sweet baby Lake

He is the first grandchild of David's sister.

 

 

We went to Sonic for supper and ate in the car.  We then drove through the Chautauqua Park Christmas lights.

 

 

The boys had their Sunday school party that evening.  They had a blast! 

 

 

youth Christmas party at Harmony Baptist 

 

 

 

The following Wednesday night I got to share with the ladies' group at our home church.  I had attended each Wednesday night while we were home so it was special to close out by sharing with them.  We made it a Christmas party and everyone brought finger foods to share.  It was fun and an overall wonderful way to close out my season of sharing.  

 

 

The Wednesday night ladies' group at Harmony Baptist. 

 

 

Cruz with some of his best buds the following Sunday morning at church.  I am so thankful for the close friendships he has there! These boys are more like brothers than friends.

 

After lunch several of us gathered for an afternoon of Christmas caroling.  It is something we have not done in many years. The boys had never been, and they really loved it.  Seeing the smiles on the faces of the people we visited just warmed our hearts.  

 

getting ready to go caroling with our home church 

 

 

  

 

The following week we had supper with the Johnsons.  Nickey and Jackie were in our youth ministry many years ago. 

 

the kiddos 

 

 

Their pastor and his family stopped by to see us later that evening.  We had a house full. 

 

 

Ms. Martha had given the boys gift cards to Dairy Queen for Christmas.  We ate supper there one evening.

 

They couldn't resist turning them upside down. 

 

 

They even dared me to hold it over my head. I think they were secretly hoping it would fall. 

 

 

After supper, we headed out to look at Christmas lights. 

 

 

 

We celebrated Christmas with family.  We were with David's family on Christmas Eve and my family on Christmas Day. You can read about that here- Christmas 2025. 

 

 

Some of our new ornaments for 2025.  The top left corner is our traditional family ornament.  The right corner is a Crystal Springs ornament given to me by my friend Malinda.  That is David's hometown.  She also gave me a similar one from Hazlehurst, which is my hometown. Don't you just love the bottom left corner!!!  Cruz saw this pancake ornament at Cracker Barrel and insisted we get it.  Pancakes are a big part of our family.  The bottom right corner is an ornament that was given out to everyone at the missions conference at FBC Jackson.

 

 

These are the boy's personal ornaments.  Cruz chose the workout ornament.  The gym they went to while in the States was called Sweat Fitness so this was the perfect ornament for him.  Ben's ornament was a gaming control, which perfectly describes his life these days.

 

 

And then, like all good things, our time in the States came to an end.  We left the U.S. on December 28 flying back to Guatemala to begin our sixth term of service with the IMB.  We were sad to leave but a little eager to get back to the life we are called to live.  It is always bitter sweet to leave one home for the the other.  You can read about our travel day here-  Returning to Guatemala. 

 

So now we are almost through the month of January.  How can that be?  I'll be posting that update soon.

 

Happy New Year everyone!!!