Visiting Family in Oxford

During our time home in Mississippi this past summer, we made a trip to Oxford to spend a few days with David's dad and stepmom.  We always enjoy our visits with them.  Jody is a warm hostess and cooks the most delicious meals!  

 

David and the boys with his dad and stepmom at their home in Oxford, MS.

 

 

Three generations of Whites.

 

 

David's sister, Robin, was also there.

 

 

David with his dad and sister

 

David and his dad

 

 

David and Robin

 

While in town, we took Cruz to Sport Clips to get his hair cut.  Here is a before and after. He likes the messy look these days.

 

They can't leave town without new shirts (and some new hair products too).

Life Lately June 2023

We began the month by hosting seven Summer Sojourner students.  They spent three weeks in Guatemala serving alongside us.   We stayed very busy with them.  The taught English classes at a school in Jocotan (English classes Day 1 and English classes Day 2).  They visited pastors and did a youth activity.  We spent a week in Antigua. They shared in local churches.  They did a chocolate class. We hiked up to the Antigua Cross.  They toured the Jade Museum.  They did a coffee farm and biking tour at La Azotea.  They spent a day making home visits.  They did a sports day at a local park.  They spent more time teaching English classes at a school in Parramos.  They served as camp counselors at Camp Guamiski.  We did a day trip to La Aurora Zoo.  Then, sadly, we had to say goodbye.  They were a fantastic group to host and we miss them greatly.

 

We spent one of our weeks serving in the Chiquimula area.  We took this photo on Sunday morning as we drove up the mountain to have attend a worship service at our church plant in Nearar.

 

Here is a video from that day.

 

 

Ben enjoying a frozen frappe at the hotel in Chiquimula. 

While in the Chiquimula area we did a day trip to the Ipala Volcano and swam in the crater lake.

 

enjoying the day at Volcan Ipala

 

 

Me and Cruz at the Antigua market.  We made many trips there in June with our summer students.

 

an afternoon coffee break at Cafe Barista in Antigua

 

He has grown so much this summer! 

 

 Cruz lead the group on a climb of Volcan Pacaya.

 

Cruz hiking Volcan Pacaya with our Summer Sojourner students.

 

 

clowning around at McDonald's in Antigua

 

grocery shopping for our June mission team 

We hosted a group from The Church at LifePark in Mount Pleasant, SC.  

 

Here is a video highlighting our week together.

 

They brought down some of our school books for the upcoming school year.

 

Taking a coffee break at Cafe Condesa in Antigua.

 

David and I enjoyed a fun date night.

 

Lunch at Pizza Hut in Guatemala City

 

A video highlighting the robot delivery at Pizza Hut in Guatemala City.

 

We overlapped a night with the Stones and Cadenheads at our mission house in Guatemala City.  It was great to catch up with them.

 

We tried to squeeze in all of our annual medical checkups that we could.  Here are the boys with my gynecologist.  He always comes out to the waiting room to see them each year and loves seeing how much they have grown.

 

We also did dental cleanings and eye exams.

 

 

Everyone got haircuts.

 

 

a video of the boys getting a haircut

I am trying to post more to our YouTube channel.  If you would like to follow us there, here is the link- https://www.youtube.com/@davidandregina

We ended the month with another work trip to Mexico.  It was our third trip there this year and was the last one we currently have planned to make for 2023.  

 

 

Here is a fun video of our travel day there. 

 

While there we received a certificate recognizing our completion of fifteen years of service with the IMB.  We will actually be completing seventeen years of service this October but just now received our certificate.  I was very proud that the boys also received certificates for completing years of service alongside us.  That made them proud also.

 

 

Here is a collage of us getting recognized at five, ten, and fifteen years of service.  We look forward to adding more photos to this collage in the years to come.

 

We returned home tired but with just a stopover to unpack, wash clothes, and repack.  We'll be on the move again for the month of July.  It has been a very busy summer for us but the best is yet to come!! 

Cruz's 12th Birthday Celebration

On May 26, Cruz turned 12 years old.  We had a very fun day celebrating him.  Here is a look at what we did.

 

The decorations that I put out on his birthday eve.  I like for them to wake up and see it on their birthday morning.

 

His last night sleeping as an 11 year old.  

 

his birthday morning

 

How is he 12 already???

 

We had banana pancakes for breakfast.

 

We took a few family pictures.

 

Ready to open his gift.

 

He loves decorative socks!!

 

We then took him for a much needed haircut. He has been asking for a while to get something shaved in his head.  For the longest time he wanted a number 12 on his birthday but then changed his mind to a design he saw online.

 

He loves it!!

 

My boy is growing up fast!

 

He chose this place in Antigua for his birthday lunch.

 

At the end of our meal the waiters sang and brought him dessert.

 

Oh how fun!

 

Next, we headed home to wait for a few friends to arrive for cake and video games.

 

 

Cruz with his paintball themed cake that he helped me make.

 

The inside of his cake.

 

Opening gifts from friends.

 

Later that afternoon we drove over to Gotcha Antigua for a paintball war.

 

  Ready for battle.

There were three adults and five kids. They all had an exciting time.

 

Showing their game faces.

 

Ben was nervous but very excited.

 

Cruz with his gear on.

 

A group picture when they were all done.  

They really enjoyed it and we hope to return again someday soon.

 

He finished the day having supper at Wilder's with the Waldraffs and then a Frappe at Starbucks.  He was very excited that Matt could come to his party and join him for paintball.   They serve with us in Guatemala City and our boys love them.

 

He is crazy about frozen coffee drinks. 

He had a fabulous day from start to end.  I am sad to think about how fast he is growing up but at the same time I am incredibly proud of the young man he is becoming.  He keeps us on our toes, no doubt, but he is such a joy and I am very thankful that God blessed us with him.

 

I share this YouTube video every year on his birthday.  It has become my theme song for Cruz. 

 

His birthday over the years.