Life Lately June & July 2026

Hello blogger world!  I took a break during the summer and will try to get caught up in the days ahead.  Here are some random pictures from the months of June and July. 

 

In early June David preached at a special Father's Day service at the Baptist church in Jocotenango.

 

We met this sweet family from Maine and enjoyed visiting with them over coffee at a local coffee shop in town.  They were in Guatemala on vacation.  We love opportunities like this.   

 

 

A highlight of my June was watching the college baseball playoffs and World Series tournament.  Of course, we cheered on Ole Miss until they lost.  

 

We all had dental cleanings.  This was the view while we waited to see the dentist.  Not a bad sight!

 

 

The boys attended Camp Guamiski, which is a summer camp for MK's living in Guatemala.  They love this week!   

 

 

While they were at camp, David and I spent some time in Guatemala City doing annual medical checkups.  What a pretty view from Zone 10. 

 

 

A highlight of our city time was having lunch at Del Griego.  We love gyros!  We also enjoyed a meal at P.F. Chang's.  It is a tradition while the boys are at camp. 

 

 

As soon as camp ended, we flew home to Mississippi for a few weeks of summer in the South.  You can read about that HERE.

 

 

We returned to Guatemala mid-July and then just three days later flew to Peru for a work meeting/ training. 

 

Landing in Lima 

From the Lima airport, we had a two hour bus ride to our location.  Peru's Independence Day was coming up so that meant we saw their flag flying everywhere.

 

A highlight was the alpacas and llamas that roamed the property where we stayed.  We loved seeing them every day. 

 

 

 

While we were at our training, Cruz enjoyed spending the week with other high school TCK's whose parents serve in the Americas.  This annual retreat is one of his favorite things!  This was his second year to go.  You have to be fifteen to attend, so next year Ben will get to join him. 

 

Cruz with some of his friends at the retreat. 

 

They loved dressing up for an evening meal.  They also had a hoedown and a decades night. 

 

We are thankful for the way the IMB invests in our kids! 

 

 

We returned to Guatemala with one week left of summer break.  I spent most of the week getting ready for the new school year.   

 

Here are some photos of our classroom this year- 

 

I bought this wall decoration because it reminded me of Colorado, which I greatly love! 

 

 

 

We started back on August 3.  I'll share about our first day of school in an upcoming post. 

 

 

The boys spent the week catching up with friends.  They both had sleepovers.  Ben joined a friend to see the new Spiderman movie.  Cruz enjoyed a workout with a friend and a visit to a coffee shop.  They both joined friends at local pools for a day of swimming.  They had a busy social week!  On this particular day we enjoyed lunch with friends at a local coffee farm.  This is Ben with his friend Josue. 

 

A cute planter at the coffee farm.

 

Overall, it was a fun summer, and I'm a little sad that is has come to an end.  But, new adventures lie ahead, and we are fully embracing what fall has to offer.  What am I most looking forward to?  SEC college football!!!  Football season is my favorite season of all.

Work Trip to Mexico April 2025

One of the things we love about our role as Associate Cluster Leaders for Indigenous work in Mexico and Guatemala is getting to make on-site visits with the people we supervise. It helps us better understand their lives, struggles, and ministries, and, as a result, we leave knowing a little better how to support them. 

In early April we made a weekend trip to Chiapas, Mexico to visit two of those families.  Here is a look at our wonderful time there.

me and the boys in the cab headed to the Guatemala City airport

I am very thankful that we get to make these visits with our kids.  I think it helps us better bond with the families that we go see.

 

walking through the airport

 

waiting to board our flight

 

arriving at the Tuxtla airport on Friday late afternoon

 

Welcome to Chiapas

 

Welcome to San Cristobal de las Casas

 

We arrived just in time to drop off our bags, and then we headed out to eat pizza with the Richardson family.

 

 

Early Saturday morning David and Clay headed out to visit the Tails.  They recently moved to live closer in community with their people group. They spent the whole day there and returned back just before dark. It was a long day round-trip but a very productive one.  Pray for the Tails and the great work they are doing to reach their people.

 

 

While they traveled, Tammy and I had a fun day in town with the kids.  Here is a Saturday morning picture of the MKs in the San Cristobal Central Park.

 

We thought this dog was funny with his necktie on.  He was roaming around the park.

 

 

After a delicious breakfast, we drove out to a local nature park for a morning hike.

 

Their city in the distance.

 

It was a perfect weather day and so much fun.

 

 

The park was beautiful and peaceful.

 

That afternoon we hung out at the Richardson's house.  The kids played video games, and Tammy and I sat out on her patio and talked. We shared life stories, parenting stories, missionary stories, and so much more.  Spending that one on one time with her was a highlight of my time there.

 

 

That evening when the guys returned, they built a fire, and we roasted hot dogs.  It was a fun ending to our day.

 

 

On Sunday morning we attended church with them.  During the service their pastor called us forward and prayed over us and the work we are doing in Guatemala.  It was a special moment! They have a wonderful church body.

 

 

We had a fellowship lunch at church and then headed out to a different nature park for the afternoon.  We had visited this same park on our last trip there back in 2023 to do rock climbing.  We were happy to get to return again because it is such a beautiful place. 

 

 

 

 

The kids loved playing on the tire swings 

(until Cruz fell and got hurt.  Then the fun ended.)

 

 

 

hiking

 

We went through this cave.

 

wood swinging bridge

 

 

us with the Richardsons

We are thankful for not only our work relationship but also the friendship we have with them.

 

 

Late that afternoon when we returned to town, the boys went home with them to hang out.  David and I spent that time wandering through town.  We visited the market and several shops.  I loved these colorful streamers hanging overhead.

 

We stopped for coffee at a local cafe.  When I noticed that they had creme brulee on the menu, I couldn't pass it up.  It is my favorite dessert and this particular one was delicious!!

 

 

I loved seeing the jacarandas in bloom there too.

 

That evening we all went out for tacos.  The al pastor (pork & pineapple) are my favorite.

 

 

the MKs in San Cristobal

 

our family in San Cristobal

 

us with the Richardsons in San Cristobal

 

We had an early Monday morning return flight which meant we got up extra early to get to the airport. I took this photo of the Mexican flag when we arrived.

 

Ben enjoying breakfast at the Tuxtla airport.

 

flying into Mexico City

 

donuts at the Mexico City airport

 

 

Home Sweet Home

 

The trip was fantastic from start to finish.  We are thankful for our time together.  We are also thankful for the bonding time our kids had. We were all a little sad to leave.  

 

Pray for the Richardson family and the dedicated work they are doing among the Zoque.  Pray that God would bless their ministry greatly this year!