Hello everyone! I have so much to share in this update, though I’ll try to keep it from getting too long. It’s been a wild and exciting month in so many ways, and I’m really looking forward to sharing it all with you.
Personal Update
I am a week late in posting this update, but for a wonderful reason—we spent this past week on vacation in the Dominican Republic! This trip was a complete surprise for us and turned into a truly refreshing and relaxing week.
Some dear friends of ours who serve in the DR generously invited us to visit and even flew us there so we could spend time resting and enjoying fellowship with them. It was such a gift. We had the chance to experience a new country and culture, spend meaningful time together, have encouraging and uplifting conversations, share plenty of laughs, take in breathtaking views, and simply relax. We were very intentional about not talking about work, ministry, or stressful things, and it allowed us to truly rest and enjoy the time.
We feel incredibly blessed by this week. Not only did our friends make the trip possible, but they also sent the two of us to a charming little hotel on the Samaná Peninsula so we could spend some time at the beach. It was especially memorable because it was Maudilio’s first time ever seeing white sand, and my first time in over 16 years.
While we were there, we also hiked to a beautiful waterfall nearby. We got rained on and trekked through plenty of mud to reach it, but it was absolutely worth it! And before we headed back to our friends’ house, they even surprised us by booking a couples massage for us!
To say this trip was a blessing would be an understatement. It was deeply encouraging for both of us. It served as a sweet reminder that God sees us—not only our needs, but even our desires. Sometimes, in His kindness, He delights in giving us those desires as well.
We returned to Guatemala yesterday, refreshed and ready to jump back into ministry.
Project Updates
Right before our trip to the Dominican Republic, we hosted our yearly medical clinic in Aceituno. Every year this medical team is such a blessing to the community and to us personally, and this year was no exception. They were able to see and pray over 144 patients in Aceituno! It was a great day that went very smoothly considering everything involved.
I look forward to this clinic every year because it allows us to make new connections and reach far more people than we could on our own. We are so thankful for this team and the way they serve the community so faithfully.
Because we were gone this past week, we had to take a week off from serving food to the community. Unfortunately, we simply don’t have enough help to keep everything running normally when both of us are gone. But the good news is that the food program starts back up again tomorrow!
We would really appreciate prayer for wisdom regarding this area of the ministry. Things have become somewhat complicated, and we’re not entirely sure what the next steps should be. For some time now, we’ve felt that God has been preparing our hearts for a shift in the ministry, and it seems like that shift may be coming soon. We don’t fully know what that will look like yet, but it’s clear that some things need to change. Please pray that God would make the next steps clear to us—that we would be listening carefully when He speaks, and that we would be obedient to whatever He asks of us.
The water project has been quite a roller coaster. At times it has been one of the most discouraging areas of the ministry, but things are really starting to come together. Our current team of workers are incredibly hardworking, and they have been rockstars when it comes to working quickly and diligently. With each passing week, things seem to be running more smoothly and effectively.
Even while Maudilio and I were gone last week, the water production and distribution continued without interruption thanks to our team, and specifically Maudilio’s brother, Daniel. That said, whenever you bring together a group of people from different backgrounds and seasons of life, there will naturally be challenges and moments of tension. Please pray for unity and peace among our team. Also pray that we would find meaningful ways to encourage and build up each worker individually as well as strengthen them as a team.
As for construction, it’s taking longer than expected—as construction projects so often do—but steady progress is being made. Our bathrooms are now built and functioning! We’re currently finishing the final details to make them more functional and visually appealing.
We’ve also made some progress digging the foundation for the dining room. We had hoped to be much farther along with this project by now, but several factors slowed things down. Much of our focus during February was directed toward finishing projects that needed to be completed before hosting the medical clinic. Now that the clinic is behind us and we’re back from our trip, the plan is to pick up the pace and make significant progress on the dining room.
Team Member Introduction
Many of you know Delmy, our unofficial daughter. In fact, many of you who have come to visit us have even met her. She is from Aceituno but lived with us for nearly three years while she studied and learned English. Over the years, our journey with her has had many ups and downs. One of my very first memories with Delmy, almost seven years ago, was when she looked at me and said, “I have a hard heart, and not even God can change that.”
Well, today I would like to introduce you to the born-again Delmy!
She is truly a different person. For those of you who met her years ago, you might barely recognize her now. God has done an incredible work in her heart, and He continues to shape and transform her every day. We are so proud of her and amazed at how far God has brought her.
About a week and a half ago, Maudilio and I had the incredible privilege of baptizing her. It was such a joyful and emotional moment for us. We have prayed for this for many years, and seeing this fruit is deeply encouraging.
God is already beginning to use Delmy in powerful ways. At the beginning of October she moved back to Aceituno, and just last month she told us she feels called to work with us in Aliento. She has such a heart for the children in the community. She wants to share her story with them so they can have hope for their futures as well. Most importantly, she wants them to experience God the way she has.
For the past few weeks she has been serving with us and doing an amazing job. In the mornings she works with the water production team, and in the afternoons she spends time with some of the children—teaching English and helping reinforce basic educational skills.
There is just one challenge: right now we don’t really have the funds to pay her for this work. Because of that, she has simply been volunteering her time. We see so much potential for her to grow into even greater roles within the ministry, and our heart is to be able to support her in this work.
So we would ask you to pray and ask God if this might be something you would want to help support monthly. We are already seeing the impact she is making in the community, and we truly believe God is going to use her in powerful ways to reach the children of Aceituno. We would love for you to be part of what God is doing in Aceituno through Delmy and her transformed heart.
As we reflect on this past month, we are reminded again of God’s faithfulness in every season. From the unexpected gift of rest in the Dominican Republic, to the blessing of the medical clinic, to the challenges and growth within the ministry, and especially to the incredible transformation we’ve seen in Delmy’s life—God is at work. Thank you for praying for us, encouraging us, and partnering with us in this ministry. Your support truly makes these moments possible, and we are so grateful to have you walking alongside us as we continue serving in Aceituno. Please continue to pray for wisdom, unity, and clear direction as we follow where the Lord leads next.
