The best birthday EVER!!

A few years ago I had a WONDERFUL birthday! It was my 30^th (yes I’m that old I know it’s hard to believe…hahaha) and Dylan surprised me with a party. He invited some of my dearest friends and family to my favorite restaurant. I thought we were just going out for dinner but when I arrived there was a whole group waiting inside to surprise me. We shared such a wonderful night! The fellowship was wonderful, the food was great, and the dinner ended with ice cream cake, another favorite of mine!! Afterwards, some of us went to a comedy show and had a night full of laughs. It truly was my best birthday ever…that is until my most recent birthday last Saturday.

I certainly didn’t expect to have the best birthday ever this year. I mean I’m in Guatemala away from most of my family and friends, we had a LONG list of things to do that day, and the only special “birthday thing” we had planned was to go to Dairy Queen at the end of the day. But of course, I had no idea the surprises God had in store for me that day.

We started out picking up some furniture and looking at/test driving a car that a fellow missionary was selling. We then went to our new home to move in our furniture and write up the rent contract. What a blessing it was as we went from room to room and they showed us the things that they had not been able to sell and that they were going to leave for us to use. Things like a microwave, pots and pans, an entertainment center, and a television!! I was blown away to not only have this wonderful home at a price within our budget but to have so many things left behind for us to use while we live there. Such an incredible blessing!

After our time at our home we went to New Life Children’s Home to visit with our friends for a few minutes and pick up some things we needed. I was immediately greeted with a chorus of “Missy’s here” and “Feliz Cumpleaños” from all the little girls who had heard from our sweet girl Chiky that it was my birthday. I then got to spend a few minutes with Chiky and she gave me a beautiful necklace that she got me for my birthday. It was wonderful to have such a warm reception and feel so loved!!

Some of the sweet girls who blessed me with hugs and birthday wishes!!

Finally, we were able to break away and set out on our biggest mission for the day. We had 4 families from the Serving At Risk Families Ministry that we were to visit to get some more information about repairs on their home that the July team may be working on when they get here. As always visiting these families was an incredible experience. When we went to visit the Jimenez family I had such a wonderful time running around playing with Brandon and Kevin who

Brandon and Kevin Jimenez! They are so fun and full of energy…I’ve only met them once and they’re stealing my heart already!!

kept climbing trees and telling me “you can’t catch me” and giggling hysterically every time I tried. It was a joy laughing with the De León family as we watched their dogs go crazy over drinking a little coca cola from a frying pan and getting to share about their new grandbaby that’s on the way. It was also such a huge blessing to see the softening of Patty De León’s heart as we prayed with the family and praised Jesus for the continued blessing of work and provisions. This is so wonderful because a year ago Patty would not allow anyone from Servants who visited the family to talk about the Lord or how much He loves her and her family.

The De León family! Patty is the lady in the pink shirt. Please keep praying for Jesus to soften her heart to His love for her.

We then moved on to a visit with the family of Jannira Gomez which was both enjoyable and heartbreaking. We prayed over her daughter, Rocio, who is sick with bronchitis from the dust floor

Janiera with her 2 daughters Gaby and Rocio. Please continue praying for healing for little Rocio from her bronchitis as the family currently doesn’t have the money for the medication.

in their bedroom. We are hoping to find a way for the team to do something about this floor because the doctor has said Rocio has an allergy to the dust and will continue to get bronchitis and eventually develop asthma if this is not taken care of. Finally, we ended the afternoon by visiting with the family of Manuel Gomez (no relation to Jannira’s family, Gomez is just a popular last name here). We spent some time talking and sharing with them and I got the opportunity to spend a few minutes with his sweet daughters Naibely and Wendy who I am growing to love so much more every time we see them.

I got to have a picture with sweet Naibely and Wendy for my birthday!! But they made me promise I’d bring them a copy the next time I visit!

It truly was an incredible birthday which left my heart full and left me feeling blessed. Even though I wasn’t able to be with my friends and family in the states I was able to spend time with the new friends and family God is providing me here. We ended the day by having a quick bite to eat for dinner and headed to Dairy Queen for my treat that I had been looking forward to for weeks. We got there just as they were closing and sadly I was not able to get my ice cream for my birthday. However, I can honestly say ice cream or not this was definitely my best birthday EVER and for those of you who know me well you know how much that means when I can call a birthday that didn’t include ice cream the best birthday ever…hahaha

I’m so grateful to Jesus for allowing me to serve Him in this way and I feel truly blessed every day to be here. Thank you all for all the birthday wishes and for all your continued prayers, encouragement, love, and support. While a part of me misses being with you all another part of me is so happy, humbled, and blessed to be a part of the lives we ALL are changing TOGETHER in Guatemala for the glory of our Savior Jesus.

Below I’ve included a few more pictures from the day for you to enjoy….

Brandon being a “mono” or monkey!! He was right when he told me “you can’t catch me” there was no way I was climbing that tree!!!

Kevin also decided to be a monkey only he actually made a swing out of a branch and rope…so creative!!

Brandon and Kevin with mom: Roselina, dad: Jorge, and little brother: Anthony, sadly we didn’t get to visit much with their other brother, Jorge, because he’s sick! Please pray for healing for him!

Jon hanging out with his little buddy Anthony!

One of the De León’s dogs standing guard over the coca cola in the frying pan! They call their dogs their grandchildren…I’m sure many who have pets can relate to that!!

Naibely and Wendy with dad: Manuel and sister Jennifer. Manuel is very sick from diabetes (vision and walking issues) and is unable to make the walk to church and his wife is an unbeliever so it breaks his heart that his children don’t go to church. Please pray for softening of Manuel’s wife’s heart and opportunities to share Jesus with her and the children!

Getting to spend time with these 2 precious girls…perfect ending to an awesome day!!