Life as a missionary can be challenging, but as long as you keep your focus on God no challenge is too great. Just ask Dale, he and Traci held down the fort while Bekah and I returned to the States to help Ashley (the oldest Trotter girl in Colorado) with the arrival of grandbaby #3, Isla.

What a blessing it was to be there to watch Marion and ease Ashley and Phil’s mind while they were at hospital. A quick stop in Indiana was a wonderful chance to spend time with Jessica, Brandon, and Zeke before grandbaby #4, Daniel, arrives later this month. While home Bekah had the opportunity to visit Liberty University, her top college choice for when she graduates in 2023. And we were able to spend just a few days with our Pocomoke “Family.” Let it not go unnoticed that God has a sense of humor because we left 80–90-degree weather to wintry weather, to include snow everywhere we visited. Only to have us miss the cooler times here in Guatemala and returning to the already climbing 100-degree temperatures.

While we were away Dale and Traci continued their long days of work. For Dale that consisted of campus maintenance and construction in the New Hope Village, the rebuilding of the village that was destroyed by the Hurricane in November 2020. For Traci that meant filling food bags, translating letters, and going out to villages with the sponsorship program. All while maintaining the household.

Upon Bekah and my return, Traci headed out to Colorado to pick up where we left off and helping her sister with the challenges of a growing family. Traci will return with us after our visit in June.

Dale and I were honored to be named as Padrinos (Godparents), to our close friends’ youngest son, Liam. You will also hear us refer to this family as our Guatemalan Family and our Guatemalan Grandchildren since we are also their honorary grandparents. We were excited to participate in a baby dedication service at their church in a neighboring village.

Bekah has been excelling in her junior year of high school online and taking dual enrollment classes with Liberty University. Because of her school schedule she has limited time to help in the ministry areas but does when she can; like our once a month movie night up at Village of Transformation, the orphanage here on campus, and filling food bags with the sponsorship program on Saturday mornings.

Dale has completed house #13 out of 50 in the New Hope village and has started to wire the reconstruction for the canasta shop. The canasta shop is the building for a program founded by another missionary family here, the McNutts. Sueno Canastas is a business that hires and trains local young adults in the art of making baskets and totes from recycled plastics. You can learn more about them on their website, www.hopemarket.shop . Their shop was also destroyed in the flood from the hurricane and is now being rebuilt. And Dale is excited to be a part of the rebuilding and ultimately helping the workers and their families continue to grow and prosper.

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