A Postcard from the Road in Washington

Our fundraising road trip kicked off with a burst of energy as we reconnected with our missionary co-workers Mark and Serena Dunbar in Portland and their daughter Tita who also lives there. We were thrilled to see their other daughter Charith too, who lives near Seattle and was able to collect us from the airport. Since both girls served in Honduras, being with them felt like stepping into a warm, familiar story God has been writing for years. Mark and Serena also talked us into hiking up to Multnomah Falls. The climb was no joke, but the sweeping views and the laughter shared along the way made it the perfect start to this stretch of travel. That same evening we shared at the Columbia View Church family campout and left energized by their passion for what God is doing in Honduras.

Re-connecting with both Charith and Tita was such a blessing after so many years.

Exploring the falls with Mark and Serena was the highlight of our visit to Portland. And the climb to the top of Multnomah Falls was exhausting, but well worth the incredible views from the top!

Next, we rolled into Entiat Family Camp where the scenery alone felt like a deep breath for the soul. But what made the week unforgettable were the people. Entiat gave us the perfect space to share about the ministry in Honduras, invite others into the work God is doing there, and listen to the amazing testimonies of believers from all different seasons of life. With no cell or internet service, everything slowed down in the best way. Conversations got deeper, stories came pouring out, and we felt blessed by how many campers were eager to hear how God is moving among young people back in La Esperanza. And of course there were games. Lots of games. We picked up a few new favorites and had fun teaching Flip 7 which is quickly becoming a hit in our Honduras ministries. Each afternoon the campers headed to a nearby lake for swimming and paddleboarding which added this fun, sun-soaked rhythm to the week.

The best part of Entiat Family Camp is the new friendships—forever friendships—created as we worshipped, studied, served and played together all week.

After camp we made our way to Leavenworth for a weekend that felt like a joyful surprise at every turn. We met the Heeran family at Entiat and quickly realized our worlds overlapped in unexpected ways. Paul and Debbie had served at El Sembrador years ago, and then we discovered that their son Jared and his wife Becca were the same couple who stayed in our home when they visited La Esperanza on a ministry trip. We didn't know they’d recently moved to the area, so reconnecting felt like a gift straight from the Lord. We spent the afternoon with Jared and Becca playing games and sharing updates from Honduras, then stayed at Paul and Debbie’s beautiful home tucked among pear orchards with a waterfall in the backyard. It felt like stepping into a storybook. Steve and I even snuck out for a little date exploring the Bavarian-style town which was such a refreshing reset after such a full and meaningful week at camp.

Paul and Debbie encouraged us to visit Leavenworth for the weekend after camp and we were so blessed by their family and hospitality!

Now we’re in Spokane catching up on some communications and making plans for the coming months. We're also reconnecting with some of our partners and volunteers who are faithfully holding down the fort in La Esperanza via reliable internet. They’re doing an incredible job and it’s a joy to see how the ministry continues to thrive even while we’re away. It’s another reminder that God is the one sustaining the work, and we simply get to join Him in it.

By the end of this week we’ll be headed toward Cadwell Springs Camp in Montana for the next leg of the journey. Thank you for praying, encouraging and giving so sacrificially. We feel your support with every mile and in every conversation the Lord places in our path.