We just spent 10 days busy days in Kentucky. What fun to catch up with family and friends, eat Dad’s breakfasts, watch cousins enjoy one another, revisit familiar places and flavors, take walks down country lanes, work for hours in the public library while Juliana read, etc.
This particular visit culminated in a very memorable 4
th
of July celebration (perhaps the only one of significance for the kids since we've been out of the country most of the last 13 years)! My brother’s family let us join in their family traditions which included…a July 3rd patriotic concert (in the rain), a great small-town parade and festival, an afternoon swim, grilled hamburgers and all the fixin’s (complete with watermelon, of course) and then a private fireworks display on Dad’s deck! We are so thankful for the chance to make these memories and receive that good old Southern hospitality! !Gracias, familia!
It was fun to be “home” again but, to tell you the truth, almost everywhere we go feels a little like “home” thanks to our wonderful, extended, Free Methodist family! As we spent 3 weeks Washington state making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, visiting churches and other familiar places, we were also rejuvenated. A few highlights were...spending extra time with the Willsons (who trained as new missionaries with us 13 years ago)...helping Paul and Delia move into their condo in Seattle (we're so glad they are still on our team)...witnessing Jorge Ramirez transfer his ordination to the PNW Conference (this was special because he was one of Ricardo's students at the Seminario Bíblico de Colombia)...visiting so many dear friends...celebrating Father's Day with Pastor Ike Timm (one of the pastors who married us 17 years ago yesterday)...and enjoying the hospitality of the Goodnight family!
Special thanks to everyone who opened their homes, shared meals, listened to our sermons, gave generously or spent time with us. You are such an important part of our ministry! !Gracias, familia!
And so, we really look forward to the GREAT BIG family reunion taking place later this month (also known as General Conference or GC19) in Orlando, Florida! It is an important part of our family tradition to get together once every 4 years and we hope to see some of you there! Please see our GC19 schedule and a few important ministry updates below…followed by a few pictures for your enjoyment.
As always, thank you for being such an important part of our support team! Many blessings,
Ricardo, Beth, Juliana & Jonathan
PS Don't forget to scroll down for more important information and pictures. If you'd like to support our ministry, the Latin America Area, or help defray our moving expenses, please use the links below.
