In Thanksgiving for Our Mission Team Serving the People of Playa de Oro and being -Love is the Mission

Some gifts are easy to name, Mass and Holy Hour by Fr Mario and Brother Johannes. A warm meal by Ericka. A safe ride by Romelio. Full water jugs by Paula. Pizza delivered by Julio. Blood pressure, blood sugar taken and medicine provided by Karen, Liam and Jesika and Mario. A prayer offered at the right time by Augusto. A hand on a shoulder when words fall short by Steven.

Other gifts are quieter. They look like people showing up before sunrise to make sure Rhonda has her coffee by Karla, packing supplies by Flor, checking lists and organizing by Corina, carrying heavy suitcases and staying until the last thing is loaded back on the bus by Jeff. They look like a mission team serving the people with patience, joy, and steadfast love.

This thanksgiving is for that team.

We give thanks for those who keep showing up

Every mission has people who become steady pillars. They may not call themselves leaders. They may not seek attention. They simply come. Their presence is a big part of the mission itself-Corina and Karla, I do not know what I would do without you!

To all the doctors, nurses and medical team who have tried to come once a year, if they can get the time off and if family commitments allow- Taylor, Kala, Kellan, Jason, Megan, Emily and so many who have come in the past. That kind of faithfulness cannot be measured by hours served, its measured through love repeated over time.

This thanksgiving is for you

Faithful presence is a ministry. It tells people, “You are not forgotten.” It tells the team, “We can keep going.” It tells the community, “This care is not temporary.” "Soccer" Megan and "Slime" Kate this thank you is for you too!

The people who come almost every time carry a special grace from God. They bring memories and trust. They help a mission become more than an event. They help it become a relationship.  And for that I cannot thank you enough!

AND...For those who have always wanted to do a mission, there is room. There is room for questions. There is room for first steps. There is room for you! Our next trip is in January!

A prayer of thanksgiving for the mission team

God of mercy and love,

I thank you for each and every individual person for serving.

For giving of their time.

Their smiles

Their hands

Their hearts

May all that we have done been done with love.

Amen.

IN THANKSGIVING FOR ALL PRESENT, PAST AND FUTURE LOVE IS THE MISSION MISSIONARIES,

RHONDA

When words are not enough

You need Yulissa around to capture each and every moment! Not only is she beautiful inside and out, but she has a way of capturing it all, even when you do not know it. She get's the mundane things that are authentic and lovely.

This past week Love is the Mission spent another first week of the year in Playa de Oro, loving and being loved. We thank God for the opportunity. We thank Yulissa for capturing it all. May God bless you and keep you until we see you again. Hasta pronto en julio!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/a0e198_f590d4cfd99145c2bca5036734089291/480p/mp4/file.mp4

They Say "Education is the Key"

But I like the phrase "education is the most powerful weapon", a quote by Nelson Mandela, who used it to emphasize education's ability to transform individuals and society. I am thankful that education is something we can and do have some control over in this day and age in Playa de Oro. It was not long ago and still in many places today where education faces significant challenges, including a lack of access, poor quality, and underfunding.

Underfunding is still a big issue in Playa de Oro, but we have combatted lack of access for the students who graduate from 6th grade. The school in the village has fabulous teachers so no poor quality issues! What a blessing this had been to this community.

It is getting to the end of the year for school in Guatemala. As school winds down there have been many activities that the children in Escuela Playa de Oro have been involved in and I love to be able to watch weekly and sometimes daily how the kids are doing and the fun activities or the lessons they are learning. You too can see them by liking there facebook page EORM Playa de Oro.

One of the biggest blessings that we have received this year are these!

Estuardo who was a 5th Grader when we first met him in 2018 just graduated from 9th Grade this November of 2025! He has persevered through starting 7th Grade school in mid January of 2020 to having no school until again January of 2022 because of Covid. That's when Angel joined him and they both continued 7th Grade. They both work full time during the week and go to school on the weekends. Their dedication and desire to continue their education while helping their familes by providing for themselves is their most powerful weapon!

Estuardo and Angel will continue to study,

but on a specialized track that prepares students for university or a career.

They both are deciding what that will look like for each of them.