Happy Back to School to Y'all!

I know you are all getting into the back to school groove in the good ol' USA, but here in Guatemala, we are finishing up our school year. In fact, this week we are starting our final bimester! WOOHOO!

Even though we are still in the 2025 school year, we have already started preparations for 2026! We are going to be a busy bunch at Little Pasos! I'll put specifics on how to be praying down below, but regardless, I am so thankful to all of you for your prayers and your financial support Little Pasos Learning Center would just be a vision waiting to come to life without each of you! Don't let that be lost on you. God is working through you!

New Ministry!

Some of you may know that I was a dancer, a ballerina, a clogger, a jazzer. While some sing in the shower, I dance. If you've been reading my newsletters or keeping up with me on a personal level, you also know that I found a fun new hobby: ZUMBA.

Well, because I can't just have a normal hobby like a normal person, I became a licensed Zumba Instructor in May. Now, I teach Zumba on Monday nights at 6 at the dance studio by my house (free zumba and salsa for me, woohoo!), and I just started a class for the Little Pasos moms on Saturday mornings!

The class is also open to women in the community. In our first class we had 4 moms and in our second class we had 10 women! Praying for more! We want to promote physical health (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and deepen and create new relationships with the moms and women in the community. We know God can use anything to draw us closer to him! I can't wait to see what God does through a Zumba class.

UPCOMING TRIP

I have been in Guatemala for 8 years now, and God has been so good to keep providing for my living expenses through my current financial partners! Not only is he providing for me personally, but also providing for Little Pasos Learning Center. Wow!

That being said, I plan on visiting the U.S. in November! Every 2 years, I do a long fundraising trip to raise personal funds, raise ministry funds (don't forget, those are separate) give updates, catch up with current financial partners, etc. I don't have exact dates yet, but I would love your prayers over this time of planning and preparation! I am so excited for potential new church partners, new individual partners, and new student sponsors.

Please pray about who you know that would want to join in our work. All donations are tax deductible! I am also looking for people who might want to host a dinner, event, ice cream social, lunch, barbecue, anything (sky is the limit) where I would be able to share about Little Pasos and what God is doing here! Pray and let me know!

Life Updates in Pictures

1. We adopted another dog! William was not convinced we needed another one, but I was. Miles needed a sister! Meet Lia. She is a 3 year old Australian shepherd/border collie mix. She is sneaky, but chill.

2. We went to visit a national park with the Kindergarteners. It was fun, but please take notice of the drama and different personalities in the picture. Pray for me.

3. My college friend Cody came for a visit, and he painted the 1st grade classroom! We took advantage of the time and some friends in a different part of Guatemala, and went to stay with them in Cobán. It is as beautiful as it seems. It is basically the jungle, and very different from Villa Nueva.

4. My Linda! She just turned 15, and I cannot believe it. She is smart, beautiful, hilarious, energetic, and so outgoing! She invited me to her family day at school, so obviously I went.

Charlie got another job: Part 2

Shortly after my last personal update, Charlie moved out of the house for a couple of months. After a speech about what he learned and an apology, he asked if he could move back in. I will spare you the details. Thankfully, he was hired at another call center and started working last week. This time, with a much better attitude! He says he really likes it, and William and I are so thankful to the Lord for his mercy and goodness over our kid's life! Pray that Charlie will stay humble, and continue making good life choices! He was a little off track for a second, but again, God's mercy reigns!

This is a granizada stand, or a snowcone stand, but better. Granizadas are a staple in the Guatemalan culture, and it is not uncommon to see these stands on the sides of streets, just like in the U.S. except in Guatemala, it is all year round! My favorite flavor is Hawaiiana, which is mango, ground pumpkin seed, and pineapple juice... I think. I don't ask questions. Other popular flavors include, strawberry (self explanatory) and lime (pure lime juice, salt, and maybe some simple syrup )

Donations?

Little Pasos Learning Center and I are able to function because of generous givers. That is to say that 100% of my salary comes from individuals and families like YOU! If you want to be more of a part of what God is doing through Little Pasos, please pray about joining my personal support team. All donations are tax deductible as New Life Advance International is a 501(c)3.

Donate to Tara's Personal Support

Praises & Prayer Requests

Charlie has a job and is making good choices! Pray for his heart to be turned toward the Lord.
Pray for our growing ministry and growing team! We have 2 new missionaries on the way!
Lia and Miles are the two best dogs.
Pray for my time in the U.S. and this time from now until I get there to plan and prepare.
GuateBrew to keep growing; it's doing well!
We transitioned churches! We are getting plugged in and making friends in our new church which is much closer to our house than our previous one. It was a hard decision, but God has confirmed it to be the right move for our family.
Praise God for our 2 working cars!
Pray for the families of Little Pasos and their hearts to be turned or turned even more toward God. That the love of Christ would impact them!