Duggars Arrive in Central America

For the Duggars, December mission trips to Central America have become an annual tradition. They arrived at their destination yesterday and are ready to start serving with S.O.S. Ministries. This time, Jim Bob and Michelle both went, and they brought some of their younger children along.

Duggars in Central America, December 2018

 

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar in Central America, December 2018

Since we started blogging about the Duggars in 2009 (nine years ago!) we have posted dozens of photos from their many missions trips to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. For fun, here are a few throwbacks:

 

Joy-Anna Duggar in Central America, 2016

 

Jim Bob Duggar in Central America, 2014

 

Jana Duggar, Jessa Duggar, Jinger Duggar, Jill Duggar

Central America 2013

Joy-Anna Duggar and Kendra Caldwell in Central America, 2013

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com

Dillards to Return Home

Jill and Derick Dillard just shared a ministry update on their website, along with several pictures. We have posted a few highlights below, but we encourage you to visit dillardfamily.com to read the full ministry update letter.

-During a recent rainstorm, a tree in the Dillards' yard was struck by lightening. Jill and Derick are grateful to God that no one was injured.

-In an effort to unite the ladies at her church, Jill Dillard hosts a weekly women's Bible study. "Israel loves having company and usually makes the rounds asking everyone for a bite of their food!" Jill writes.

-To celebrate their two-year wedding anniversary on June 21st, Jill and Derick were blessed with a one-night stay at a hotel, where they enjoyed "the pool, wifi, and warm showers."

-At 15 months old, Israel Dillard is 33 inches tall and weighs 28 pounds, which is roughly the average height and weight of a two-year-old boy.

-In addition to their other ministry activities, the Dillards continue to partner with a local craftswoman to teach ladies who attend their Bible study how to make jewelry.

-S.O.S. Ministries is sending multiple short-term mission teams, some of which will serve alongside Jill and Derick, to Central America during the month of July. After these teams leave, the Dillards will return to Arkansas for a period of time. They have not been home since last fall and are looking forward to being with family. Jill and Derick plant "to take some Bible classes and be involved in local ministry" while they are in Arkansas.

A short-term ministry team from the U.S. assists the Dillards with a building project

The Bible study ladies sell their handmade jewelry

Photos courtesy dillardfamily.com

Recap: "Israel Meets Spurgeon"

Jill & Jessa: Counting On "Israel Meets Spurgeon" (Season 1 Finale)...

• The episode picks up where last week’s episode left off. Derick has met Jessa and Ben and several of the Duggar siblings at the airport, and they are en route to see Jill and Israel.
• When everyone arrives at the Dillards’ home, Israel meets his “Spurgie cousin” and gives him a bunch of kisses.
• “He is a chunk!” exclaims Jill, as she holds Spurgeon for the first time. Jill gives Jessa a tour of her home, which has three bedrooms but is still very small. It also does not have air conditioning.
• When asked if she would travel halfway around the world to meet her man, like Jill did while Derick was in Nepal, Jinger replies: “Well I don’t think I have to.”
• The Duggar siblings join the Dillards in helping prepare for the ministry’s annual women’s conference. When the women arrive, all five of the Duggar girls sing a song for them, and Jill shares a message.
• Jessa looks back on the mission trips the Duggars took to Central America when she was a teenager and remembers Jill telling her how much she loved the area and wanted to live there someday.
• How do the Duggars describe Jill? “Bubbly, loving, sweet, the one you can depend on for an encouraging word, so much fun, and patient” are some of their answers.
• On another day, the Duggars, Dillards, and Seewalds visit the orphanage where Mike and Sandy Schadt, founders of SOS Ministries, adopted their daughter.
• Jill says she is not pregnant but that their next child will probably be natural, rather than adopted, although she and Derick are still hoping to adopt someday.
• Derick, who says he has not played soccer since fifth grade, and the Duggar boys organize a soccer tournament. The Central American team beats the “Doringos.”
• When asked who they think will be the first to have another child, Jill and Jessa say they don’t know. “I think we’ll probably be pregnant at the same time,” predicts Jill.
• When it comes time for the Seewalds and Duggars to leave, they are sad to part ways with the Dillards. “I have milk, I can keep you!” Jill tells Spurgeon, jokingly.
• The Dillards admit that they don’t know what the future holds for them. “For now, God has us serving on the mission field in Central America, and we’re taking it day by day, week by week,” shares Derick. 

Will Counting On return for a second season? Click here to find out how you can help convince TLC to bring the show back. 

Recap: "Jessa's Wedding"

19 Kids and Counting "Jessa's Wedding"

• It's the day before the wedding, and everyone is bustling around making last minute preparations. "There are a lot of thoughts and emotions running through my head right now," says Jessa.
• Jessa and Ben meet with Mike Schadt, the pastor who will perform their marriage ceremony. Mike is the founder of S.O.S. Ministries, the organization that the Duggars partner with during their mission trips to Central America.
• Pastor Schadt makes it clear that Jessa and Ben's commitment to save their first kiss for their wedding day is a personal decision, not a biblical command.
• Jessa is reusing a lot of Jill's wedding decorations and is trying hard to stick to her parents' budget. Everyone is grateful to have so many family members and friends volunteer their time to set up for the big day.
• Sierra, the Duggars' friend and Jessa's wedding coordinator, gathers the volunteers and gives instructions. Joy is Seirra's personal assistant.
• Meanwhile, Guinn Seewald, Ben's mom, is busy preparing for the rehearsal dinner.
• As the wedding party runs through the ceremony, Jim Bob says he is trying not to suppress his emotions, but he still lets a few out.
• The Duggars are touched by the beautiful rehearsal dinner that the Seewalds put together. They are especially blessed by the table Guinn set up to honor Grandpa Duggar.
• Grandma Duggar, whose husband died soon before their 49th wedding anniversary, says the secret to a successful marriage is sacrifice. "You really have to sacrifice for the other person."
• During dinner, family members share how much they love Jessa and Ben. Jinger's speech is the most emotional, as she and Jessa have been best friends since birth. "I think this is really hard for Jinger, seeing Jessa get married," says Jana. "I think it is hard for her to let Jessa go."
• The next morning, Jessa and Ben arrive at the church with Jinger. The weather is a little chillier than Sierra expected, so she tries to rent a few heaters to keep the guests warm at the reception, but she is not successful.
• The wedding party shows up at 9am to start getting ready. After Jill puts on her dress, Derick paints her toenails. "He's so sweet," says Jill.
• Michelle arrives and gives Jessa a high protein snack for energy. Ben realizes that he has forgotten Jessa's ring at the Duggars' house, so Jim Bob has to bring it.
• Josh, who had a very important business meeting that he couldn't reschedule, arrives shortly before the wedding begins.
• When Jessa puts on her wedding dress, her 11 bridesmaids are stunned, and so is Jim Bob. "I can't believe my little girl is all grown up," says the Duggar dad, tearing up. Jessa, who isn't wearing waterproof makeup, starts crying, too.
• Meanwhile, Ben and his groomsmen head outside to take pictures. Jessa and her bridesmaids and flower girls do the same. "We were freezing," says Jinger.
• Just before the ceremony starts, Jim Bob shares another tender moment with Jessa, and both start crying again. The Duggar dad prays with the ladies, and Ben's dad prays with the guys.
• The wedding begins! "When my dad and I stood together behind the doors, I just couldn't believe it," says Jessa. "The moment was finally here."
• Jim Bob has tears in his eyes as he gives his third oldest daughter away. Pastor Schadt shares a short sermon, and Jessa and Ben recite their vows, which they adapted from a set of vows found on the internet. 
• They pour their green and yellow unity sand, and their parents join them on stage for a word of prayer.
• Pastor Schadt pronounces Ben and Jessa man and wife, and they run out of the sanctuary. After the wedding party leaves, Mike Schadt announces that the couple decided to have their first kiss in private.
• The pastor jokingly invites Jim Bob and Michelle to share a kiss with the crowd, although that scene is not shown in the episode.
• "Our first kiss was nice and slow and romantic," says Jessa.
• When Jessa and Ben return from their alone time, the Duggars and Seewalds take family pictures, and the couple signs their marriage certificate.
• At the outdoor reception, guests enjoy ice cream sundaes. Jessa and Ben share a sundae and a few more kisses.
• Before Jessa jumps in the horse-drawn carriage with her husband, she hugs as many family members as she can. The couple heads to Europe for their honeymoon.

Pictures: Duggar Kids in Central America

Last Saturday, Ben Seewald and several of the Duggars left for a 12-day mission trip to Central America with S.O.S. Ministries. Take a look at these photos to see what the crew has been up to.

Part of the Arkansas mission team

 Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald

 Jackson Duggar (blue shirt and orange backpack)

 Jackson Duggar

 Jessa Duggar

 Jessa Duggar

 Justin Duggar

 Jedidiah Duggar

Ben Seewald

Flashback! The Duggars have been serving in Central America since Josh was a teenager. Take a trip back in time to some of their past trips.

 Jim Bob Duggar and Jeremiah Duggar 2008

 Jill Duggar (now Jill Dillard) 2008

 Josiah Duggar 2008

 Anna Duggar 2008

 Jessa Duggar 2010

 Joseph Duggar 2010

Joy-Anna Duggar 2013

Jinger Duggar, Jill Duggar (now Jill Dillard), Jim Bob Duggar, 

Jessa Duggar, Jana Duggar, Joy-Anna Duggar 2013

Photos: El Salvador Days 7 and 8

More "new" photos from the Duggars' 2010 mission trip to Central America, most of which show parts of the trip that were not featured on TLC. Click here to view the first batch of pictures from their journey and here to see the second batch.

 Jim Bob Duggar at the El Rosario clinic

Day 7

Meeting the governor

San Salvador, El Salvador

 Jill Duggar

 Talking about S.O.S Ministries and the El Salvadorian adoption process

 Jason Duggar

 Jedidiah Duggar

 Jeremiah Duggar

 John-David (left) and Josiah Duggar (right)

Group shot with the governor

 Jill Duggar brushing her retainers
Day 8

Joseph Duggar doing morning devotions

 Joy-Anna Duggar

 Ready for another day of mission work

Duggars boarding the boat, headed for a remote island

Jana, Joseph, Jason, Jinger, Jessa, and Jill Duggar

Hour-long boat ride to a remote village

19 Kids and Counting camera crew

Joseph and John-David Duggar

 Ministering to children in the remote village

Jim Bob Duggar

Joy-Anna Duggar posing with a group of young girls

Jedidiah and Jeremiah Duggar

 Jumping rope with the kids

Josiah Duggar and Mike

Jim Bob and the kids on the way back

Group shot

 Evening meeting and devotions

 Jinger Duggar (right)
Picking up new team members from the airport

Cramming into the truck

Jinger Duggar (right)

Joseph Duggar

Haircuts are a group effort for the Duggars

Jana Duggar playing piano

Photos belong to Richard Shoemaker. More to come!