Dillards Headed Back to Central America

The Dillards at Dan Dillard's recent wedding

A couple weeks ago, we shared that Jill and Derick Dillard had plans to return to Central America after being in the United States since early August. Just a few minutes ago, the missionary couple announced that all systems are go and they are preparing for the trip back.

"We are excited to be back to the work our hearts love so much," the Dillards write in a note on their website. From the early stages of our lives, the Lord has put a deep love and care in both of our hearts for all peoples of the world that they would come to repentance and put their hope in the Lord, Jesus Christ."

In addition to serving in the location where they are stationed, Jill and Derick also make weekly trips to villages plagued by violence to provide skills training and Bible studies to adults, as well as children's programs. They express their gratitude to those who have partnered with them in prayer and through financial contributions, and they share their need for additional monetary support. (Click here to be redirected to their donations page.)

"In addition to the ministry outreach expenses, there are always monthly expenses for groceries, utilities, fuel, healthcare, etc," the Dillards write. "We have always purposed to live a frugal lifestyle and continue to do so in the mission field. When you give a donation to our ministry, you are helping our family cover living expenses to be able to remain on the field and helping reach so many precious lives."

Jill, Derick, and Israel Dillard will return home for the birth of their second son, due in July.

Photo courtesy dillardfamily.com

Israel Reacts to Mama's Musical Performance

Back in the United States for the first time since last fall, Jill and Derick Dillard have enjoyed sharing new experiences with their son, who turns 18 months old next week. In this video clip, Jill pulls out one of her family's violins and performs the hymn "Fairest Lord Jesus" for Israel Dillard. He is completely mesmerized!

While in Arkansas, the Dillards are taking online classes and working with local mission organizations.

Photo/video courtesy duggarfamily.com

Dillards Celebrate 4th of July

We hope all of our American and Canadian readers had a blessed holiday weekend celebrating 4th of July and Canada Day.

Although Jill and Derick Dillard are more than 2,000 miles from home and are not living on American soil, they still made a point to celebrate American Independence Day.

They chowed down on buffalo wings from Pollo Campero, the world's largest Latin chicken chain. Founded in Guatemala, Pollo Campero now has more than 300 restaurants worldwide, including more than 55 locations in the United States.

Here are a few snapshots from the Dillards' weekend.

 Jill (Duggar) Dillard, Derick Dillard, and Israel Dillard

Jill and Derick Dillard

Photos courtesy dillardfamily.com

'Counting On' Season 2?

Tonight is the season finale of Counting On. TLC has not made any announcements regarding the future of the series, but without support from fans, the show will surely die. 

Let's flood the internet with positive feedback! Here's how you can help: 

1. Post your comments to our blog.
2. Mention the show on social media using the hashtag #BringtheDuggarsBack.
3. Submit your feedback to TLC. Click here to find out how.

If you live in the United States or Canada, tune in to Jill & Jessa: Counting On "Israel Meets Spurgeon" tonight at 9pm ET/8pm CT on TLC. If you can't watch live, purchase the episode (or the entire season) on Amazon, iTunes, or Google Play.

You've heard us say this before, but your voice matters. Without your feedback, there would be no Counting On. If you want to continue to watch the Duggars on TLC, go ahead and shout it from the rooftops!


Photo courtesy TLC

Dillard Update

Nearly two weeks after leaving the United States to begin their new lives as missionaries, Jill and Derick Dillard are ready to announce where they are serving. Those of you who guessed Central America are correct!

The Dillards have already begun their mission work and have enjoyed sharing the Gospel with the people of Central America. They were thrilled to watch an elderly woman give her life to the Lord just a few days ago. Three-month-old Israel Dillard is adjusting well and has captivated the locals with his beautiful blue eyes.

Be sure to keep praying for the Dillards. If you wish to become a financial partner of their ministry, click here.

Israel Dillard and his beautiful, blue eyes

(although this picture makes them look darker)

Photo courtesy of duggarfamily.com

Dillard Update

Jill (Duggar) and Derick Dillard recently announced their decision to begin international missions, something they have been planning for the past several months. They shared their plans with their families earlier this year and with Derick's boss at Walmart Corporate in May.

The Dillards have been busy preparing for their departure and tying up loose ends in the United States. They have also been traveling to visit relatives who have not yet met Israel.

After celebrating Independence Day with family this weekend, the Dillards left the United States to begin their new lives as full-time missionaries. 

There are rumors floating around about where the Dillards are serving, but anyone who reveals that information before Jill and Derick desire for it to be released is going against their wishes. For security reasons, Jill and Derick would like to keep the details of their journey confidential for the time being. The couple has requested prayer as they begin their journey.

The Dillard family

Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to Dillard Family Ministries, recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. 

Photo courtesy of duggarfamily.com

Michelle Duggar Greets Saipan

In this YouTube video, Michelle Duggar and Franicia White, a close friend of the Duggars and a former resident of Saipan, extend a special greeting to the people of Saipan. Saipan is a commonwealth of the United States and is located approximately 3,700 miles west of Hawaii.

Duggar Meet and Greet

This Wednesday, join the Duggars on Capitol Hill. From 8:30 to 10:30am, the family will be at the Hyatt Regency, and they want you to be there, too. Following the meet and greet, the Duggars will head over to the March for Life. Here are the details for all the family's upcoming events:

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 8-9pm
Students for Life of America National Conference
Duggars to speak and receive the 2013 Defender of Life Award

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar will speak at the event, as will Josh Duggar, their oldest son. The family has not yet decided whether any other Duggars will be in attendance.

Tickets purchased ahead of time are $50 for students and $70 for other attendees ($45 and $60 if you register by December 31st). On-site registration is $60 for students and $70 for other attendees.

First Baptist Church of Glenarden
(one of the largest African-American churches in the D.C. Metro Area)
600 Watkins Park Dr.
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774

Click here for more details about the award.
Click here to register.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 8:30-10:30am
Meet and greet the Duggars and the Santorum family
Hyatt Regency, Capitol Hill 
Congressional A/Lobby Level (400 New Jersey, NW)
Washington D.C.
Breakfast pastries and drinks
Click here to reserve a spot (tickets are free but are required)

Wednesday, January 22, 2014 12:00pm
Duggars to attend the 2014 Rally and March for Life in Washington D.C.
Rally takes place on the National Mall from 12pm-1pm; March follows at 1pm 
March ends at the building of the Supreme Court of the United States on Capitol Hill
Click here for more information 

Duggars Walkin' In A Winter Wonderland

Residents across the United States are bracing themselves for a record-breaking cold front. In Northwest Arkansas, temperatures are hovering around 0 degrees Fahrenheit, with a high of 13 on Monday. Thankfully for the Duggars, snowfall has been minimal, and meteorologists are predicting above-freezing temperatures for the rest of the week. How is the weather in your area?

The Duggars enjoy an afternoon of sledding after a snowstorm in 2011

Large dumps of snow are few and far between in Arkansas

Preorder "Growing Up Duggar"

The Duggar girls have been hard at work writing their first book, Growing Up Duggar. It is set to release on March 4th, 2014, and can be preordered on Christan Book, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.

In their book, the four oldest Duggar girls give readers an inside look at what it's like to be a Duggar kid, as they talk about their own faith and perspectives on life. As they look at the different relationships in their lives, the girls share how they resolve conflict, their dreams and plans for the future, details on courtship vs. dating, and much more. 

Extended Summary:
In a rare look inside America’s favorite mega-sized family, the four eldest girls talk about their faith, their dreams for the future, and what it’s like growing up a Duggar.

Airing weekly throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, 19 Kids and Counting has transformed the Duggar family into a media phenomenon. The Duggar children are frequently asked, “Tell the truth; do you really agree with the lifestyle your parents have created for you?” Now, the four eldest Duggar girls—Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger—open up about the blessings and advantages of living the Duggar lifestyle.

With a backdrop of the key relationships in their lives—relationship with self, parents, siblings, friends, boys, and God—the four Duggar girls write about their own personal faith and convictions, boys, dating, manners, living in a large family, politics, and much more. You’ll learn how the family navigates the difficult years between twelve and sixteen and what the girls look for in a man, all in a frank and fun book that will inspire teens and adults alike.

Including lighthearted stories about the younger kids’ antics, Growing Up Duggar is a wise and entertaining trip into a family like no other. 

Growing Up Duggar...Book Cover Released

Only six months until Growing Up Duggar hits the shelves of your local bookstore!

In a rare look inside America’s favorite mega-sized family, the four eldest girls talk about their faith, their dreams for the future, and what it’s like growing up a Duggar.

Airing weekly throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, 19 Kids and Counting has made the huge Duggar family into a media phenomenon. The Duggar children are frequently asked, “Tell the truth; do you really agree with the lifestyle your parents have created for you?” Now, the four eldest Duggar girls—Jana, Jill, Jessa, and Jinger let us know how they feel.

With a backdrop of the key relationships in their lives—relationship with self, parents, siblings, friends, boys, and God—the four Duggar girls open up about their own personal beliefs and convictions, boys, dating, manners, living in a large family, politics, and much more. You’ll learn why Jessa has a reputation as a troublemaker, how the family navigates the difficult years between twelve and sixteen, and what the girls look for in a man, all in a frank and fun book that will inspire teens and adults alike. Including lighthearted stories about the younger kids’ antics, Growing Up Duggar is a wise and entertaining trip into a family like no other.

Recap: Duggars in Beijing, China

On tonight's episode of 19 Kids and Counting "Duggars Do Asia"...

• Jim Bob organizes his family's suitcases to prepare for the three-and-a-half hour flight from Kyoto, Japan, to Beijing, China.
• While riding the subway to Tiananmen Square, the Duggars rely on "buddy teams on steroids," as Jim Bob calls it. Frank Sun, a member of the film crew, helps the Duggars navigate China.
• The Duggar dad tells his little ones how to act when the family is approached by fans.  "We're going to be kind of like a tourist attraction," he says.
• "Always smile," says Michelle. "Be very gracious."
• The subways in China are much more crowded than the subways in the United States, but they are a whole lot cheaper. Twenty-four tickets cost the Duggars less than $8.
• "You just squish in, and they make space," says Michelle.
• "The person that was going to squash me, I was going to squash them back," says Jackson.
• On day two, the Duggars take a bus to the Great Wall of China. They spend the night in Gubeikou Village, a rural Chinese village. During dinner on the night of their 4th anniversary, Josh and Anna sneak away to take the pregnancy test that Anna purchased in Japan. It comes back negative, and Anna admits that she is a little bummed, but the couple does not regret their decision to trust God with the size of their family.
• When they return to Beijing, the Duggars find out that Courtney Enlow, coordinating producer of 19 Kids and Counting, is in labor. Jana, studying to be a doula, and Jill, studying to be a midwife, are eager to help.
• "Jill literally pushed Courtney through the halls of the hospital," says Scott, Courtney's husband and the crew's director of photography.
• It's a girl! Scott and Courtney get a quick glimpse of Leah Adee Enlow, 5 pounds 10 ounces, but are not reunited with her until three-and-a-half days later.
• After the baby is born, the Duggars venture out into Beijing once again. The entire family cringes when soundman Jim Goodwin eats a scorpion.
• Towards the end of the show, the Duggars bring backpacks, shoes, and love to a Chinese orphanage. "I think love is universal, and happiness is universal," says Anna. "It's really special to be here."
• "Our hearts just really went out to those kids," says Jinger.
• Would the Duggars consider adopting? "We have been praying about that, and so our hearts are open," says Michelle. Stay tuned!
• Before they leave China, the adorable Leah Adee Enlow is released from the hospital and introduced to the family.
• "After three weeks away, we will all be very happy to be home," says Michelle. Two days after returning to Arkansas, Anna's pregnancy test comes back positive! Grand-Duggar #3 is due on June 7th.

Recap: Photos, Possums, and Popes

On tonight's episodes of 19 Kids and Counting...

"Smile and Say, Duggars!"

• The show opens as Josie belts out "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
• On Mother's Day, the Duggars head to Joplin for a fundraiser aimed at encouraging mothers affected by the 2011 Joplin tornado.
• As usual (rounding up 19 kids is no easy task), leaving the house on time is a struggle. "No matter how far in advance we plan, it seems like at the very end, everybody remembers 'Oh yeah, I forgot to eat!"' explains Jill.
• In Joplin, conference attendees have the opportunity to eat dinner with the Duggars. "They really feel like they're part of our lives when they watch the show," Michelle says of their fans.
• Next, the Duggars prepare for their 2012 photo shoot. Scott Enlow, the family's photographer of nine years, has chosen the color scheme: everyone in jeans with a mix of navy and light blue tops. 
• Scott Enlow is in for a challenge: the little ones often deliberately look away from the camera, just to exercise their free will.
• Jim Bob compares photo shoots with the Duggars to capturing still shots of live worms.
• When it comes to individual portraits, the process is easier than expected. "Everything seemed to be going great until we got to Josie," says Jill. 
• Michelle describes her youngest as a "fighter from the beginning" with a strong will. "She definitely has her ideas about what she wants to do, when she wants to do it," says the mom of 19.
• With Scott Enlow's incredible patience, everything works out. Click here to view the final photos.
• At home, the Duggar boys catch a possum in a clear, plastic bin and bring it to Jim Bob. Once the rest of the family has taken a peek, the boys are told to release their furry friend.

"Duggars Dinner Party"

• While in the NICU with Josie, Michelle bonded with Sarah Pope, also the mother of a preemie. When the Popes come over for dinner, Josie and Samuel become instant friends.
• Josh enlists his dad, several siblings, and Jonathan Hartono to move cars back to the location that he moved out of only months ago. (Jonathan and his sister, Jennifer, met John and Jana in Asia. They are now attending school in the United States, and the Duggars' house is their "home away from home.)
• Anna and Mackynzie whip up a few batches of cookies for the car-moving crew. "Mackynzie loves cookie dough, and I'm kind of right in there with her; it's good stuff," laughs Anna.
• Anna's favorite part about the car lot is the large playroom where she and the kids can hang out.

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day to our readers in the United States and Canada! Enjoy a relaxing, rain-free day with family and friends.

Reminder: Tune in to TLC tonight at 9PM EST/8PM CST for two new episodes of United Bates of America.

Sept 3, 9:00 pm

United Bates of America: New Editions

Gil and Kelly Jo have decided to take on some new tenants: chickens! Despite past failed attempts at keeping chickens, they're determined to make their land productive. Will the family finally get the bounty of eggs they've been hoping for?

Sept 3, 9:30 pm

United Bates of America: Bates Plus 12

When you have a family of 21, what's a few more house guests added to the mix? The Bates get a visit from their friends the Paines who are a family of 12. Later, we get a lesson on dating.