<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[MCYEP]]></title><description><![CDATA[MCYEP]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:07:00 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.mcyep.org/es/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Flowers in my Garden]]></title><description><![CDATA[upsplash photo Nothing is perfect I have a garden that I love to spend time in, especially in the morning when the birds are chirping and the sun has not reached its highest and hottest point. There is a soft breeze and the aroma of the earth wet with dew hovers in the air. I do my very best with help from my husband Mac and Kenia, who comes once a week , to tend to my garden. BUT there is always a brown spot on a leaf, a rose that just does not want to bloom, a misstep in nature that doesn't...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/flowers-in-my-garden</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a566aca5e603ccfb32f6543</guid><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:17:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_d92fb30f68454b63b1df455185572b4a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What I know, What I am Learning]]></title><description><![CDATA[It’s been almost two months since we laid our daughter to rest on May 10th—Mother’s Day. Since then, we’ve been overwhelmed  with gratitude by the calls, prayers, and financial support from friends in Guatemala and the United States.  My tears are fewer now, and when they come, they come softly—more like a quiet reminder of love than the sharp weight of those first days. Our first few weeks were spent sheltering three teenage young men in my husband Mac 's office with a daybed and a mattress...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/what-i-know-what-i-am-learning</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3c47dc033a541103e9151b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:30:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/671e04_a9f1c8036ecd4989bb262666efb63fc3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Our daughter is Gone!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Our daughter was murdered this month. I can't focus on the details of her death, but I know many of us are struggling. I am amazed that we are all standing but I know it is God's strenght that has kept us going because we do smile and laugh among ourselves and that is good. I beleieve when we are alone that then it hits us harder. That seems to be my case. I don't cry a lot, not as much as when her body was found and our 18 year old grandson had to identify her! She is not my blood. She is my...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/our-daughter-is-gone</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a190e6c345540299750f976</guid><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 04:43:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/671e04_b383934bf36647638cd9d6f48aa46efd~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[May Day Memories]]></title><description><![CDATA[May Ploo As I’m approaching my 80th year in 2026, memories keep popping into my head about my childhood. Today, May 1st, brings back one of the brightest: May Day. I can still picture the May Day flowers—little bouquets gathered with care—and the colorful streamers that seemed to turn an ordinary day into something festive. There was a special feeling in the air, like spring itself was being celebrated. What I remember most is how simple it all was. We didn’t need much to make it feel like a...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/may-day-memories</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69f4cd5790b4365cb86065f0</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 15:57:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/671e04_e66b01d020b44db38ecd0e2f8581599d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Tribute to my Dad]]></title><description><![CDATA[The month of March just ended and it brought to mind the passing of my dad in 2016 in March. I was in Guatemala and my family advised me that he was in hospice. He had  fallen and broken his leg in late 2015. I came home for a month and stayed with him. He seemed to be healing well when I returned to Guatemala. He was receiving excellent care but he developed a sore on his heaes that would not heal. The wound was opened and gangrene was present. There was talk of amputation but that came off...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/a-tribute-to-my-dad</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d6ed220b7119100dff3e07</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:27:17 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Embracing the New Year: Celebrating Blessings and Fresh Beginnings]]></title><description><![CDATA[The start of a new year brings a unique opportunity to pause, reflect, and look ahead. It invites us to celebrate the blessings we have received and to welcome fresh beginnings with open hearts. This moment offers a chance to reset our intentions, appreciate what truly matters, and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead. Recognizing the Blessings of the Past Year Before moving forward, it’s important to acknowledge the good things that have happened. Blessings come in many...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/embracing-the-new-year-celebrating-blessings-and-fresh-beginnings</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6959446b564ad52a95922fa7</guid><pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2026 19:27:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/671e04_e9e5a826a8e842b288b512e4ecfc0b5e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[To read a longer version of my blog Teacher, Son, Husband, God! open the link to medium below and share what you think of the difference, please! ]]></title><description><![CDATA[https://medium.com/@myra.mcilwain311/teacher-son-husband-god-e614e8b47f31]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/to-read-a-longer-version-of-my-blog-teacher-son-husband-god-open-the-link-to-medium-below-and-sh</link><guid isPermaLink="false">693b9ce63aa9eb11ebb23eda</guid><pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 04:42:45 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teacher, Son, Husband, God!]]></title><description><![CDATA[In life, we often find ourselves at crossroads, seeking guidance and clarity. My journey led me to ask God for three things that deeply mattered to me: to be a teacher, to have a son, and to have a husband. Each of these requests carried profound meaning, and as I reflect on the answers I received, I find myself filled with gratitude for God's love and faithfulness. .                                   Teacher As a young, single mother, I wanted to be a teacher. Money was tight, so when my...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/teacher-son-husband-god</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6938b9ce4e2629cde3a17041</guid><pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 02:20:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_3dfe99d2f7484be3b7c3a051ba2d169e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Here I am Lord, Send me!]]></title><description><![CDATA[I am someone who values order, a trait that has become integral to my identity. While my early childhood is somewhat hazy, filled with fragmented memories and intense emotions, I have cultivated a sense of structure and organization as I grew older. This journey towards greater structure has not been without its challenges, especially as I used to work closely with abused children in my early years as a missionary in Guatemala. In this environment, I began to reflect on my own experiences and...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/here-i-am-lord-send-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690cd25c67a5d676a7e907ba</guid><pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2025 19:07:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d0028c_faec29050cc74e89a21a7cd992b4ecaf~mv2.avif/v1/fit/w_414,h_414,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[One Month In]]></title><description><![CDATA[We live in Guatemala! Many people associate Guatemala with volcanos. While it's true that there are many, we reside in a different part...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/one-month-in</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68db320da224de4e51dad5f0</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 02:32:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/671e04_4d2280e54f46404b81355cc44195ae4a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA["Transitioning from the U.S. to Our Home in Guatemala]]></title><description><![CDATA[Moving back to Guatemala has been a significant journey for our family. Closing our home in the U.S. was filled with mixed...]]></description><link>https://www.mcyep.org/post/transitioning-from-the-u-s-to-our-home-in-guatemala</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68afa7ca412b28e83d0b357d</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 02:19:35 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Myra McIlwain</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>