Although the hit TLC show "19 Kids and Counting" is currently on hiatus, the Duggar clan has maintained a busy schedule, as several of the older children and patriarch Jim Bob recently went on a two-week mission trip to Central America.
According to the family's blog, Jessa, boyfriend Ben Seewald, Jinger, Jim Bob, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, and Jackson all participated in the trip to Honduras. The group hiked, ministered to locals, and held a Vacation Bible school for local children, which included skits and musical performances.
Since Jim Bob and eldest son Josh's first trip to Central America several years ago, the Duggars have made mission trips with SOS Ministries an annual, or sometimes biannual, tradition for their family.
Following the mission trip, SOS Ministries thanked the family on their website and hinted that scenes from the mission trip would be featured on the upcoming season of "19 Kids and Counting:"
"For the past seven years, we have had the privilege and opportunity to serve the Lord alongside the Duggar Family, preaching the gospel to the lost and helping the poor. As a result of this friendship, S.O.S has been featured on several episodes of "19 Kids and Counting."
Currently, the family is back in Arkansas, and Jessa and Joy-Anna are participating in a three-week healthy food challenge. On the family's blog, the girls shared photos of their meals, including a breakfast of green beans and two fried eggs, and lunch which consists of cubed chicken and sweet potatoes cooked in olive oil and plainly seasoned with salt and pepper.
Jessa and Ben will also be celebrating the first year anniversary of their courtship on September. Jessa is the first Duggar daughter to enter a relationship, but her sister, Jill, was the first to get married when she married fiancée Derick Dillard last June. However, many speculate that Jessa and Ben may be married before this year is over.
In the meantime, Josh Duggar, who is the executive director of Family Research Council Action, is following in his father's political footsteps. Last week, Josh shared his vision for American politics at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, speaking about his family's values and how they are using their reality TV show to spread those values.
Josh encouraged conference attendees to be courageous and to stand up for their beliefs. "Freedom is not the right to do what we want," he reminded them. "Freedom is the power to do what we ought."
"19 Kids and Counting" will air its new season on September on TLC.
