This Is Us,
The Vitals.
We are a family of 5 living on mission in Sayulita, MX.Â
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After 7 years spent living in the PNW, 7 years of jokes about moving to Mexico on one side of the coin, and prayerfully seeking where God had for us to open our cafe and church plant on the other side of the coin, here we are;
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many steps of faith taken, a whole life uprooted and now replanting, a café on the Main Street, a group of Christian misfits longing for community that is now being fostered, espresso shots flowing, nourishing food being made, neighbors becoming friends, friends becoming tias and tios to our children, Christ's love being shown, beach days, and late nights, sweaty hugs, and open arms.Â
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May the LORD's will be done, may His Kingdom come;
in our home as it is in heaven, in Buenas Olas Cafe as it is in heaven,
in Sayulita as it is in heaven.Â
AMEN.
Meet
the Family
Stephen
the handy man and dandy dad
Stephen is the steady hand, in our home and in the café. With reckless abandon he serves our family, and community.  With a smile always on his face, you'll always find him working hard. Often that is making the perfect coffee, holding a baby (or two,
or three), washing the never ending mountain of dishes, or creating or fixing with a power tool in hand. He is patient with interruptions, & always down for an adventure. He's the handyman, voice of reason, strength & the compass of our home.Â
Abbie
the creative mom and passionate dreamer
Abbie is the creative mastermind behind all our endeavors. Her passion for all things beautiful and delicious shines through in everything that she creates whether it be a delicious meal, beautiful painting, or curating a cozy and welcoming space. When she's not cooking or chatting at the cafe she's likely sitting with a kid patiently answering questions, running errands, or dreaming up a new idea or trip. She is the backbone of both our family and the cafe, doing the necessary yet often unseen tasks that keep everything running.
Esther, Oli,
& Ella
our bilingual baby baristas & family team
Esther, Oliver, and Ella are the ones who inspire us to follow God faithfully, love intentionally, and live deeply. They are the ones who ask questions that make us stay curious, and the ones who remind us that every day is an opportunity for growth, joy, and tenderness. They are compassionate, quick witted, and fun. They love to go to the beach, travel, draw, and use their imagination. Our baby baristas are all crucial to what God has called us to and we are thankful to get to know them, & raise them into who God has called them to be.
Why Mexico?
Mexico has always held a special spot in my heart since I was a young girl, I went on many short term missions trips, and back home always settled comfortably into Mexican American circles. Stephen on the other hand has Mexico in his blood, his grandparents were all born or raised in Mexico. This alone wasn't enough for us to make the jump to immigrate here, but this set a beautiful backdrop to the reality of coming to make Mexico our home. "Why Mexico" is kind of a long question for us to answer, with the short and sweet being "God called us here, and our family can have a better, slower, life here." But, if you want all the cool and nitty gritty details, please  chat with us in person, or check out bits and pieces of our story on our podcast, or on our blog.Â
What Exactly Are You Doing?
Sometimes this is asked with curiosity, and othertimes with judgment, I am here to answer the former. Our overall answer to this is; raising our kids in a culture that honors family, allows kids to stay kids, and holds ancestral importance, running a Christian café that serves quality coffee and food, serves the community and shares the love of Christ (through daily interactions, listening to others, generosity, events, being a safe and peaceful haven in a loud town, etc.), and most importantly walking in obedience to God and how He has called us to live in His kingdom reality here on earth.
Do You Speak Spanish?
Esther, si. Oliver, si. Ella, si, in the currency of sonrisas. Stephen, es mejor en la familia. Abbie, necesita mas practicar. We have all had moments of full immersion learning since arriving into Mexico in February 2025, but still have a long way to go. Luckily, and unluckily, the town in which we live has a very large population of English speaking immigrants which has eased this transition greatly, and still enables us to do what we have been called to do. However, this ease of speaking English around town has slowed our Spanish learning opportunities, so we take what we can get and are intentional to continue using Spanish as much as possible. We are thankful for our friends Abraham and Joanna who work at the cafe with us and ensure the Spanish speaking population in Sayulita are served and loved in the same capacity that we extend to the English speaking population.
