Goodbye Faith Church... Hello Retreat

Hello dear friends, family, and supporters!

Daniela and I are just coming off a 12 day stint with Faith Church Youth Group.  They left yesterday morning to go back to Pennsylvania.  We had a great time with them, getting to know them, and building into them while they were serving with us in the jungle and at El Refugio.  During the past few days, the group, Daniela, and I served at El Refugio doing various work projects such as mixing cement for a second pond in the prayer garden at El Refugio.  The group also worked on digging a trench to run electrical wiring down to the outdoor amphitheater at El Refugio.  Another project that the group did was to plant several new trees on the property, by the volleyball court and inside the prayer garden.  Below is a photo of the Faith Church youth team and family team mixing cement at El Refugio for the second pond in the prayer garden.

We also took part in a two day VBS at El Refugio with the children of Calacali.  For two afternoons this past week, the Faith Church teams and some of the El Refugio staff participated in putting together bible lessons, songs, games, snacks, and arts and crafts for these children.  Below are a couple photos from one of the VBS afternoons:

It has been a wonderful time these past 12 days!  We are sad to see the youth team go, but now Daniela and I are preparing the lessons and discipleship for our intern retreat tomorrow.  We will be going to Manabi, which is on the western coast of Ecuador, and we will be staying at a hotel right on the beach.  Daniela and I have been planning focused lessons around the topic of relationships and we will be doing a couple spiritual formation talks regarding a book that all the interns are reading called The Me I Want To Be.

Please pray for continued health for us on the retreat, and safety as we travel and while we are in Manabi.  Praise God for what a great time we had with Faith Church and the friendships we made with the groups and we pray for continued relationships with them for many years to come.

Thank you again for your ongoing prayers and support during our time down here.  We are so blessed to have such supportive friends and family!  We will write again once we are back from retreat.  God bless you all!