The team of Latin American's close encounter with Ligonier's "Vomit Comet" and other adventure activities

During the Pittsburgh Leadership Summit this past summer, one evening, all but two members of the group made our way into the woods of Ligonier Camp and Conference Center to the Giant Swing—affectionately called “Vomit Comet” for reasons you can imagine. After a thorough briefing on the numerous safety measures related to wearing a helmet, harness, and how we’d all protect one another’s emotional safety through a full value contract (encouraging one another both verbally and with body language) we were prepared to be pulled up high into the air, then the “flyer” would pull a parachute like cord, and be released to sang into the air.

During the debrief afterward Karina (Argentina) shared the following: “I wanted to challenge myself to take another step of faith since I have already done the Trust Fall. As I was strapped in, pulled up high (just beyond my comfort zone) let loose and swung high and low, I extended my arms to fully feel my faith step. As I mediated on this, I realize that my faith today was based in part on the foundational safety briefing we had. And I think just like their safety measures gave me a firm foundation to trust the system, likewise my time in Scripture and studying God’s Word gives me reasons to trust, it solidifies His trustworthiness.

I wanted time to slow down since I was living a dream these days the team of Latin Americans was in Pittsburgh this past summer. Each day was pregnant with new concepts forming in the minds of the Latin Americans. I saw connections being made between theories like power distance (link), low and high context cultures (link), and problems at home and church. I saw how the evening activities we participated in at Ligonier Camp connected with things we were learning during the day with Jim. Without a doubt, I am a firm believer in experiential education and found myself delighted daily in the discoveries we were all making. 

I trust you will enjoy this 5 min. video composite of pics and video clips of our team at Ligonier, making connections and learning through our experiences.
Adventures Latin American team had at Ligonier Camp

Short-term Missions Team in Costa Rica

Leader’s Cabin, Camp Roblealto, Costa Rica

We sit in a circle, a team formed of folks from Pittsburgh, Panama and Honduras. Fifteen folks who will not meet all together again until we are at the feet of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but for this week are enjoying a growing sense of family.

Valerie laid against my legs and as she looked at the song sheet, she whispered: Whenever we sing, I get so calm and tranquil inside.

Robert Bruneau, took the guitar and asked us to open our hymnal (our Bible) and we sang directly from Psalms 117, 48, and 46—in Spanish. Patrick, director of Ligonier Camp & Conference Center (outside of Pittsburgh) asked for lots of repetition to try and get those words down—he tended to lapse into French!

Afterward, Victor and Valerie and Nicole (Robert & Nina Bruneau’s daughter) climbed up to Victor’s bunk & held their flashlights high in the air to shine down on their books-When I checked in, Nicole said: We're having a reading party! Victor was reading Lord of the Rings, book 1, Nicole was enjoying the cartoon-like illustrations of my Games Encyclopedia and Valerie was reading a mystery. Their delight to be together is matched by their parents’ delight to be together again.

Alfredo is home in Honduras holding down the fort and the children and I are here to accompany this team made up of folks from Ligonier Camp and First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh. Our goal has been to build an innovative playground for Camp Roblealto and here are the results:

We'd love to have you join us in prayer for:

• Pray for the reminder of our time with the team, Oct. 5-11, for each of us to sense God’s direction for our lives, and for the five full-time staff members from Ligonier to deepen in their love for this Camp.

• Pray for the additional four days during which the kids & I will have special family time with Robert & Nina, to create unforgettable family memories as well as to freely discuss important issues Christian Camping International, Latin America.