"Overnight Camp-Out" with one of the Sunday School classes from our church

I want to share the details of our Institute for Forming Instructors in Argentina, but I don’t want to lose the opportunity to share photos about an event we just had this weekend.

Valerie (a.k.a. idea-maker) came up with the idea to invite her Sunday School class (girls 10-12 yrs) to our home for a camp-out. This idea was well-received and soon all the other Sunday School classes wanted to have their own Overnight Camp-out (Campa-Fogata) and so over the next several months we’ll celebrate five events.

Their testimonies from this Saturday-Sunday (Feb. 18-19) tell the stories:

“I have had Quiet Times before since my parents have taught me but this time was different. This time I felt like God spoke to me and told me that He has plans for me and that He wants me to trust Him. I felt like a princess, I even put a little crown on and I started to dance and sing to Him. Maybe the other girls thought I was a bit crazy dancing and singing but it didn’t matter because He’s my audience!”

Valerie Umaña-Anderson

“When they told us we’d have a night hike—and all alone—I was afraid. When Lisa took me out to start, she offered to pray with me first. I confessed that I had three fears: Fear of darkness, fear of being alone, fear of death. We put off those fears and put on God’s peace and courage.

It was amazing, at the end of my hike, I felt so free! So full of peace! I cried for joy and I even went on the hike again, this time with no light at the end. No more fears, God took them away!

Keren Elvir

Enjoy the 4 min. video that shows you the story…. Click on this link to view it from youtube if you can’t see it from the blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we_mXer8jbo

One conclusion I have come to is that God does marvelous things when (a) we create a time and space to be free from the distractions of daily life, (b) we create a community to help and encourage growth, (c) we work with intentionality.

What have you observed about how God works? (share with me your observations by clicking on the “comments link”)

Our new church: CCI El Hatillo

At the beginning of the year, God guided Alfredo and I to become part of the pastoral team for a new church in our neighborhood “El Hatillo” located 30 minutes from Tegucigalpa, Honduras where we live. And since I can not escape from CCI our church’s name is: CCI! (Comunidad Cristiana Internacional).

This video highlights the family focus we have as a church. Alfredo and I work directly with the children and youth ministry (0-18 years old), providing vision, oversight, teacher training and curriculum development for the Sunday School classes. Alfredo preaches regularly as well.

Our vision for the children and young people is To glorify God accompanying children and youth (families) in their spiritual journey from birth until college.

Alfredo and I are happy to be able to collaborate together in this adventure and we are part of a team of deeply talented leaders, among whom are the founding pastors Peggy and Isaac Vilorio, who are people with much experience and knowledge in church environment. We have the great joy of meeting in a spiritual retreat center called Villa Gracia so most Sundays School Classes meet outside, outdoors!

I share with you a 9:30 min. video that my photographer friend Gaby Argueta prepared in order to visualize what this church is and what it is in process of becoming. (I think you will find the photography fabulous!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIkgUfu0s_k

I personally have felt challenged since this life project is so different from the ministry of camping. The main difference being that church happens happens every week! We no sooner finish one good Sunday School class, than seven days later must be prepared for another! On the contrary, when I plan and finish one camp, there’s a long time until the next one starts. Alfredo often reminds me we are running a marathon, not a sprint. This helps me to keep perspective but, any way, teachers must be prepared, a curriculum for the different age groups must be chosen and/or written, and continual strategizing on how to best accompany these families in their spiritual journey with their children. I believe God loves to give me challenges such as these, where I find myself saying weekly: Lord, apart from you, there’s nothing I can do. Thank God we have other people in the Children and Youth Pastoral Team who are passionate about experience-based education and creative, non traditional teaching methods; therefore we are not alone, but in good company.

What challenge has God given you that keeps you restless and in daily need for strength and wisdom to face it?