Spring Step team finishes (almost)

This weekend, the spring step team said their goodbyes to their second project.

Goodbyes with the kids club that they´ve helped with every saturday.

 Goodbyes with the builders and the site that has been transformed from this to this....

 And then goodbyes with the church community that have so inspired them in their service to not only their local community, but so many others as well, through their church plants and outreach projects.

They now have a bit of a rest, and chance to explore Guatemala, before returning to the UK. It´s always a real blessing for me to lead debrief meetings with Step teams - I love hearing about what God has done in the team members lives - and how he has challenged them to live differently. It´s so great to see changes in peoples personalities and confidence as they learn to move into their gifts - as well as some of the struggles, as God chips away at insecurities and hurts from the past, bringing them into a fuller freedom in Him.

Environment workshop at the beach

Last week I went to a small village called Las Quechas on the Pacific Coast. A church there had asked Centro Esdras for a workshop about caring for the environment, so I went and led 2 evening services on the theme. It was great to be in a church that already had a very clear sense that the topic was important, mostly thanks to the pastor. The area is fairly touristy - it´s sandwiched between the coast and a mangrove eco system with a variety of wildlife, so many people are very aware of the need to protect the nature around them.

 

It was also great to be in a church, with a very vibrant community, with kids involved. We had about 145 people on both nights, who really got involved in all the group activities.

 But equally the environmental problems that we all face, are very obvious and on their doorsteps, as rubbish gets washed up onto the beaches and into the river system.

From the door of our villa.

 My friend Trish (also a volunteer with Centro Esdras) came with me to help. As we split the workshop over 2 evening sessions, and it´s a bit of a distance from the city, the church put us up in a local hotel, owned by some church members. Villas, right on the beach  - which has fairly crazily dangerous waves -- but also a pool.

Trish, doing her homework!

 Unfortunately I also got a few bites. I had repellent on any uncovered skin - which more or less kept the mosquitoes as bay -- but I think these were flea bites through the clothes!

I guess even paradise can have it´s drawbacks!!