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!! 

Environment Workshop - San Juan La Laguna

Last week, I went to San Juan La Laguna and gave a workshop about the environment (Responsible Stewardship of the creation) for Centre Esdras. About 40 pastors from the area came and participated.

 We looked at the Biblical basis for God´s care for the environment and our responsibility for it.

 What to do with rubbish?

 As well as how to use less energy or more sustainable ways of using energy.

It was good to be able to share this with the Pastors and local leaders, as well as look at practical ways in which churches can respond. I hope that it was useful and enjoyable for them.

Step holiday - Belize

So the Step team get to have a weeks holiday inbetween their 2 projects - and I kindly offered to go with them to help with transport arrangements etc ... nothing at all to do with their choice of holiday destination.... Placencia beach in Belize.

It´s a great place to relax. We stayed in these cabins, right on the beach so I was the first up every morning -taking advantage of the chance to swim whilst watching the sunrise. 

 

One day we went on a trip up Monkey river to see a bit of the wildlife....

 Bats, hanging on a tree.

 A tiny hummingbird nest - with an egg and a chick inside.

 Termites

 Howler monkeys

 Enormous bamboo

 Not sure what species they are....

 Rambo

 Lianna enjoyed the BBQ we had one night.

 All the team together - on a rare occurance of actually making a group decision about where to eat!

And last chance for a sunrise swim before we left. 

I know... it´s a hard life.

Step changes

So the time came for the Spring Step team to say goodbye to their first project. They´ve really enjoyed the little community out in the countryside, with lots of fresh air, and half the village just popping round to visit, learning some Quiche, as well as help with the building work. (And I´ve enjoyed visiting them there too!)
The church had a farewell service for them, and presented them all with a souvenir sign with each of their names.

 I was also presented with a handmade plaque recognising Latin Link´s partnership with them. It was so humbling to hear the church talk about the impact of the team being there and working alongside them.

 They will greatly miss Luis, their builder, and all round joker.

 The childrens club also had a special goodbye event for them- singing traditional songs, showering them with flower petals and presenting them with leaving gifts. Then all 250 kids lined up to say their goodbyes to the team, and then lined the road as we packed the minibus and drove off.

It´s so great how even in a relatively short time, and with very limited shared language, the Step team have managed to touch the lifes of this small community - and how each of the team members have been changed in the process as well. I love be able to watch as this happens!

Back to school.

The view from my hostel.

Recently I went back to Spanish school, to brush up on my imperfect subjunctive and a few other things. But I went to a school in San Pedro La Laguna, so that I could have a bit of a rest at the same time.

 This was my classroom ... right on the edge of the lake.

 Back at the hostel, I did my homework in the hammock!

 View across to San Pablo La Laguna.

 In the end, I had to miss my last day of classes and leave early, but getting the very early bus meant that I got to see this stunning sunrise over the lake, as we drove up the mountains.

What steppers do on their day off.

Internet cafe.