Update: Youth Retreat

I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
So then, neither is he that planteth anything, nor he that watereth, but God who giveth the increase.
1Cor. 3:6,7

A few months ago, I shared a post about a weekend retreat with the youth from the church.  It's been really encouraging to see some of the outcome from the retreat over the last few months.  Two young men who had been on the periphery have shown and expressed a real hunger for the Word and a desire to grow in the Lord.  Please be in prayer for J and K that the Lord would continue to work in their lives and use them in a mighty way for His kingdom. 

Grass and Flowers

 

Saturday Activities

Today the youth from the church got together to make Christmas cards.  The goal was to make about 10 cards each, decorated and with a scripture verse.  Two weeks from now we plan to go with the youth to one of the city parks to witness and hand out the cards.  Please be praying that the Lord would go before preparing the way, that hearts would be open to the true meaning of Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving

When far away from relatives, it sure makes one thankful for brothers and sisters in Christ.  Wed. night a bunch of us got together to celebrate.  God is so good.

Let all things now living
A song of thanksgiving
To God the creator
Triumphantly raise.

Who fashioned and made us,
Protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on
To the end of our days.
God's banners are o'er us,
His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire
Shining forth in the night.
Till shadows have vanished
And darkness is banished
As forward we travel
From light into light. His law he enforces,
The stars in their courses
And sun in it's orbit
Obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains,
The rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean
Proclaim him divine.
We too should be voicing
Our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration
A Song let us raise
Till all things now living
Unite in thanksgiving:
"To God in the highest,
Hosanna and praise!"

Good times with long time friends

We've known the Ulloa family for about 25 years, and currently George is the rector of the Bilingue school and also pastoring one of the Lutheran churches in Cuenca.  Last weekend they invited German and I to go on a camping trip. Here are some pictures from the camping trip, and also a picture of Ruth's birthday party many years ago. :-)

The heavens

 

Photography with Sarita

 

Sarita is about 8.  She is the youngest of all the children being homeschooled right now.  On Mondays the two of us have computer class together, and today I decided we'd take digital pictures.  Here are the pictures we took together.

Saturday with church youth

This Saturday we had an outdoor and exercise time with the church youth.  About 25 youth came.  I taught them capture the flag, we had a devotional on the lawn, and we had a scavenger hunt.  It was a fun time, and because I was responsible to help lead the time, I unfortunately didn't get too many pictures.  Here are the few I got.

Birthday Party

Birthday parties are fun.  Here's some pictures from this week.  The face in the cake is so cultural....