june 27

June 27

We slept in today, trying to get some rest and prepare for the weekend and next week.  At breakfast we manna (kind of like cream of wheat or grits, but not really) and eggs and it was a good way to start the day.  Everyone arrived around noon and we started the retreat with a simple lunch of bread and cheese, potatoes, and cucumber and tomato salad.  The theme of the retreat is recharging ourselves before we prepare to lead others.  The two main verses we are focusing on are Deuteronomy 4:5-6 and Mark 12:29-30.  The first session began with discussion about the theme and an activity. There were seven of us (nine including Dan and Courtney, but they are the leaders) so we split up into two teams to build a working stool with whatever we could find. We then talked about how we need to be fed spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally.  The analogy that was used was the stool, with the seat being the spiritual aspect, and the legs comprising the other three and how all parts need to be taken care of for it to be ok to be used.  The second session was a time for recharging spiritually.  We had an hour to go wherever and spend time in the Word, journaling, praying, whatever; we just couldn’t talk or be with other people.  As a semi-guide we had a (lecio devino) over Psalm 46, especially verse 10 that says, “Be still and know that I am God”. The time was very much needed and very refreshing.  Being able to just stop and forget about every anxiety and distraction is something we are so bad at doing as humans.  It is so hard to just take time to stop doing and just be, but when we do, it is such an amazing time.

We had a break before dinner and so there were several things going on. Vivita and Sneidze cleaned the bathrooms, Dan started preparing dinner, Brandon and Trevor built the fire and Laura, Kaiva, Courtney and I drove back into town to get some more stuff from the store for the next couple of days.  Hamburgers on the grill with toasted bread for buns and baked potatoes in the fire pit made for a wonderful dinner outside.  The session after dinner was an art session in the sanctuary where we were to display artistically through some craft our interpretation of some passage of scripture.  There were beads and markers and paint and rope and all sorts of things that could be use to make our creation.  We shared the meaning behind our pieces of work and discussed the emotional side of our being that needs to be recharged.

The plan was to take a walk to the beach, but halfway on the journey it started to rain so we headed back to camp to have some ice-cream and play cards instead.  By this point, it was just us, Dan and Courtney, Vivita and Sneidze, and Trevor (who, randomly enough, is an American here for Wesley Days.  As if this coincidence was not enough, he is also from Alabama.  And he is our age, having just graduated from “the other school” – the University of Alabama that is. Small world.)  We played cards for a while, playing King Mau, which is so much fun, but quite confusing as well; much to confusing to explain on here. 

We have an early day tomorrow so it’s time for bed, but today was such a great day and we’re even more excited about tomorrow for the rest of the retreat and for the team from the states to get here tomorrow night (who coincidently enough is of course from Alabama).