New Opportunities

Though it's only been just about a month since the students have left, everything is moving full speed ahead as we look forward to what the rest of this year brings and even next year already. This past week was especially neat as we had the chance to get to know some wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ from the mountains, actually from some rather remote indigenous villages, a people group called the Guarijillo. They live about a six hour drive from here in a town call Guajarai. Though a number came from this village, others came from villages relatively close by. Guajarai has access by road, though the last hour or so is rather rough. The other villages however have access on foot only (or mule if you're carrying a lot of stuff!) A previous team made the journey out to these villages to reach out to the people and encourage those who are believers there. Out of that journey, the idea for this past week was born and there ended up being about 45 men, women and children who came out to San Carlos for a getaway and a spiritual retreat. The believers in these villages had expressed an earnest desire to grow in Christ but the leaders in particular expressed their desire (and had been praying for) some type of encouragement spiritually. This trip came together with the help of a number of ministries and local churches.

The group on the bus on the way to San Carlos

The group spent seven days at Casa de Esperanza in San Carlos and for a number of those who came, this was the first time being any further than Guajarai. For many seeing the ocean was a new experience. God put it on someone's heart to find a way to take this group out on the ocean in a couple of boats, also a first for many. God put the cherry on top by giving them their own personal dolphin show as they were out there, and a number of dolphins made an appearance. By far though the highlight was just getting to know these brothers and sisters, spending time with them and seeing their desire to grow in their relationship with the Lord.

One of the first believers in the communities, as the group is out on the boats

The women treating us to fresh made corn tortillas

How do we as a school fit into this you might be asking? Each morning different people were brought in to share with this group whatever God put on their heart, a time of teaching. As the school we took the first morning and myself along with Jorge, one of our main teachers at CEC, shared on Galatians 2:20, on crucifying our SELF so that Christ can pour his life into us and through us. During the rest of the week, different pastors from different churches in the area shared whatever God laid on their hearts. The people where so open and receptive to all that was shared.

Jorge and myself during the teaching time

What is particularly exciting about their time here was that the church leaders who came, representing three different commmunities in the area expressed interest in some extended training time. As we met with those leaders, they were excited at the prospect of receiving some more extended training and teaching. As great as it would to have them come to study at CEC, it just isn't feasable for many of them. So, the idea was proposed to spend a couple of weeks in Guajarai, where the leadership in the different churches would meet and we would come out with several different teachers to give some foundational teaching, highlighting some of the topics we cover in our first year. Honestly, the idea of an "on the road" school has been something that has been on our minds over the past while. God seems to be bring this together and we are excited at the opportunity and to be whatever encouragement we can to this group of believers! Our plan is to head out there sometime in June to make some more arrangement, meet with the leaders, and put plans into place to hopefully see it happen sometime in October. It's exciting to see new opportunities like these! Pray with us as we plan and prepare to be a blessing to these wonderful brothers and sisters!

A couple of the men singing a song at the church in Fatima.  Each one of the local churches involved put together gifts of clothing and food to help out their Guarijillo brothers and sisters.  They ended up taking back two truckloads of stuff to blessing the churches and also their communities!

Spring Update

Spring is in the air! For many that means the end of the cold, white fluffy stuff. For us that means empty school halls and the heat waiting just around the corner! I've put together an update highlighting many of the awesome things that took place over the course of the past few months. Indeed the school halls are empty but it has been a blessing to see God work in the lives of these students. Read below or click here to view the update.

Halfway there!

Six weeks are gone, just like that!  We are almost at the halfway point and each week seems to be picking up more and more speed.  It's been quite a ride so far but all in all we are excited with the students that God has brought us and how we se Him at work in their lives!  Before I go any further, read up on our students below or click here to view a write up of students.


It has been a fairly intense first month for myself with the majority of my teaching responsibility already taken care of.  For the first four weeks my role was taking the students through the different spiritual disciplines, focusing on their relationship with the Lord first and foremost.  Often the highlights of their experiences while at school are the "desert times" which take place once every other week.  They are an opportunity to get away from the routine of school, the constant noise of living in community, and to spend some extended one on one time with the Lord.  We literally take them out into the desert where they find a little bit of shade, their Bible, some water, and just spend several hours in prayer, meditating on the Word, and just listening to God's voice.

The students have come with such a hunger to learn and have been very receptive to each and every one of the classes.  They have mixed together so well, forming one solid group, with no one being left out.  We've seen them get excited in opening in the Word and learning how to study it more profoundly and indepthly, seeing what God has to say behind each word and detail.

For myself it has been a good challenge and a stretching experience being in class almost every day.  The first four weeks for myself were centred on the spiritual disciplines and last week I started into a course on music ministry.  As a foundation we took a look at the Old Testament Tabernacle to see what it looks like to approach God which later on we will build off of as we look at what it means to worship and how to lead others in worship.  I have to say that the process of teaching and daily being in the Word in preparation (and sensing deeply that inadequacy and need for God!) has been a good experience.  I know that some days I've leaned on Him more so than others, and those are always the days that go better!  As obvious and basic as this truth is, like Peter getting out of that boat, even though he had Jesus standing on the water in front of him, still got overwhelmed by the wind and the waves around him.  As challenging as these experiences are at times, what a great testament they are to His goodness, mercy and strength!

We as a staff are very excited with what we see happening.  Thanks for your prayers and keep praying for us.  As things have moved from the freshness of the first couple of weeks to the routine that naturally develops, pray for energy and strength for us as staff, for a continued freshness in the student's lives, in their relationships with the Lord and as they continue to study His Word, that it would shape not just their understanding but their hearts! ¡Dios les bendiga!