Skip to main content

Pico Escondido: Missionary Retreat

A time of celebration.  A time of worship.  A time of sharing stories.  A time of tranquility.  A time of refreshment.  A time of rest.  A time of being challenged.  A time of togetherness.

Pico Escondido translates to Hidden Point in English.  It is a campground run by a Christian ministry called Young Life.  A beautiful mountain setting, away from the business even just five-ten minutes away.  This weekend as described above was really great!  I am so very thankful and appreciative for all the prayers and planning and behind the scenes in order to make this weekend a success.

Friday evening we kick-started the weekend with a baby shower for our newest member, Brennan who is around 2 months old.  We had a MK who is now studying at Notre Dame University come and share with our MK teens for the weekend.  Talking about MK issues and just sharing her own struggles and issues she went through.  The adult sessions we had people share their testimonies.  We highlighted some chapters from a book called, "Broken-down House" by Paul David Tripp.  Kerry shared from the chapter on God's sovereignty.

Saturday we continued with some more testimonies and some more chapters from "Broken-down House."  I shared on the chapter regarding seasons of waiting and what does that mean?  Dustin shared on celebration of God's grace.  There was a time where Julia (from home office) shared some items in regards to human resources, I shared very briefly about member care and gave everyone a ton of handouts for resources, Kaela shared about our new dress code policy and Vic shared some ministry highlights.  We celebrated by having a surprise bridal shower for Christina and her fiancé Moises.  Throughout the afternoon and evening there was free time to enjoy the various activities that the camp has to offer such as the big swing, the climbing wall, the swimming pool and a bonfire - making s'mores.

Sunday morning was probably my favorite time of the weekend.  We started with a time of worship, singing a mixture of oldies and newbies.  Philippians 1:3-6 "I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Gave passage into a time of affirmation and prayer.  We had each single and couple sit in the middle for various people to affirm them and then someone would pray over that person or couple.  I pray it was encouraging and uplifting for all.  Unfortunately, we had to cut it to only three people could share an affirmation because we were short on time but I shared with the group afterwards that if someone wanted to share something and did not get the opportunity to be intentional and go to that person(s) and share the affirmation.  This is a practice we should be doing on a regular basis to one another and everyone around us.  Modeling to the kids we serve to have an attitude of thanksgiving.

It was a great weekend!  A time of fellowship.  A time of affirmation.  A time of encouragement.  A time of reflection.

Kasandra leading a small devotion

Praying
KAI Missionaries

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. An unexpected and unplanned trip led me to see God’s marvelous and wonderful work at the Assist Pregnancy Center. I learned from the staff that this pregnancy center is unique and different in that the population they serve are women who come already with an 85-90% decision made of aborting their babies. The medical staff who are in the rooms with the women during their ultrasounds share Jesus with them and are compassionate witnesses to each baby as they are seen, valued, and loved. If the mother decides to have the baby the center walks alongside with the mother and family. I had the precious privilege to facilitate a training with all the staff of the pregnancy center to talk about the Wounds from the Work.  Listening to their stories of how the Lord called them to work at this pregnancy center and what the cost has been to them, and their families was sacred ground.  Creating a safe place for them to be seen and heard in thei...
Post a Comment
Read more

February Newsletter

    SHANNON’S CORNER Why I do what I do? Loneliness and the lack of support and connection is often the lived experience that ministry workers encounter, and it grieves my heart  because this has been my lived experience as well,  my story of burnout . My mission?  Connect. Nurture. Grow. The TCK Connect Chai Chat is where students talk about specific issues they face.  This month students talked about loneliness.  It is a part of their lives as they are always on the outside, seen as a foreigner no matter if in the host country or here in the U.S.A.  The students describe loneliness as a lack of a peer group, disconnected, and being unknown.  Withdrawing even more than usual is their way of coping with loneliness. What helps with their loneliness is joining the TCK Connect calls, talking with friends if they are available and listening to music.  It is beautiful to see how God is using TCK Connect in the st...
Post a Comment
Read more

October Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER The Saga Continues… The trip to Malaysia consisted of a two-day spiritual retreat with the theme of ‘Come Away With Me’ and a six-day conference with about 230 missionaries who serve in some aspect of translating the Scriptures. One of the many people who I met was a missionary who served in Cameroon for many years and now is in a new role. As he was sharing, most his words were very negative and depressive. I encouraged him to sign up for a time of prayer and care. At the end of the retreat, this missionary shared with me that he did have a session and I could see that his whole countenance changed, and he was hopeful. His new word he used to describe where he was now is ‘delightful.’ Our time there was creating a safe space for these missionaries to have a place to share what they are struggling with and to connect with Jesus. One missionary is at a crossroads in her life. Another finds himself in the midst of betrayal. A missionary is in a new role as a caregi...
Post a Comment
Read more