I was invited to attend the annual Tesoros de Dios staff retreat this year, as a volunteer and board member. Given the fact that this was a free trip (paid for by some incredibly generous churches in the US) to the Corn Islands in the bright blue Carribean waters on the other side of the country, it wasn't difficult to say yes! But exploring the unique geography of this new place wasn't the highlight--it was getting to know the staff at Tesoros. I see some of the 20-plus staff members weekly when I volunteer on Thursday afternoons, but this was a chance to
finally get
everyone's names and roles straight, learn about some of their stories, and just bond as a staff. It was a gift to be together, and it didn't hurt that we were together on the Corn Islands! Here are a few pictures from our retreat, which began at 3:20am (ugh!) on Monday and ended Wednesday evening. I am THANKFUL for the wonderful folks God has called to serve at Tesoros de Dios.
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| This was the first time many staff members had ever flown! It was so fun to see and hear their reactions. The plane was bigger than I thought it would be, and therefore less traumatic. |
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| I spy Masaya Volcano! |
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| Beginning our descent to Big Corn Island. |
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| View from the hotel. We were on the windy side of the island. Cooler but not the carribean blue ocean I expected! |
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| Local resident. |
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| Group bonding! We laughed a lot. In addition to our group bonding times, we had 5 sessions together, led by Pastor Jim from the US--a good time to grow spiritually as a staff. No pictures of this, though. |
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| Paul and Marvin |
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| Lobster in coconut sauce. Yup, I was on an island. And someone else was paying:) |
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| On our last morning, Luis, a staff member, was baptized in the hotel swimming pool. Awesome to see God at work amongst the staff members. |
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| At the airport, ready to say adios! |
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