September: Nature Helping Nurture

The school year is off and running as the end of the first quarter looms. September has been a busy but productive month. There have been lots of opportunities to grow and connect with people. This past month has been highlighted by our staff retreat, the Takesi hike with the freshmen and sophomores, and other various activities. It is also a month of achievement as Audrey had two of her papers adapted and published on Southeastern's Missions page. You can read them both here: https://www.thecgcs.org/resources/post/resource-review-islam-and-north-america/ and https://www.thecgcs.org/resources/post/a-book-review-of-no-god-but-one/

The staff retreat, pictured above, was a really nice weekend of reflection and community. It was a much appreciated change of scenery as we ventured into a retreat center down the mountains and along a river. The week prior was our Spiritual Emphasis Week, and we had a speaker come from Pennsylvania to talk to the students about authentic and genuine Christianity. Our staff retreat was the concluding weekend and the speaker brought a message of unity and purpose to help us reflect and recharge. We enjoyed the time with the staff whether it was playing in the pool, the river, playing basketball, telling stories around the fire, or worshiping together. Our school verse this year is Romans 15:5-6, which talks about the unity and harmony that we can have in Christ. The staff retreat was a good reminder of how we can do that and how being like-minded in Christ can help us achieve that as a staff as we seek to serve together.

The message of unity in Christ-like community is also a message we are trying to convey to the students. Mark had the opportunity to speak at the high school chapel and centered his message on 2 Corinthians 13:11. It was a time of encouragement and challenge to the student body. We would appreciate prayers for the unity and harmony of said student body, and for God to work in bringing the students together. Opportunities to practice unity come everyday, but a key opportunity came on our three day student hike that we do every year with the freshmen and sophomores. Mark and three other teachers took 31 students on the 23 mile hike of the Takesi trail, which is part of the old Incan trail in the Yungas Mountains.

Opportunities abounded to build relationships, ask deep questions, and reflect on the beauty of God's creation along the trail. Opportunities to encourage others, help others, and bond with others were plentiful, and many of our students rose to the challenge. It was an encouraging time, and really cool to see God work along the way. We continue to pray for opportunities to not only model Christ to these kids, but speak truth in every chance provided. The hikes are great opportunity for this, but our discipleship times are even more of a chance to consistently pour into the students.

Both our discipleship times, teaching times, and all the times in between combine to be a daily opportunity to model Christ for these students. It can be quite challenging in all honesty. We are far from perfect, we struggle daily with our own selfishness, and currently are battling some lingering sickness. This is another thing you can be praying for, as more and more we need God every hour to help us be consistent and loving in an effort to represent the Gospel message well and build Christ-centered community. We are super thankful for the special times to get out in nature, reflect on what God is doing in our lives, and spend time building community with staff and students. It helps recharge us for the daily grind that can come with working at a school and on the mission field.

September is in the books and October shows no signs of slowing down. Opportunities will be numerous, and although that can be exhausting, it is also a blessing to know we have those opportunities to serve others and build God's kingdom here in La Paz. Pray that we can do so intentionally, consistently, and boldly. Thank you for taking the time to read and think of us. We always enjoy hearing from others and hope that we can pray for you as well. Please don't hesitate to reach out. God Bless.