The first of September marked the close of our "work team season", and the beginning of our regularly scheduled programming events. Throughout the year El Refugio hosts various churches from all over Ecuador for retreats and different high schools from Quito, September was no exception. We were booked every weekend and during the week as well. With the addition of Israel (pictured above on the far left) our Retreat Coordinator, El Refugio has witnessed an explosion in our reservations.
The programming side of our ministry also welcomed a fall intern by the name of Zach from Massachusetts (pictured above on the far right) who will be helping Juan Carlos for the next three months.
"Aire Libre" our outdoor leadership school was also launched in September. This has been a dream and part of our ministries vision. Our desire is to see the multiplication of Adventure Based Ministry throughout Latin America and "Aire Libre" is a huge component in carrying that vision through. We have three students, (who are pictured above with some of the workers from El Refugio), Saul is from Peru, Vladimir is from Quito and Estaban is from our very own Calacali. Juan Carlos, our Program Director has been their primary teacher, instructing these young men on all the aspects of directing their own ministry one day. This week they will participate in "Wilderness Advanced First Aid Certification". In the following weeks they will learn from Howard how things work on the Operations side of a camp, and participate in two expeditions. Through Aire Libre, El Refugio hopes to place in the hands of each of these young men the tools to start their own Outdoor Adventure Ministry, and through that see lives transformed by the life changing power of Jesus Christ.
1 comment:
Wow! Good to hear about the increase in retreats. I had the opportunity to meet Zach the week before he left to go there. I wanted to talk to him more, but time just got away from me. Thanks for the update. i miss you guys
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