Third Week

Chatting and enjoying thermal waters

Our cabins at the retreat

Life at the beach keeps us busy. 

I will start with the retreat: We had great weather and no incidents up and back (thank you for your prayers). Carlos and Rosario brought the praise music. Saturday night Luis talked about marriage, how men and women are wired differently. Sunday morning Elizabeth talked about forgiveness. That touched a few hearts. Many carried big burdens from childhood, others just convicted about lack of forgiveness. At the end each one of us wrote a name in a piece of paper and tore it up signaling our forgiveness of that person. The couples also used all the free time well, many talking by themselves, but all enjoying the thermal waters. We stopped for lunch at McDonald's again on our way home. The Cuban couple could not make it to the retreat, but they will visit us the weekend of August 31. Pray that the Lord's will be made clear to all of us.

Praise time with Carlos

Breakfast

Elizabeth sharing on Sunday

We continue will all the Bible studies as planned. Yesenia also wanted a time with Elizabeth and me, just to talk among women. She just wants to unload her burdens without being judged. She is very isolated in town because she is from another country. Immigrants from that country are looked down upon by the locals. We spent an hour, just talking, and finished with prayer.

Wednesday was mother's day here, a big deal. It is a holiday, so people are off. As before, we bought long-stemmed roses to pass around town. We bought 36, but the nice man at the florist gave us three extra roses. We gave away all 39 roses and could have given more. Next year we are going to buy 40.  I have a lot of pictures, here are some:

Getting ready

This lady's name is Alba. She used to attend the little church. Luis encouraged her to get back with the Lord.

These women were cooking at the Catholic's church kitchen, getting ready for a big event that afternoon.

Diana, who got married last February, with her mother-in-law

This is one family, except for Elizabeth on the left

Tonight we will have our couples Bible study, continuing on Proverbs.

Prayer requests:

• Pray the Word of God will take root and give fruit 
• Wisdom as we share and counsel
• Good health and continued traveling mercies
• For all the couples that they will learn to solve their problems in a healthy way
• For our family back home, health and safety 

Until next time...from the beach