April 2015 Group Meetings



The whole group



In April, our group - spread out over several countries and three continents - met in Uganda for 10 days of spiritual retreat and business meetings. Here are a few photos from that time together:

Our retreat time was led by a couple who work with Mobile Member Care Team (MMCT) East Africa, a cooperative organization that "provides training, consultation, counseling, crisis response, and referral for cross-cultural workers" (like us).

One theme of the retreat was the "cycle of grace" that should direct our lives.

The "cycle of grace" means starting from a place of already being accepted by God, which leads to "output", to doing good things in your life. In contrast, in the "cycle of frustration", we start by doing good things in order to earn acceptance, which leads to frustration and striving.



Retreat leaders Gail and Mike Koski, with a Congolese basket we gave them as a "thank you".



Prayer walk during the retreat





The Koskis also had us perform skits to demonstrate aspects of communal life.



Worship and singing at the beginning of the day



Our director, Andre Aguila, leads us in a discussion of how our work may change in the near future due to changes by a major funder. It was sobering, but we are trusting God.


Each person gave a 5-minute testimony about the past year, and then someone prayed for them.
It is a good way to get a glimpse of what is going on in each other's lives and hearts,
and to offer support.


During her testimony, Kyle updated us on her family.

Bettina has a way of spreading joy, whether she's talking about her family, her work, or her ideals.

Kama manages four language projects and will move to Bunia soon.

Two of the youngest members of our "Eastern Congo" family :)

Tim and Liz Raymond, about to leave full-time service for a reduced assignment, receive a gift from the group in a worryingly large box. (Their homebound suitcases were already full.)

The contents of the box were small but precious: a 'customised' photo book.



The conference centre is in an oasis of trees.

Praying for our Regional director (who is responsible for work across Francophone Africa!)
and his wife, who is our Personnel Director.
They live in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Playing volleyball during free time.