The second week of school went well as we continued learning our routines and procedures in the classroom, as well as taking our first test! By Friday though, I was completely exhausted and ready to have some quiet time. However, the staff at the Learning Center was going away for Staff Retreat Friday evening and most of Saturday. I wrapped up things in the classroom on Friday after school and then walked back to my apartment to finish packing my overnight bag. Once I got back to the apartment, the last thing I wanted to do was leave again and ride in a bus for an hour. Not knowing what to expect or where I was going also added to the overwhelming feelings, as well as now having a limited time to catch up on planning and grading.
With a downcast attitude, I headed back to the school to meet the other staff members and prepare for our departure. Once we had everything sorted out and ready to go, we boarded the bus. I sat next to another teacher and we talked the whole bus ride to our destination. When we pulled into the lane to the Hotel Rio Selva Resort, I immediately felt a peace and relaxed. We got our room assignments and then took off to explore the resort. It was exactly what I needed and I didn't know until that point.
The resort was a perfect getaway. Together as a staff we could lounge by the pool, play sand volleyball, walk around the resort, see some Bolivian animals, worship the Lord, and grow closer together all the while. We grew closer together as a staff in 30 hours than we had in the last two weeks.
I never knew a staff retreat could be so much fun! We played "Extreme Rock, Paper, Scissors", ran around competing in a scavenger hunt, and organized an intense tournament of sand volleyball. We also were able to have two meeting sessions where we worshiped (both in English and Spanish) and prayed together and explored our staff Bible verse, which is 2 Timothy 1:7. At the end of the second session, we all felt unified and had a renewed focus on our mission as a staff at the Learning Center. Having the chance to get away from all of the stresses, demands, and worries that the beginning of the school year brings was what we all needed.
God never ceases to amaze me! I was reminded this weekend that God knows exactly what we need usually before we even figure out what we need. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Having this reminder brings peace and reassurance that as long as we are trusting God, we will have His help and provision. The answer to our needs may not come in the ways that we think we want it to, but it is usually far better than we could have imagined. I thought all I needed was some quiet alone time, but it turned out that getting away and being with the other teachers was much more relaxing and fulfilling. I am ready to begin our third week knowing that my strength comes from God, as well as trusting that God will provide for all of my needs.
With a downcast attitude, I headed back to the school to meet the other staff members and prepare for our departure. Once we had everything sorted out and ready to go, we boarded the bus. I sat next to another teacher and we talked the whole bus ride to our destination. When we pulled into the lane to the Hotel Rio Selva Resort, I immediately felt a peace and relaxed. We got our room assignments and then took off to explore the resort. It was exactly what I needed and I didn't know until that point.
The resort was a perfect getaway. Together as a staff we could lounge by the pool, play sand volleyball, walk around the resort, see some Bolivian animals, worship the Lord, and grow closer together all the while. We grew closer together as a staff in 30 hours than we had in the last two weeks.
I never knew a staff retreat could be so much fun! We played "Extreme Rock, Paper, Scissors", ran around competing in a scavenger hunt, and organized an intense tournament of sand volleyball. We also were able to have two meeting sessions where we worshiped (both in English and Spanish) and prayed together and explored our staff Bible verse, which is 2 Timothy 1:7. At the end of the second session, we all felt unified and had a renewed focus on our mission as a staff at the Learning Center. Having the chance to get away from all of the stresses, demands, and worries that the beginning of the school year brings was what we all needed.
God never ceases to amaze me! I was reminded this weekend that God knows exactly what we need usually before we even figure out what we need. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Having this reminder brings peace and reassurance that as long as we are trusting God, we will have His help and provision. The answer to our needs may not come in the ways that we think we want it to, but it is usually far better than we could have imagined. I thought all I needed was some quiet alone time, but it turned out that getting away and being with the other teachers was much more relaxing and fulfilling. I am ready to begin our third week knowing that my strength comes from God, as well as trusting that God will provide for all of my needs.