hola everyone
day 2 at Mennonite World Conference. Everyone is well (or at least mostly well : ) ). Taking in worship both intergenerational and a lively youth worship this morning which included pre-worship games in a big open field outside the large worship center.
Our stay at Rancho Kokonto provides us with a fun adventure as we travel by very speedy buses to and from the conference. Last night bus number 2 popped a wheelie!!! It took 45 mins to get into the city (our rancho is 20kms outside the city) but only 23 to return home - needless to say there will be stories to tell about bus travel.
ruth-ann and I are sitting here dropping you all a line while youth sleep, attend worship, visit the global village, find the snack booth and money exchange location, enjoy some sweet buns for snack time, make new friends, and I think some have told me that they have already found the internet cafe in the basement and have finally emailed home.
On Monday we had a chance to visit a local market down town. It was really cool - said many youth.
Parents you'll be very excited to hear that your youth have now done their first round of laundry - again another adventure as improvised clotheslines were rigged and youth developed a new appreciation for the amount of laundry done on their behalf at home.
We as leaders are really appreciating the attitude and spirit of our youth. We are blessed by their laughter and their insights into all they are experiencing. As you can imagine friendships are both solidifying and new ones growing daily.
We would not mind a large salad at this point and some fibre but perhaps a little less bread and bananas. Although even with the food adjustment we have to say how gracious and generous our hosts are everywhere we go.
It is fun trying out our very little Spanish and we learn new words minute by minute.
Things we're thankful for today - Rob the handyman leader, Maddy-Anne's personal PDA (personal data assistant in all things Spanish), much group laughter as we adjust to life in community, new games, that parents far from us have entrusted the care of their very precious young people to us, and from my perspective the best leadership team any coordinator could pray or dream of.
Heading off to afternoon worship but leaving you with the words of Joel - "I really miss my family, but not enough to let it get in the way of me having fun." Everyone agrees that this is a wonderfully accurate summary of how we all feel youth and leaders alike.
Miss all family and friends
so very grateful for all we are experiencing together.