The first all-church Family Retreat was held Friday through Sunday, September 11-13. One hundred nineteen adults, youth and children spent two nights at small hotel about an hour from Pachuca. Some drove to the retreat hotel and another group came in the rented bus that arrived about 6 pm on Friday evening. The retreat started with the evening meal, and then the adults and youth moved to the dining room for the showing of the movie Fireproof. Many left that evening with tears and a sense of hope for their own family.

The next two days the group from the Community Christian Church of Baltimore led the workshops on the principles of loving relationships. They did a wonderful job and so did the members of Jubilee’s translating team. While the adults attended their workshops, the youth and children took part in programs designed especially for them.

Not all the time was spent in workshops. During the hours of free time many swam or seemed to keep a constant game of soccer going. On Saturday evening many participated in a special song and prayer time that was a great blessing.

Sunday morning Sergio and Holly Alvarado organized a group of youth to return to Pachuca and lead a worship service at the Jubilee building for those that were not able to go to the retreat. 47 people participated at the celebration service there, and afterward Sergio and Holly with their youth returned to the retreat.

Since the church rented the entire hotel, the staff was flexible with us about the check-out time, allowing us to use the facility until 6 pm on Sunday evening. We loaded the bus, collected tables, chairs and children’s materials, and then all arrived back in Pachuca about 7 o’clock Sunday evening.

Many of our Jubilee people expressed their joy at the lessons of the teachings and the good family time they had with spouses and kids. We hope to plan another family retreat in the early part of 2011.

Thank-you, Community Christian Church of Baltimore and Jubilee Church of Pachuca for making this year’s retreat a possibility and such a success!