Retreat #8: Villeta

A broken camera and lack of motivation or focus to write has meant a few seriously slow months on this blog.  I finally got my camera back, and I am trying to make the commitment to catch up before 2012 and renew my energy to keep writing and reflecting as this term comes to an end.  So many of us have changed in so many ways.  It is amazing to look back and see it.  And despite some nagging feelings of depression, there is still so much to be grateful for.

November always holds my favorite retreat.  It is a retreat that usually comes after a longish wait (June-November).  It is also the retreat when we celebrate the winter holidays together with our beloved teammates.  This November we went a couple hours outside of Bogota to Villeta, where we stayed in a nice, small town in a hotel on a hill.  There was a lovely pool, a large meeting room, and plenty of young adults to play with our kids.

We enjoyed a good amount of reflection, one quiet evening in our cabin for reading, comfy hammocks, good food (including real vegetarian options for Lydia), and time to reflect together on so much.

When we returned to Bogota, we celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with an abundance of good and familiar food, including turkey, mashed potatoes, apple pie, and cookies.  We shared the best singing yet of all our time in MCC, combining traditional carols with Spanish praise songs, harmony, instruments, enthusiasm shared by all.

All of these photos are from Elizabeth Miller.  Thank you for sharing them with me!