How do we answer the question -- "So what was your trip like?" It was a different trip for each one of us. And we hope you will ask us about what happened. But for those who want a quick glance I'll try to put it on the head of a pin.
We arrived Wed. around 5 in the afternoon as our flight from San Juan Puerto Rico was cancelled. In the evening the church brought us dinner. We sat on the roof of the hotel and listened to what they were hoping would happen while we were in town. And we prayed that indeed what they hoped for would happen.
Thursday was a day of exploring ICC and the variety of ministries they offer. ICC has started a gym. The gym employs people, reaches out to people, and offers an affordable service with in the community. The church cooks for and feeds the homeless a huge meal five days a week. At night they pull beds wired to the parking lot wall down for homeless people to sleep on. They provide the bedding, wash the bedding, and tuck the folks in bed. There is also a restaurant that the church started which supplies work for people in the community. We had a very tasty meal there as well.
In the evening the team spoke at the Thursday service for believers. We wanted to introduce the topic of transformation -- how we cooperate with God in the healing and growth process. Each person introduced who they were on a good day AND who they were on a bad day. Then I talked about Peter. He thought he knew himself. He thought he would never betray Jesus. He thought he was who he was on a good day. But at Jesus' trial he found out who he was on a bad day. Then we looked at the passage in John 21 on how Jesus called Peter to live into tending his sheep even when he couldn't live up to his own ideals. It was a good service. And we reconnected with old friends. We each met in a small group with the Dominicans afterwards and had pretty good discussions further in the topic.
Friday we left for the retreat, a long drive up into the mountains. Thank God for a driver that knows Dominican ways. Alfredo kept us out of accidents -- and kept others out of accidents as well. One motorcyclist was headed straight into us. And if Alfredo had not been quick that guy would have ended up face first on the windshield.
We had nearly 30 people on retreat with us. We were very nervous about how the Enneagram would translate into a different culture and through Spanish translation. But the Dominicans dove in with both feet.
Meal conversations included how the Enneagram worked in parenting.
Folks lined up to talk to the team about their numbers and how to interact with spouses. Pano and Jan are the same numbers as Vickie and her husband Alfredo. Vickie felt like Pano and Jan gave her help with her marriage -- because she understood her husband better.
The D.R. team was grateful for the help and seemed really pleased with the understanding they were gaining about themselves, Robert (the senior pastor) and their family life.
[Saturday night a thief broken into Tom and Dee's house. Dee was with us; Tom was at home with the kids. They slept through the whole thing. Computers were stolen, video camera etc. It was terrifying for them.
Sunday evening Doug led the service and Jan and Gary gave their testimonies. 
The Holy Spirit was in the house. Thank you for prayers. They were so important and we know that God heard them.
Doug gave an altar call at the end. People came forward to receive salvation and recommit their lives to Jesus. A friend of Robert's came forward who he had prayed for a long time. He is a body builder who came to the gym.
We rejoice in what God did. We rejoice that you who stayed behind were really with us in spirit and in prayer. Thank you for holding us in your heart and in the heart of God. I know the Dominican's want to tell you that they wouldn't be able to have this sort of input if it wasn't for you generosity. They cannot afford to go on a retreat. They cannot afford to have people come and resource them. But it is a pleasure for us to go. And we are all grateful -- you have made it happen. Adele
