Back from Guatemala

We landed back in Columbus exactly 24hrs. ago.
What a fantastic trip with 13 other Encounter Church friends plus Matt and Maddie Storer. The 16 of us bonded together as we served the Lord and the people of El Yalu and Cruz Blanca, Guatemala.

To view a whole bunch of pics. please visit my Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/sean.s.spoelstra or click the FB link on the right.
It was such a privilege to serve alongside other Christ-followers who will continue the ministry long after our time there. Some of the new friends we made are Rut (said "root") Chamale and Mariela Lara the directors of the Cruz Blanca work. I'm excited that we will see Rut in mid-September at Encounter Church. It was also great to have Stephanie and Rocio as translators who were with us every day as was Mariela. Rut's younger brother Josh also was with us for a time. I wish I could have spent more time with him. Another year perhaps.

Our team is getting together this Friday night at 7:00pm at the home of Steve & Kess Scharff's, 7158 Scioto Pkwy. Powell, OH 43065, to share with Encounter people and anyone else interested in hearing about our trip.
Matt Storer is also flying in for Friday night and will be preaching Sunday morning at 10:00am.
Join us if you can.

Guatemala Bound

I haven't warned you at all, but I'm heading to Cruz Blanca, Guatemala today. Not sure if I'll be able to update my blog while I'm there but for sure will tell you all about it when I return. My 13 yr. old son Zach and 12 others from Encounter are heading down to work with the orphan care center we sponsor 24 children at. We will be doing some physical labor as well as running a three day VBS. I've also been told that the men on the team will be playing some soccer while our ladies give some of the national women a manicure:-) The trip will be a week and the Sunday after it Matt Storer, the president of VisionTrust, will be preaching at Encounter. He is joining us in Guatemala with his 13 yr. old daughter Madeline(2nd from left).

Pics. from Gull Lake

Here are some of the highlights from our time at Gull

Lake with our friends the Galle's. From climbing walls to playing RISK, a helicopter ride and silly theme nights. It was a blast. BTW - that's Daniel Wallace, the camps director, in the green shirt holding the mic.

Fun times at Gull Lake Ministries

Oh ya, we just got back from another great year with with some old and new friends at Gull Lake Ministries. Every time we've gone there have been more and better things to do. This summer the long awaited Ministry Center is fully in use. With indoor climbing walls and a four lane bowling alley, to a big gym, a running track, pickleball courts, games room, snack shack and a book store, this building is really multi-purpose ready.
The staff of godly college students from various Bible colleges truly show our kids what service for Christ's sake really looks like. They say they'd rather go to Gull Lake than Disney. Could that be true. You'll have to ask them.
For Melissa it's a true week off of cooking meals, cleaning the house and carting the kids off to activities. The 17 meals and over 30 hours of childcare can bring back some sanity to the life of any parent feeling under the pile:-)
I'll put some pics. up tomorrow.