Due to some technical difficulties, we are only now getting up our thoughts on our debrief in Palenque, Mexico. Though it was only a few days ago, it seems like a month at least. So much has happened in the last few days, all of which we will share with you soon.
Our time in Palenque was terrific. The setting was amazing. Situated in the state of Chiapas in Southern Mexico, Palenque is basically a jungle stretched over a series of mountains and valleys, complete with cascading waterfalls, gorgeous vistas, and some pretty impressive ancient ruins.
Each day, we would travel to a different point of interest for team discussions, individual reflection, and prayer and worship. The first day it was Aguazul, a series of waterfalls that went on for what seemed like miles. The second day it was the ancient Mayan ruins, where we took a tour that taught us tons about the Mayan civilization. (Did you know they built their palaces complete with a sewage system, toilets, and a communication system for sending messages from building to building using echos? Neither did we.) Our tour ended with a romp through the jungle where we walked over buried Mayan temples and swung on vines. Quite an experience, to say the least.
We spent some time evaluating what we had done in ministry, how our team dynamics were functioning, and praying for God’s direction as we go forward. This was a very fruitful process for us. We came to the realization that we need to meet daily as a team to pray together, to talk about what God is doing in us and through us, and to just get to know each other better. We have no doubt that this will be firm footing upon which to move forward in Guatemala.
Ashley put it best when she said, “Each day is a new day, a chance to build upon yesterday for a better tomorrow.” Pretty poetic stuff, huh?
-Gary, on behalf of Team Doulos
