El Sembrador Staff Retreat

Jorge Rivas, Associate Director of Academic Services of ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) in Guatemala was the keynote speaker for three days of training, team-building and planning held at Escuela El Sembrador in January. Central Church in Catacamas and El Sembrador joined together to host the staff retreat, which was held in the Conference Center at El Sembrador with 76 participants, 30 of whom were from El Sembrador.

Pastoral staff from Central Church and El Sembrador opened the sessions each day with a one hour devotional time. The sessions led by Mr. Rivas focused on the importance of the Holy Spirit in teaching. He highlighted the need for the Holy Spirit in Christian education, the functions of the Holy Spirit in teaching, and the spiritual gift of teaching as empowered by the Holy Spirit. He reminded us that above all, our goal as educators is to transform lives. One of the highlights of the retreat was the time set aside for specific prayer for the leaders, staff and students of each of the schools represented.

We all met at a local family recreation spot for fried fish dinners and an afternoon of swimming and recreation to finish out the time spent together.

Central Church has a kindergarten and elementary school on their premises in Catacamas, with the junior high and high school currently being housed at El Sembrador. The programs at El Sembrador for the dorm students include classes for primary through high school, a Bible Institute, and vocational training in metal shop, wood shop, mechanics and wood carving.