The sun was shining and there was a cool breeze. There we were at the grounds of Word of Life Camp and Conference Center in Laguna, all set for the Planning Retreat.

After unpacking and resting for a while, we started off with devotions from Philippians, led by WoL's Jon Abraham, the first of a series which he continued during the following two mornings. After that we were all set to put our heads together to evaluate the previous year and plan for next year's activities.

During the 3-day retreat, we were able to establish goals for the coming year by looking back at what transpired this year. We tried to identify our weaknesses, and thought of ways to improve on them; we looked into our individual contributions to the ministry; we also tried to express how we envisioned ourselves in the next two years. All these were very helpful in making immediate and long-term plans for VOICE.  Plans for our 5th anniversary were also discussed.

Our speaker, Sito Silva, gave valuable and encouraging admonition on how to work and interact with government people and church leaders, as well as how to encourage and inspire volunteers and nurture our relationship with them.

Team building games not only gave fun and enjoyment, but also gave us a chance of working together toward a goal. Of course, we also had the opportunity to enjoy the pool, play ping-pong and other games.

As we left WoL, we weren't quite ready to head home. We had our On-the-Road Christmas Party which included bowling, lunch, games, and a gift exchange! It was indeed a refreshing trip, knowing that we are prepared to step into the New Year.