Prayer Cottage Retreat for Spanish Speakers in NWA

Our Latin America Directors, Henry and Eugenia Gutierrez, have found an impactful way to introduce people to The Journey.  Rather than doing a presentation or jumping right into The Journey to the Inner Chamber discussion, they decided instead to give people a taste of intimacy with Christ.  They gather people on a Saturday for a “Prayer Retreat”.  They make it light-hearted and fun, and they feed them well, but the main event is having them read The Prayer Cottage and the Sacred Garden and work through the rooms using the Prayer Guide in the Journey Manual.  After taking people through this experience and then debriefing about it, they have found that 90% of those attending are ready to sign up for The Journey.  It has been used in many Latin American locations, with lay people and pastors, as well as in Cuba. 

Last week, since Henry and Eugenia were in the United States, so they tried it in Northwest Arkansas.  The leaders in NWA have long tried to figure out how to reach the Latino population in their area, and the Prayer Cottage Retreat proved to be an effective way to spark Journey.  Hear the account of Carlos Alfonso, a leader from Tulsa and on our International Team, who drove over for the event with his wife.

Last Saturday, my wife and I had the privilege of gathering once again with Pastor Henry and Eugenia and Pastor Gerardo and Lidieth, all from Costa Rica, for another couples retreat in Spanish — this time here in the U.S., in the beautiful community of Lowell, Arkansas.

Guided by The Prayer Cottage and the Sacred Garden, twelve couples came together for a full day of reading, reflection, and heartfelt prayer centered on one simple yet profound question: “How is your soul?”

From the very first moment, we could feel God’s presence. Laughter filled the room as couples connected, shared stories, and began opening their hearts to what God wanted to reveal. As the day unfolded, we witnessed something beautiful — walls came down, tears were shed, and hearts began to soften in His presence.

Throughout the retreat, each couple took time to step away from the noise of daily life to spend extended hours in quiet reflection before God. It was during these moments that many realized how deeply they needed to slow down and reconnect — not just with one another, but with the One who designed their lives and their marriages in the first place.

By the end of the day, something had shifted. You could see it in their faces — peace had returned, joy had been restored, and hope had been renewed. Each couple left refreshed and strengthened, reminded that true transformation happens not through programs or words, but through time spent in the presence of God.

We cannot explain everything that took place that day, because much of it was beyond words. But what we can say is this: when we make space for God, He shows up — and when He does, hearts are healed, lives are changed, and marriages are restored.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. You are helping make moments like this possible — where God meets His people in the quiet, and where souls are refreshed in His love.

With love and gratitude,

Carlos Alfonzo

Attached is a synopsis of the Prayer Cottage Retreat format, for you may want to try it in your city or in your church as way to introduce new people to The Journey.  IT WORKS!

DOWNLOAD: Prayer Cottage Retreat Synopsis