Faith on Solid Ground: A Good Friday Youth Retreat at Pinol SandS

Sometimes, to draw closer to God we have to leave the noise behind and step into His creation. The road twisted and turned beneath us as we rode in the back of the pickup truck, the scent of pine filling our lungs and the sky painted in a breathtaking shade of blue. Each winding curve revealed new hills and valleys, carrying us closer to Pinol Sand in Mountain Pine Ridge and to the spiritual retreat we had been waiting for. It was Good Friday, a day many Catholics celebrate with special activities. Our youth group, made up of teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 25, had been planning this trip for weeks. As one of the older teens, I felt both excitement and a sense of responsibility to help make the day meaningful. 

When we finally pulled up at Pinol Sand, the sound of rushing water and the sunlight glittering on the surface of the natural pools welcomed us. We settled down on the benches under tall pine trees, the cool shade wrapping around us like a blessing after the long ride. Before anything else, our youth group leader Albin clapped his hands together and said, “Vamos a orar a Dios, then we can start off the games.” We bowed our heads and gave thanks to God for the safe journey and the opportunity to be together. 

Next, Albin set the ground rules for us: “Stay away from the water until it's time. We don't want anyone slipping on those rocks, ¿entienden?” But even as he spoke, I slipped away toward the edge of the water. Posing on the rocks for an Insta picture, I misjudged a step and, with a loud splash, ended up in the icy water. Drenched and cold, I arose to the sight of everyone gaping and laughing at me. Even Albin chuckled, while his wife Rosemary shook her head and said “Hermana Jamilet, what did we tell you about not going near the water?” The laughter continued, along with light-hearted teasing, but even in my embarrassment, I couldn't help but think of the parable in the Bible of the foolish man who built his house on the sand, only this time, the lesson came with wet clothes and a good laugh.  

After that moment, phones were taken away so we could focus on being present with one another. For games, we were placed into teams of red, blue, and green. Excitement filled the air as we cheered for our colors. My Blue Team stepped forward with confidence, determined to win. From “finding pearls,” a game where a short phrase is read and we have to locate the book and chapter in the Bible, to verse memorization, we gave it our all. Shouts of “Check Psalms!” and “¡Find en Mateo, rápido!” echoed across the hills. With teamwork, laughter, and determination, we managed to come out on top.  

When the games ended and the sugar rush from snacks faded, the laughter slowly melted into silence as Albin called us together once more. The only sounds were the whisper of the wind through the trees and the steady flow of the stream beside us. Albin spoke in a soft voice, his eyes reflecting both gentleness and strength.  

"Being a youth today is not easy,” he began. “The world is full of distracciones, things that look like fun, things that may seem harmless, but slowly they can pull us away from God.” His words hung in the air. They were truths we’d all been needing to hear. We leaned in closer, no longer restless or joking. “Without God in your heart,” he continued, “it’s like trying to walk in the dark. Vas a caer. You’ll stumble and lose your way. But when you make Christ the foundation of your life, when you worship God with all your heart and liberty, nothing can stop you, not the pruebas, los caminos duros, nor the arrows from the enemy.”  

For a moment after he spoke, no one moved. The sunlight filtered softly through the trees, catching dust in the air like golden flecks of peace. Some of us looked down, reflecting quietly on his words, others stared into the distance, lost in thought. I could feel something stirring deep inside me, a mix of conviction and comfort, as if God himself were whispering, “ I'm here. Come back to Me.” 

Albin gave us space to continue reflecting. Then he handed out small note cards and said, “Write a message of encouragement for someone here. Don't sign it. Just write what's in your heart.” The air filled with the quiet sounds of pens moving and tears being held back. We passed note cards around, each one carrying a message of love, hope and faith. We hand them to Albin, and he randomly passed them out. Some said things like, "Don't give up; God is with you.” And “No estas solo. Keep trusting God.”  

They were the words many of us needed to hear. Some cried quietly. Others smiled through tears as they read their note. But in that sacred silence, surrounded by pine and pools of water, we all felt His presence. It was as if the world had paused for us to feel God’s love more deeply than ever before. For me, that  moment  was a reminder that God still meets us where we are: in laughter, in stillness, and even in our tears.   

As the day ended, I looked up at the sky. I couldn't shake the thought of my slip on the rocks earlier. Albin’s lesson came back to me with new meaning. When we build our faith and life on the rock of Christ, we can stand through anything, but if we build it on sand, we are likely to slip and fall. Life will always have slippery rocks in the form of temptations, distractions, and struggles. When we attempt to handle them on our own, we stumble. But that retreat at Pinol Sand reminded me that Christ is the solid rock who never shifts beneath us. 

I also realized how good it is to step away from daily routines and travel to places like  Pinol Sand, with refreshing waters, tall pines, and laughter shared with friends.  

All photos by Yamilet Figueroa

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Yamilet Figueroa is a Business Science major at the University of Belize. She lives in Benque Viejo Town and enjoys adventurous activities.