Fifteen young people from the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania spent 10 days in Spain this summer in the latest exchange between that diocese and the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church. The group represented the first diocesan-wide outreach of youth to expand the partnership between the two dioceses.

The young people spent most of their time at Villa Adelfos, an ecumenical center, where they replastered, sanded, painted walls and made other repairs to the interior of the structure. They also worked clearing brush from the ground and repairing the driveway. Since the villa is located near the Mediterranean resort town of Alcocebre, the hours of work each day were followed by trips to the beach in the late afternoon.

Before returning home, the students also did some sightseeing in the region of Alcocebre and in Madrid.

Erin Blauser, youth representative from the Church of the Redeemer, Hermitage, Pa., said, "The sights were gorgeous! ... The people, food, sights and towns were out of this world!"