God’s Worthy Women Retreat

Worthy means commendable, admirable, valuable, and precious.  As women, we are all of these in God’s eyes.

Almost a hundred women had a wonderful time today of praise, worship, fellowship, food and mission education… a time of spiritual renewal.

Leila and JoAnn checked each lady in and gave them their folders.

Alamo Rec Veh RV Park provided the rooms for our retreat and it was very nice.

Various businesses and anonymous gifters provided door prizes.

This is Angela Neese’s display from her mission visits to Tajikistan which is just across the Russian border.

Ladies are arriving, enjoying a continental breakfast and getting acquainted. Eileen, Nancy, Carolyn and Jeanelle … from our park.

Noreen, Heather and Gail from our park were sitting at my table.

CRM General Director, Chaplain Dennis Maloney, welcomes all of the ladies and gives the opening prayer.  He’s dressed in an apron because the area chaplains will be serving us lunch.

Leila explains the Blessings Bag for each lady.

Two more of “my girls”… Sherry and Bonnie.

Alice, from Tip of Texas, also.  Sally introduces Angela Neese before she leads the singing.

Apron Man takes pictures of a door prize winner.

Angela. 

 

Mike, Texas Trails chaplain and Apron Man II, talking to his lovely wife, JoAnn.

Break time.

Nancy won a door prize before she even got there!

And Sherry won a door prize!!

Second session – Angela tells the story from the Bible about the woman with the “issue of blood” for twelve years.  Just as she would tell it to the women of Tajikistan.

The she read the same story from the Bible.  We could readily see how the story-telling would be much more effective among the Tajik women, as storytelling is one of the ways they communicate.

Angela and Sally.

And Gail won a door prize!!!

Jeanelle also won a door prize and that picture has disappeared!  Mysteriously.

Lunch time!  The chaplain/waiters are introduced.

Don says the blessing for the meal and the rest of the day.

Don also helped the “models” up onto the stage as they modeled clothing from the Children’s Haven International Thrift Shop.

All of the lovely models are volunteer workers at CHI, except for Betsy, in the bridal gown, who is the Director of CHI. After the style show, Betsy told us all about the work of CHI orphanage located in Reynosa.

Some of Tip women enjoying lunch.

All who helped with the preparations for and the retreat were recognized, as a group.  I helped, too, but I was behind the camera. :-)

The ladies enjoyed purchasing some of the clothing Betsy brought from the thrift store.

Linda Paydon, chaplain and wife of chaplain Jim Paydon, was the afternoon speaker.  Her topic was “Finishing Well.”  Linda stated that no matter what mistakes or regrets we have in our life prior to today, we can still Finish Well.

Linda did a fabulous job and then it was time for the prayer chain to be brought into the room.  Each link of the chain had a favorite verse and name of a person who had been praying for this retreat since the summer.  It was amazing to see how many people were praying for us.  The chain was long enough to go around the room at least twice!

And Jeanelle won a door prize!!!!  Four of “my girls” won a door prize out of twenty-four prizes given.

One of our chaplains, Karen, one a door prize, also.

The 2011 God’s Worthy Women Retreat was a wonderful success!  Thanks to everyone who attended and everyone who worked to make it a success.