Spanish Speaking Women's Conference

Saturday we hosted our first Women's Conference for Spanish Speaking women. It was such a great day.
It all started right after our annual Spring retreat, when Les suggested that we host a retreat in Spanish. I loved the idea and quickly mentioned it to my friend Carolyn, who was a missionary in Mexico for 47 years, speaks Spanish fluently and is active in Women's Ministry leadership. Carolyn agreed that it was a great idea, and she gathered Elsa Chaine and Elena Burns to make the plans.
We agreed that the Women's Ministry would provide lunch and child care. The day would include music, teaching, testimonies, and fellowship, all in Spanish.
I can't tell you anything about the content, but the day was glorious. I took some pictures, but not enough.

 

 Carolynn greeted the women.

 Elsa led music, accompanied by her son Jonathan.

 
After the worship time,  Elsa spoke. I don't know what she said, but she preached with great passion and intensity.

After Elsa spoke, many of the women came to the front for prayer. Each woman was prayed for personally by Carolyn, Elsa, and Carolyn's daughters Betsy and Martha.

 




 Carolyn had arranged for a young woman to share her testimony and sing. She was accompanied by her husband and their three sons.

My husband, "the hardest working man in Women's Ministry" pitched in and worked the sound board when he realized no one else was there to do it. 

 While the women were enyoing their time, the children were being well taken care of.  Carolyn's daughter Martha Aranda helped with the plans and helped get workers to take care of the children.
Huge thanks to Kate Gilliland, Dawna and James Aranda, Sarah Ground, Cassie and Joy Sloan for taking such great care of the kiddos.

During the morning, I had made several trips to take supplies to the kids. At one time, a group was playing basketball, a younger group was playing with cars, and another group was drawing with sidewalk chalk. Everyone was having such fun...but I didn't have my camera with me at that time. 

I didn't take pictures at lunch, either. Thanks to Helen Collum and Belinda Koestle for helping me prepare a good lunch. And, thanks to Steven Chambers for sharing the desserts left over from the Sr. Ladies luncheon on Friday. We offered a smorgasboard of gormet desserts everyone really enjoyed. 

After lunch, the women gathered around in a circle to discuss what they had heard and ask questions. 

After that time, Elsa called me out to join them, so that they could thank me. Almost every woman spoke her personal gratitude to me for hosting the event, as well as providing lunch. 

One woman said to me, "I know that God is real and he is alive because of  what you have done today." 

Wow. Thank You, Jesus for bringing these women and for their response. 

They all want to do it again, and I am sure we will. 

Special Luncheon

Friday, all women who are 60 and over were invited to a special luncheon at the home of Steven Chambers. Steven lives in a beautful home, which includes rooms that his mother and her sisters lived in with their parents. He has added to the house and remodeled, but the original rooms are still there, and the house is filled with the history of a wonderful family.
Steven invited the ladies to his home for lunch, and prepared a beautiful feast for us, making us feel very special and loved. Here is Steven welcoming Jean into his home.

These pictures show the lovely spread he prepared for us. 

 
And, here are a few pictures showing what a great time we had.

 

Steven does all the cooking himself, makes everything from scratch, and refuses any help. He does, however share his recipes...