There didn’t seem to be as much energy in the room as the attendees found their seats for the last session of the retreat. Their special time away was coming to an end, but it’s been a time that these ladies will cherish for the rest of their lives. They’ve made friendships and gleaned advice that will carry them through and encourage them during their time overseas.
During our last reflection time, the ladies shared why they came, how they got to be here, and some of their highlights. Here are a few that stuck out:
“I kept thinking about the retreat. I only mentioned it a couple of times to my husband. He hates telling me no, but we didn’t have the extra money in our budget to justify me going. I prayed about it, but not seriously. I get tired of disappointment, and I didn’t figure God in the equation. One day my husband asked if I still wanted to go to the retreat. Well, of course I did. He made all the arrangements. His gesture of love spoke volumes to me. It reminded me that God sees me—all the time. He knows my deep down desires and is willing to meet them. These few days away have been incredible. I have felt listened to and understood, loved and cared about. These volunteers are truly servants of God.”
“The main reason I came to this retreat is to make new friends. I’m really lonely. I have friends amongst the local people, but it’s not the same. I don’t know their language enough to express my feelings to them, but here I can.”
“The first night of the retreat, we began worshiping. I felt this wave of energy, the Holy Spirit I suppose, pass over me. The volume of voices alone was incredible. I hadn’t felt this k
“This retreat was a gift from God. I’m going to make the most of it!”
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