We invited the local community Baptist Church in Pavana for a Women's Conference on Saturday. While the men continued to work on the future site of the Honduran Dorms the ladies, Sondra, Glenda, Kim and Meida led the ladies into a day of excitement and adventure. Senovia was busy in the back making a huge pot of beans and rice with eggs for their lunch. The ladies formed the dining hall into a conference center rather quickly. Glenda was busy moving chairs into a circle and dusting off the ones nearest the window so everyone would have a clean sit for the day. Meida sitting on the porch calm and ready to translate for the three ladies when the time arrived.
Mike and I with the help of Pastor Carlos picked up the ladies and brought them to the conference. These ladies were eagerly awaiting on us and ready to go. Sondra introduced herself and the other ladies leading the conference. She asked each one of them to introduce themselves. This group of ladies was a joy to be with and they came ready to learn more about Jesus and each other.
After introductions were complete the Glenda opened the group of ladies up in prayer. She started sharing a little about the day. They were asked to go and collect a bag for the activities they would be doing later in the morning. The ladies went to pick out their bag of choice. This was an example of how we all are uniquely made in the eyes of God. We all like different colors. Some picked out a purple one and one lady even picked out a black one. Surprising each lady picked out every color on the table. We are all unique and special in the eyes of God. Glenda shared the scripture reference out of Psalm 139:13-14 which was on an orange card. She asked the ladies to look into the mirror they were given and see how special each of them are in God's eyes. After they giggled a little Glenda then asked them to share with each why your friend is special? What you do that is special? And share special things you like with each other. The Green Card was then handed to the ladies and it was Ephesians 2:10. We are God's masterpiece. Jesus saves us for his work and we look to Him to direct our every step. Each of us are very special to HIM>
After the first activity the ladies were given a potty break and asked to return in five minutes. They discovered corn hole on the way to the bathroom. Sondra chuckled and said, "We will never get them back inside for the rest of the conference." Alexia one of our staff who is a lady was invited along with our Martha. Alexia was privileged to teach the ladies who were interested how to play corn hole. She did it with her most beautiful smile. Finally we reeled the ladies back into the conference as they came in chattering and laughing. This was going to be a beautiful morning in the name of the Lord.
Kim got up and shared how we all have different gifts and talents which God has given us. What are your gifts and talents? How do you use them in your home, church and community to further the kingdom of God. The ladies were then given a pink card which read 1 Corinthians 12:27. We are Christ body, we are His church, we are apart of the body of Christ. Kim shared what the three of them did at their church in North Carolina. There are many things as women we can do: pray for each other, teach Sunday School, cook a meal for a sick friend and go visiting to those who are not churched.
Sondra got up to share with all our many gifts and talents we use our hands to get these jobs done. We are busy daily washing clothes on the pilla, making tortillas for our families and cooking meals. So our hands get a good work over on a daily basis. Now I would like for each of you to treat each other special by rubbing hand lotion on each other to make each other feel special. We had to demonstrate how to do this with our friends and sisters in Christ. But once they figured out what to do they had a blast. They were laughing and massaging each other on the arms, hands and even faces got a massage. This was so much fun.
As we gathered the ladies back to the next activity Glenda shared how beautiful each of them looked and relaxed they looked. We would like to give each of you an apron to wear as a symbol of the armor of God. The purpose of the apron is where you store things, wear to keep you clean while cooking and cleaning. It represents the righteousness of God. Righteousness is being right with God and living out God's will in your lives. Jesus teaches us how to live a godly life by reading His Word daily and praying daily. We as Christians need to live daily our lives in a godly fashion with the help of the Holy Spirit. The aprons you are wearing were made out of love from the ladies of our church family. They were given a white card with Ephesians 6:10.
They continued the morning by playing what I called the Circle Game. This activity was about different things Jesus does through us. He shows us how to give as each lady passed a coin around the circle until it got back to the beginning. This continued with a bible which means we are to share the Word with others, Jesus told others about His Heavenly Father, sharing a track with non believers, Jesus cared for others as each lady hugged or gently tapped each other on the should and Jesus praised the Lord. Halleiugh, Praise The Lord, Gloria A Dios was shouted by each lady. The ladies were then given bible verses from the three ladies which they enjoyed reading daily. They broke away from the circle to go to their craft which was a holder for all their bible verses they had accumulated on this day.
As they continued working on their bible verse holders some took this project very seriously. Alexia was writing her own favorite bible verses on the back of the cards. Some daughters helped their mothers make their holder while others were busy decorating their front and back covers. Martha shared her favorite bible verse with her new sister in Christ. They sat and chatted about why God is so good. They were given a cross to carry with them at all times as a reminder of what Jesus did for us, died on the cross but it did not end there on the third day he arose to give us an eternal home in Heaven.
As all good Baptists Women we had a nice lunch of beans and rice with egg and tortillas. The ladies enjoyed their special treat. Kim enjoyed sitting and talking with one little lady who spoke good English. Sondra and I enjoyed chatting with a lady who was about the same age as Sondra. The lady shared how nice this was and how beautiful Mt. Horeb is and she could not wait until one day she could come and do this with her church family for an extended time. I shared with her I agree.
All good things must come to an end. The ladies loaded back up on the bus and Land Cruiser to head home back to making their tortillas and washing their laundry on the pilla. But they will always remember their special day at Mt. Horeb with Sondra, Kim and Glenda. Thank you three ladies for going to so much work and effort to make this a very special day for these twenty two ladies. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
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