The Updater 3/7/2010

I apologize for the lateness of this Update! On Friday, I traveled to Milwaukee to begin a week of training with the Army. We've been doing a lot of rehearsing and my face is tired! Anyway, this will be the only Updater you will receive until NEXT week. And, since I very much desire that you see and be as much a part of what is going on here as possible, you'll notice that this week's edition is an open window to this world of awesome ministry. Hope you enjoy it! (For more pictures of Women's Retreat and other recent ongoings, please go to my facebook page, and check out the photo album on the left hand side of the page, called Spring 2010.)

But first: Drum roll, please. ...TCF's H2O Project raised a total of (hope you're sitting down): $2302.27. "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the people praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!" Ps. 67:1-3.

Strong Women: An Oshkosh Staycation

We had a total of 15 women come for the retreat. This is breakfast on Saturday morning. We had some excellent food -- some generously donated by WCCM's Sunday Morning Church, 180; some expertly made by the girls themselves.

This is still breakfast on Saturday morning (we didn't take too many pictures -- there was so much else to do!). This is where we ate, had much fellowship, worshiped, had our 5 sessions led by the Leading Ladies, watched a movie, did some pampering, and slept. You'll notice the small baby in this picture. That's Moriah (my boss, Jeremy and his wife, Lori's baby). This was her very first women's retreat.

This picture represents women's retreat. Hang out. Have fun. As well as all the stuff listed above, we also went to Oshkosh's art museum, got a coffee, drove on the frozen lake, and window shopped downtown Oshkosh. Good, girly, fun times.

Other than getting face to face with God and getting deep with each other over the course of the weekend, the coolest thing we did was get dressed up and take ourselves out to dinner at a fancy Oshkoshian restaurant. Clockwise from far left: Amy, Vicki, Abby, Me, Courtney, Natalie, Amy, Sam, Angie.

Our theme verse for the weekend, which exemplifies the heart and lives of these women was Colossians 3:12-17. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

One more quick note: Our spring break mission trip to Galveston, TX for Hurricane Ike relief is coming up! We head south on the 19th. Please be praying for us! We have advertised on campus and, so far, along with the 10 TCFers signed up, there are 2 nonTCF students signed up and more interested! Pray that those whom God desires to be on this trip would be zealous in making it happen. Pray that God would lead us in being genuine and loving to each other as we prepare, travel, serve, and live together. More on this next week! Do you remember that all of this only happens with your help? I am so grateful that you allow me to share this great blessing with you. If you are able to support financially this week, please click the link on the upper right hand side of the page, or send a check payable to WCCM, 833 Wright St., Oshkosh, WI 54901.