God's Worthy Women

It has been a whirlwind of a week, highlighted on Friday by our 6th annual God's Worthy Women's Conference. Even though we got through this week, we are in the process of planning for next year. From it's beginning of 24 mature ladies on a sleepover (what in the world were we thinking???) to over 150 ladies in 6 years (we had 174 signed up) is nothing short of a miracle. God has so blessed us by bringing many ladies together to hear God's Word, to listen to amazing stories of His plan to  turn people's life around, and just allowing us to praise and worship Him.

some of the early arrivals

ready to hear His word

 

Nathan, manager and sound man from Ranchero Village opening the conference with the call to worship on the chofar.

Chaplain Stacey Smith, our featured speaker, held the women mesmerized as she gave her testimony. Stacey was incarcerated the age of 29 on a drug charge in Arkansas and given a sentence of 60 years in prison. Her story held everyone spell bound, as we all began to see how God worked in her life, as she is now the only ex-felon to serve as a Chaplain - in the very facility in which she was imprisoned. Her sentence was stayed by then Governor Mike Huckabee after 12 years, during which time she turned her life over to God. She taught us that there are 5 areas of forgiveness - motive, attitude, thoughts, words, and actions. Stacey is a powerful speaker with a message that everyone should hear - go to crmint.org,click on home, then on God's Worthy Women, part one, to see her message.

Chaplain Stacey Smith sharing her story

 our Chaplain ladies listening intently

 all those choices!!!

 our Chaplains serving us the great meal they prepared! Our own Chaplain, Bill Artherholt, is on the right.




After lunch and a time for fellowship and some door prize fun, Chaplain Bob Reusch, Director of the RV ministry,  spoke a bit about the RV division of CRM International, then sang a moving song "Master of the Wind".

Chaplain Reusch




Our afternoon speaker, Lettie Gutierrez, a local speaker from McAllen, taught us how to become a Crown of Splendor for the Lord. After she spoke, she related to us how nervous she was seeing so many "Gringo faces"!!! She had a message that reached the depths of our souls as women, worthy of God's love.

Lettie, praising God

It was such an inspiring day, and we hope that we touched the hearts of many ladies. And now on to next year's  planning.

 

I came down with a miserable cold (thank you Chaplain Bill for sharing), so missed some of the fun things our park had planned for the week. Saturday was a County Fair Day with all the fun of an old fashioned county fair, including a picture booth, games, hot dogs, and root beer floats. I stayed home, sniffing and shivering.

 

 

It really seems impossible, but some residents are already planning to return to their Northern homes. Please pray for travel mercies until they return again in the fall. We hope we have helped them in their spiritual journey through church services and fellowship. Until next week, may the Lord bless you and keep you.