Conference Time

The time is getting closer to our ladies God's Worthy Women Conference to be held February 18th this year. We have moved the venue to Center Church in Pharr - a beautiful facility that will better accommodate the number of ladies expected.  Previously we have held the conference in one of our CRM Chaplain parks but seemed to stagnate in attendance. Today Vicki Troutman and I held a pre-registration at Center Church and received the support of many women there. Special thanks to Pastor Steve Sheller for allowing us to present a short program, complete with a video, to help inspire the ladies who want to attend the conference to be spiritually uplifted. Who knew that 9 years ago when Chaplain Sally Maloney's dream of a retreat for our RV ladies would become a community wide conference, featuring a national acclaimed singer, songwriter, inspirational speaker!!! Sherry Anne has sung gospel music with The Booth Brother, the Hoppers, and the Collingsworth Family. She along with her mother, Sharon LaBella, will present a day of a concert, special moments, testimony, and much more. At the age of 24, Sherry received her doctorate as a chiropractic doctor despite her bilateral hearing impediment. Yes, she is deaf but you should hear her elegant voice and passion for gospel music. Check her out on u-tube or her web site.

It has been a really busy week as usual - between Monday night Bible Study at Children's Haven after an afternoon of volunteering in the resale store - Tuesday night Bible Study here in Alamo at the home of the Lundquists, serving in the Caring Hearts Ministry ( I bagged donuts again this week - but not nearly as many as we did a few weeks ago!), my free time Friday afternoon sewing, as well as a day long once a month quilting/sewing day. Next month we are going to make a small lap robe for the veterans in red, white, and blue (of course). I already have the fabric - so just need time to get it cut and ready to sew. Also have to finish Arkansas Crossroads quilt for a wedding present, a set of 4 place mats, AND a baby quilt for a June-to-be new great grandson. God gives me little snippets of time to do these things I  love to do, as well as lots of time slots for His work, which I love more,  - right now being taken up by our conference. I am not complaining - "all things are possible through Christ who strengthens me".  Philippians 4:13.


excerpt from the history of Corrie ten Boom: '

During the Second World War, the Ten Boom home became a refuge, a hiding place, for fugitives and those hunted by the Nazis. By protecting these people, Casper and his daughters, Corrie and Betsie, risked their lives. This non-violent resistance against the Nazi-oppressors was the Ten Booms' way of living out their Christian faith. This faith led them to hide Jews, students who refused to cooperate with the Nazis, and members of the Dutch underground resistance movement.

   During 1943 and into 1944, there were usually 6-7 people illegally living in this home: 4 Jews and 2 or 3 members of the Dutch underground.  Additional refugees would stay with the Ten Booms for a few hours or a few days until another "safe house" could be located for them.   Corrie became a ringleader within the network of the Haarlem underground. Corrie and "the Beje group" would search for courageous Dutch families who would take in refugees, and much of Corrie's  time was spent caring for these people once they were in hiding. Through these activities, the Ten Boom family and their many friends saved the lives of an estimated 800 Jews, and protected many Dutch underground workers. 

   On February 28, 1944, this family was betrayed and the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police) raided their home. The Gestapo set a trap and waited throughout the day, seizing everyone who came to the house. By evening about 30 people had been taken into custody! Casper, Corrie and Betsie were all arrested. Corrie’s brother Willem, sister Nollie, and nephew Peter were at the house that day, and were also taken to prison.

   Although the Gestapo systematically searched the house, they could not find what they sought most. They suspected Jews were in the house, but the Jews were safely hidden behind a false wall in Corrie’s bedroom. In this "hiding place" were two Jewish men, two Jewish women and two members of the Dutch underground. Although the house remained under guard, the Resistance was able to liberate the refugees 47 hours later.  The six people had managed to stay quiet in their cramped, dark hiding place for all that time, even though they had no water and very little food. The four Jews were taken to new "safe houses," and three survived the war. One of the underground workers was killed during the war years, but the other survived

   Four Ten Booms gave their lives for this family’s commitment, but Corrie came home from the death camp.  She realized her life was a gift from God, and she needed to share what she and Betsie had learned in Ravensbruck:  "There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still" and "God will give us the love to be able to forgive our enemies."

I copied this because this morning at Center Church, Pastor Sheller's wife talked about Corrie and her sister being imprisoned and after many hours finally being able to taken to a small compound and allowed to sleep. As they were ready to fall asleep, Corrie began to itch and discovered that their pallets were covered with fleas. Her sister admonished her and calmed her down so they could at least rest for awhile before being introduced to a concentration camp. As time went on , they wondered why the guards did not come into their compound to commit the atrocities that they did in the other women's compounds. When they finally discovered the reason, they thanked God for the fleas - the guards were afraid of catching fleas and left this group of women alone. So as speed bumps and trials of life attack you - thank God for the fleas!!!