Women’s Retreat

This past weekend Camp Christian hosted Women’s Retreat for ‘girls’ of all ages.  It’s a chance to get together with women of like faith to attend workshops, eat, sing around a campfire under the stars, eat, watch skits and character dramatizations, eat, sing, eat, be encouraged and motivated and inspired, eat, and meet new people.  And eat.  🙂

Kath and I arrived about 4pm on Friday, and were quickly settled into our room in the Mill House.  When I was a young camper (well, younger than I am now!!), staying at the Mill House was for dignitaries and special guests.  I never even SAW the upstairs of the Mill House until my daughter spent a summer working there in the late 1990’s.  Now I was actually staying there!  And I had a room to myself!  That’s called camping in style.  Kath and her daughter Sarah and granddaughter Amelia shared a suite at the end of the hall, and several friends were in the rooms around me.  I felt like I had arrived. 

And speaking of arriving, the old stone pillars at the entrance are always welcoming and endearing.  The early bird workshop, which Kath taught, was at 5pm and very well attended.  The theme for the weekend was Jesus is the Light of the World and was depicted with lighthouses.  

After the workshop we had dinner, song service, then the main inspirational speaker, Barb Kalb.  Barb was a friend of mine from high school who also attended my home church.  She and her husband David were missionaries in Ghana Africa for over 30 years.  It was fun to spend time with Barbara and take her offering of God’s word to heart.

After brownies and ice cream we made our way to the camp fire, (Millie’s first campfire!) situated next to the creek, and sang choruses and camp songs under the stars;  Sarah and Ashly Staley led the songs for us. The lights in the Mill House were warm and inviting as we sat together blending harmony and exchanging favorite camp stories. Lynn Pelc gave the devotion at 11pm. I was ready to crawl into bed and slept well. 

At 6:30 my alarm went off, and I dressed quickly in my walking clothes and made ready to creep down the hall (so I wouldn’t wake baby Millie) to meet my sister for our early morning 2 mile hike.  When I opened the door she was standing there holding Millie (age 13 months!), all ready to go.  We plopped Millie in the stroller and went walking.  The morning was a little overcast but not too cool, and we enjoyed the fresh air and quiet. I was totally impressed with the delightful sign by the bridge that said BRIDGE.  Hmmm.  So glad they explained that. 

We had breakfast, a song service, a special music presentation by the DEANETTES (the six ladies who serviced as co-deans for the retreat), then were treated to recitations and dramatizations of women of the Bible.  My favorite were Sarah as Rhoda, Gwen Wolfgang as Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, Dianne Gresham as Hannah, and after a very nervous start, Ashly and I as Mary and Martha.  Portraying Martha in the skit came naturally:  I am a natural Martha in spirit and performance every day!  We had lots of fun with it while still delivering the message:  Mary had chosen the better part. 

I took another short walk after lunch, another song service, a second impressive message from Barb, then a common sharing of our involvement in our church communities.  So many loving people giving of their time, talents, and treasure!  To close out the weekend we gathered around the flag pole and sang ‘The Bells of Camp Christian’, which always makes me cry :*(  But it’s a good cry!  We packed up our respective vehicles, hugged goodbye with promises of returning again next year, and headed home.  God’s peace, love, and light washed over all of us, and no one left without a double portion of blessing.  The gifts we received during that weekend were priceless, and cannot compare with the gifts the world offers.  I’m already thinking about next year!  Maybe I’ll even teach a workshop…