This month my team and I are working with an organization called Lasting Impressions, and in our first couple days we got to plan and host a women’s retreat.
It was so exciting to take everything I’ve learned while on the race, and create different activities, and teachings for these women. Most of these women were coming from very poor areas, are on their third or fourth marriage, have just recently come out of prostitution, and were lost and looking for purpose.
Our theme of the weekend was “Dreaming with God”. We allowed time for these women to begin to ignite some of the dreams they have buried under lies they have been told, or put upon themselves. We showed them their own wonderful gifting’s, and how they could use those to realistically make their dreams come true. We also helped them create dream boards, so they could be reminded everyday to chase after those long-lost dreams.
We also held a couple cooking classes, to help them learn simple recipes they can use to feed their family, and even a jewelry making class, so they could have an extra way to bring in some income.
We weren’t sure how these women would react to these activities, or how open they would be, but God did some big things through this retreat.
Some women opened about some hard things from their past, shared their big dreams, and even spoke life into one another. Most of these women came into camp as acquaintances or strangers, but left in strong sisterhood with one another.
On the last day of the camp, we shared a simple gospel, and gave the women an opportunity to receive Jesus as Lord, or recommit themselves if they already had, but have but wanted a fresh start. Almost every woman at camp repeated the prayer out loud, and left the camp feeling hopeful and excited to chase after God.
It was such an incredible thing to see God change these women’s hearts, and let them see themselves as He sees them; completely worthy, pure, and beautiful. And it was such a treat, to be used by God to help these women find their own freedom.
