Women's Retreat

Sometimes we can carry ideas in our heart for years before they come to fruition. Hosting a women’s retreat was one of them. It’s something I have thought about for years, and when it finally came down to planning it, I felt overwhelmed.

I’m someone who naturally has a hard time planning ahead. My most powerful leadership moments have been unplanned. I am someone who feels the Sprit of God in the moment and move with it, therefore planning ahead is hard.

I wanted to be prepared for this retreat, but each time I sat down to pray about it, it was hard to focus and I wasn’t sure what the theme or purpose should be (beyond of course community, fellowship & retreating with God). I did what I could to prepare (meal plan, budget, graphics, welcome cards, etc) but I left spaces in our schedule for God to move.

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of being able to do life with some incredible women who have taught me to pay attention to the small details, and it doesn’t take much to make a plain space feel special. So while it was hard for me to know what God wanted to do through the weekend, I enjoyed putting the small details together for the retreat.

Despite my worries about how everything would work out for the retreat, the weekend came, and 24 fof us had the privilege of gathering together. It was the coldest weekend we have ever experienced in October, which is mostly known for its heat, and the month everyone just wants to blink & have it over. The cooler weather was the perfect environment for cozying up around the fire.

I left several spaces blank in our schedule because I just wasnt totally sure what the Spirit would want to do. We had an incredible time of sharing our burdens and really saw the Spirit of God come to comfort and uplift the women. While we shared a holy moment together, I felt that many were holding back tears, in fear of being vulnerable. In that moment I had a revelation that in psalms it says that God collects our tears.

“You keep track of all my sorrows.     You have collected all my tears in your bottle.     You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalms 56:8

If the Bible says that our Heavenly Father collects our tears, why as humans do we try to refrain from crying? I believe that our tears are a way that God allows us to release whatever pain we have internalized and kept to ourselves. He wants us to release that pain, and because this world is not a battle against flesh and blood, but spiritual principalities, there are spirits around us which make us believe that crying is bad. Crying is messy, but isn’t also the kingdom of God?

Beyond messy crying, we also hiked a mile in misty sprinkling rain. I love sharing the outdoors with those who don’t get out of the city on a regular basis. The Mbiya pools are located in one of my favorite corners of Mulanje Mastif. The views are spectacular. Some of us took a cold plunge in the water. Hiking always bonds people, and I’ve found that it shows people they can do more than they think they are possible of doing.

Lastly, I have to share about FOOD. It was one of my bigger worries-I know-it shouldn’t have been, but I’m being honest here! I was worried whether there would be enough, would they like it etc. Wow, was I blown away though. The staff at Africa Wild Truck took my meal plan and the ingredients I bought and made the most delicious meals. It was such a delight, and the women were so appreciative.

Despite my fleshly worries, we had a great time, and it was such a celebration of the diversity at Flood Church, with 9 nations represented.