Inspirational Day 2009

Saturday, May 2nd.
A cool but sunny morning and women are arriving at their appointed pick up locations.

Lots of chatter and laughter can be heard as they great each other and get ready to board the buses.

Destination.... First Mennonite Church, Kelowna, in BC`s beautiful Okanagan Valley!

112 women are exited to visit their Christian Sisters in Kelowna for a day of food, worship and a bit of fellowship. A little short on the fellowship, since the clock is ticking for our bus drivers, but still enough time for some quick visiting around the tables while enjoying a great meal that was waiting for us upon arrival.

Our very comfy coaches in the parking lot of First Mennonite Church, Kelowna.

When we arrived at the church, the tables were beautifully set and the meal was ready and waiting for us.

Very tasty, indeed! Yum!

Ladies lining up and enjoying their meals!

Visiting around the tables!

More visiting!

An then the afternoon program started!

The topic was "Facing Life's Challenges with Courage".

Peggy Hiebert introduced us to the speakers.

Five women from First Mennonite Church, Kelowna, shared their life altering experiences and how their faith in Jesus Christ sustained them through the journey.

1. The loss of a spouse.
Fran Siemens

2. Living with and recovering from cancer.Reatha Thiessen

3. Living with a special needs child and the loss of this child.Jacqueline Neun

4. Being a refugee and having to move from country to country.Margaret Doerksen

5. Losing a home not once but twice, first time because of war and
the second time because of the Kelowna Summer Fires of 2005.

Gertrude Loewen

A group of ladies had also prepared some special music for the event.
It sounded beautiful!

The singing was followed a time of remembering Sisters that have gone to meet their Lord & Saviour. This is always a very special time during the annual Inspirational Day. This year, 33 special ladies were remembered by the lighting of a candle when their name was read.

In the background reading the names are Ann Wiebe and Helene Wieler.

Lighting the candles are Gerda Dueck and Helga Nickel.

Remembering!

After the Memorial Service the invitation to next year's Inspirational Day was extended by Elinor Neufeld from Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Abbotsford.

Then, Grace Epp, chair of the Women's Retreat Committee invited all the ladies to the

Fall Women's Retreat at Camp Squeah, Oct. 16 -18.

We are hoping that many of our senior ladies will consider coming back to the retreat weekend now that we have such wonderful new accommodations at Camp Squeah.Hope to see you there in October!