Thank You!

After spending yesterday and today at the MCBC Annual Meeting, I am sitting here, feeling encouraged and for that I say "Thank You"!
So many of you came and spoke to me; telling me that you are looking forward to our Kelowna Inspirational Day, on May 2nd.
We sent home an envelope to each church today and in it you will find all the information you will need to get to Kelowna. Make sure that you get the information out to all your ladies at your church.
The first thing that you will need to do, is to sign up for the bus trip there!
The cost of the trip is $40.00 per person and it includes your lunch when you arrive at the church and a bagged snack for your way home.
We are also planning some fun while you are on your way to Kelowna!
Depending on how many of you sign up, will determine how many buses will be going.
Buses will leave from Peace M. Church, Richmond; Living Hope Christian Fellowship, Surrey; Eben-Ezer M. Church, Abbotsford and Eden M. in Chilliwack.
If you are driving there with your own vehicle, you will still need to register. The Kelowna women need to know for how many ladies they need to be prepared for.
The cost for food only is $12.00.
Make sure to put this date on your calendar and join us for a day of worship, food and fellowship!
Registration deadline for the bus is April 1 and if you need only the food, you need to be registered by April 22nd.
You can register through your home churches; the MCBC Office @ 604-850-6658, ask for Janette; you can contact me, Waltrude Gortzen by leaving me a note in the comment box or you can contact First Mennonite Church in Kelowna at 250-762-4522 or e-mail the church at kfmc@telus.net
This should get you registered one way or the other! :-)

I will remind you again, once we get closer to our event!

That's all for now!
Hope to hear from you!

New Beginnings!

WOW! It's February 16th already!
Can't believe that I have let so much time go by since I last posted something.
So very sorry about that!

Christmas has come and gone with all the business that the season brings every year.
Sure hope that everyone out there had a very blessed Christmas Season.

Now then.... I think that I really need to bring you up to date!

October 27, 2008!
The date that MCBC Women's Ministry was officially acknowledged as a new and emerging ministry by the MCBC Leadership Board. Praise the Lord for new beginnings!

Now we have to deal with a number of question that do not have any answers yet.
For example, what will this new ministry look like and who will be leading it in the future?

For the time being, until July 2010 when my term on the Canadian Women in Mission "Task Force" ends, I will try to be the person accountable to you and to the MCBC Leadership Board.
I am hoping that there are a few of you out there that would be willing to sit down with me, maybe over a cup of coffee or tea, and discuss how this ministry will take shape.
If this is something that might interest you, please feel free to contact me or come and talk to me at this weekend's MCBC AGM at Cedar Valley Mennonite Church in Mission.
I wrote a short report for the AGM Booklet that I had hoped to link to this blog but for whatever reason I am not able to link a document! :-(
Generally only AGM Delegates get to read the reports and I thought that our MCBC Women might all want to read it, so it is coming to you via the AGM this weekend. It will be sent along with your delegates and hopefully copies will be made for all of you in your home churches.
And, since all our previous BC Women in Mission Presidents always wrote at least 2 yearly letters, I have also written a letter to all of MCBC Women and this document is also coming home to you with your delegates.

I am also still actively looking for more contributors to this blog.
Sure hope that I will find some budding writers, very soon!
And speaking about blogs, the latest news from Canadian Women in Mission is that they have also started a blog. Check it out mennowomencanada.blogspot.com
Now how exciting is that?
Welcome ladies ! ! ! I have added you to our list of blogs!

On a personal note, to end up this post with, we welcomed our 5 grandchild. :-)
Emerson Aiden Gortzen joined us January 31, 2009. Everyone is doing well!

Our newest blessing! Also a NEW beginning!

Sooooo..... these were some of the highlights over the last few months.

PS. Will try to be more efficient from here on!