Women's retreat "Friendship"

"Friendship" - was the title of the women's retreat, held in a beautiful place of the south of Ukraine, Zatoka on the 25-26 of May 2012. The volunteers of Izmail Life Care Center took part in it too. The Medveduyks family let us use their wonderful house, where the hospitality and kindness always reigns. Women from different churches and denominations took part in the retreat and we could feel the unity among everybody taken from the example of the unity of three Persons of Trinity, this was one of the topics of the lessons taught by Sharon Scott.
Sharon is pastor's wife, the mother of four adult, successful children, grandmother of 11 grandchildren and the President of WIC ministry in Palmetto Presbytery of Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). She taught three classes to us "Friendship with God", "Friendship with others" and "Practical friendship". The Biblical examples, we heard about reminded us one more time that God can be our best friend and that we can learn how to be friends from the relationships among the Trinity members. "Practical friendship" class was held in a discussion manner.
Not one but many people and churches took part in the preparation for the retreat. Women from Izmail church "Strong family" a year ago took a step of faith of being responsible for the leading the retreat of the next year. We prayed a lot and did everything we could to help in the preparation: someone invited a speaker and did fundraising, others thought about the program, invitations and gifts. Lena Ohrimchuk made a lavender sachet for every lady, Sveta Lukoshkina as always pleased us with tasty borscht and pies.
We hope that every woman went home with new ideas how we can help develop friendship in the church. They also went home with presents. One of the presents was made by themselves. All of the women could take part in the Masterclass "Handmade soap" and were pleasantly surprised at the result of their labor.
We thank everybody who could take part in this women's retreat and hope that God will bless next year and will let us have another time together, the time of friendship and encouragement.