NOW TO MY EVERYDAY LIFE...with all the upset from the little schedule that I do have, I'll tell you a little about what I'll be working on during our trip both in terms of "catching up" and in terms of learning while I'm at General Assembly.
I've been working for quite awhile somewhat stealthily, to see what we can do in our church to reach the bulk of our women and pull them into some form of meaningful community--Bible study, prayer group, etc. There is one group that meets...and has met together for many years. They have prayed together since their children were young...for the most part...and now many of those children are grandparents! Those ladies have a prayer group, study the Bible together, and have a Sunday School class. Their needs for christian growth, community and outreach are met and they take their responsibilities seriously.
Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, the "younger" women (from approximately 60 on down) are not involved to anything like the degree of their mothers and grandmothers (as far as a Bible study, prayer group, etc. are concerned). Many are working outside the home or have children/grandchildren to keep up with...not unusual in this day and age in most parts of the country. The question is, how can we involve these women in a meaningful women's ministry without unnecessarily shoveling guilt (which many already feel) on an overwhelming to-do list? How do we help them see that this time will be encouraging when their experience in church has often been one where they feel they don't measure up? How can we encourage them to experience the encouragement that comes from spending meaningful time in God's Word with other women who are there to build them up in Christ? That job is up to the Holy Spirit.

There are a few of us that want to start a Bible study (at least) in the Fall. We have the blessing of our Session (church leadership). Right now, I am working on choosing which book of the Bible to study and a new area of choice opened up recently. i'll be looking through those books, going to some seminars, talking to some people at General Assembly and asking for lots of help and wisdom from others.
I need to settle down at home to do my local homework of talking with my local ladies and doing the groundwork that is needed one on one. For as long as I have been praying re all of this, I know that God's timing is perfect. He knew when these babies were coming and I needed to be away helping with them. Maybe I need some of the information from General Assembly before I get my ladies together in terms of groundwork, I don't know. At any rate, this is the timing that is happening. I would give anything to have someone else do this. It will definitely be a group effort, but I am the one with the vision for it...unfortunately. I have experienced the difficulty in the past that comes with major change. I don't know the specifics for this situation, I just know that it will be a difficult job. The rewards down the road will be fantastic, but early on, it is always difficult. I look foward to the next few weeks/months of growth. I know this will be a very stretching time for me and our women. It is their church. I'm the temporary one. We will need good, Godly leadership from our women. My desire is for God to be glorified both in the process and in the outcome which will never be static...I hope!