We started the morning with a short teaching on Representing Christ to our Children...two women were in the kitchen preparing tea for our party so we were few!
1. Parents become the lens which determines how their children see God.
2. Parents become the building plans which determine how their children will build their lives...
Elijah decided to go exploring! Rachel has been leaving him home lately, as she is weaning him...
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| Curiosity... |
...I guess he is weaned cuz she brought him this day - I am glad she did - I have missed him!
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| I shook my head at him and he closed the door and latched the lock! |
But I did not expect him so had not brought any toys...seems he is good at amusing himself!
I think he wants to join the circle!
Trying to get his chair in between...
Josephine read from Psalm 78:1-8...according to this psalm, the purpose of teaching one's children is so they will put their trust, hope and confidence in God.
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| Josephine and Susan |
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| Elijah and Rachel |
As ambassadors of Christ, parents model faith and trust in God by how they live before their children.
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| Tantrum |
3. Parents become a miror that determines how their children see themselves...
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| I think he is tired! |
Children learn about themselves by the way their parents relate to them...I believe Elijah knows he is a child loved by his mother and by God!
Children are like sponges, soaking up all that is around them...
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| Sarah |
...when life squeezes them (which it will!) what comes out is what we, as parents, have put in...
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| Linet and Rachel |
When we love, nurture, and protect our children, the foundations of their lives will be established.
After the teaching we opened the floor for Q&A and discussion...
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| Susan |
Some acknowledged the reality that we parents of grown children have made mistakes...what shall we do?
And children of divorced parents often feel they have the power - since they get double portions, some from each parent...
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| Serah needing something from Rose! |
Rose shared that one thing that helps her as she thinks of all the mistakes she made is to teach her daughter all that she has learned as a parent so that her daughter will do better...
...also we can let our children know we are sorry for all the things we did...and ask forgiveness.
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| Rose |
We also heard stories of children being abused and neglected...what can we do?
...we can care for those children and help them understand that we love them and God loves them and that they are valuable.
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| Sarah, Nancy and Rose |
We also heard stories of women having children even with no provision for taking care of them...
...we can care for those children, even if the parents cannot provide...
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| Rose, Serah and Consolata |
We as a church are called to care for the orphans and the widows...and also the children whose parents cannot or will not care for them...
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| Rachel, Elida and Nancy |
At the end of the day - there are no easy answers...but every one of these women represents a church and a community where they have influence and impact...
Now time for the celebration! First the women line up to be able to receive their certificates!
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| Denise, Rose, Josephine and Susan |
Rose and Sharon tied for best attendance so they received a gift in addition to the certificate...
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| Denise, Rose and Josephine |
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| Denise, Emily and Josephine |
When it was Rachel's turn she handed off Elijah to Elida - he doesn't seem to mind!
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| Denise, Rachel and Josephine |
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| Denise, Linet and Josephine |
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| Denise, Elida and Josephine |
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| Denise, Nancy and Josephine |
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| Denise, Sarah and Josephine |
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| Denise, Serah and Josephine |
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| Denise, Eliphine and Josephine |
Now time for tea and snacks!
Elida serves us by helping us wash our hands...
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| Elida and Emily |
A visitor! I think she smelled the food...
We brought gifts for the ladies...
But first things first!
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| Susan and Linet |
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| Emily and Consolata |
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| Dorothy and Serah |
Elida (to the left) and Serah (to the right) made the tea and are our hostesses for the day :)
Josephine preparing a cup of tea for Elijah
...as she pours from cup to cup the tea cools enough for him to drink!
Serah pouring me a cup of tea...yum!
After cutting the oranges, Eliphine washes the knife...
It was fun to relax together and just enjoy the day...
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| Emily, Rose and Consolata |
The following photos speak for themselves!
Susan loves to laugh...
Ah! See the gift on the chair? That was is special for Emily who is to give birth to her first baby in Jan or Feb...
There she is almost smiling!
Denise explaining that she will hand out numbers, which correspond to the gifts on the table...
...each lady will draw a number...
...then Josephine and I picked each gift, called out the number and gave out the gifts...
I think the ladies were enjoying this part!
Serah had spotted her gift from afar!
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| Serah |
Indulge me a few pictures of myself...it is a rare occurrence!
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| Linet |
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| Rachel |
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| Susan |
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| Sarah |
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| Emily (and the baby) |
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| Eliphine |
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| Consolata |
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| Nancy |
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| Elida |
I thoroughly enjoyed all the hugs!
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| Dorothy |
Time to hand out the Christmas cards...
It was such a pleasure to give to them in this way...
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| Elijah!!! |
Then each lady said a few words...sharing what the teachings have meant to them...
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| Dorothy |
Some shared of wayward husbands and children...
...families restored and relationships renewed...
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| Eliphine |
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| Rachel |
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| Nancy |
Serah spoke of her appreciation...and even gave a short sermon!
Then invited us to clap our appreciation to God for all He has done...
Then she led us in a prayer of thanksgiving...
Elida's son passed away during this teaching...
...so many life events that these ladies have experienced...
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| Susan |
...it has been our privilege to walk this journey with them...
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| Linet |
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| Sarah |
Sweet, shy Nancy...
...and Pastor Rose - such a blessing to us!
Consolata shared how Sarah had invited her and for several weeks, her heart was hard, but finally she decided to come and has benefited greatly (I believe we have a new member of our group!)
It was hard to believe we had come to the end of another year together!
Afterwards, the ladies cleaned up even as they said their farewells to us and to each other.
