VERY informal note

So, Monday, Yoland and I went shopping for the LADIES' CAMP. Wed. the ladies registered. I took the meat down there ---had had it cut up in my freezer and separated for the meals. Also I made a lot of cookies and popcorn on Wed. On Thurs. I got there by 7:45 AM. The topic was the Virtuous Woman.
Of course I thought I wasn't going to need this ---haven't I arrived?? smile. The men did super jobs on the teaching ---very, very good and I found lots to work on. Also the ladies had lots of interaction and questions and really seemed to enjoy camp - approx. 6 hours of teaching every day.
People who were supposed to come didn't; and people who weren't coming did. Anyway, we ended up with about 24 or 28. We had lots of food and everyone was very happy. I just kept dishing out money for whatever --used it up.
I slept there on a foam mat on the floor those next two nights ---didn't sleep much. Some of those ladies snore - smile. I felt bad having a foam mat, a blanket AND a pillow --some ladies just slept on a sheet. We took extra foam pads but still it wasn't enough.
They were so funny with their bath thing ---getting up at 3:30 and 4 AM to take baths outside! Heat water in a pot! What - not me. Just leave me dirty - Ha. Anyway, it was fun ---just so nice to sit and listen and participate. I enjoyed giving input wherever. Nice Bible games too ---everything really went super well, smoothly and great teaching. We could have had more ladies, but we all enjoyed the camp and the ones who didn't come just missed and will wish they had come.
Thurs. night Steve K. came and showed "The Hiding Place." It was good. Then Friday night we did the invisibility game and then watched "Tangled" ---set up by Dan. They all really liked that too. Then we had a meeting after that ---testimonies that were really good and went on until MN.
I think they need lots of teaching on how to raise children. That might be a great topic for next year.
Being a Virtuous Woman doesn't drop into your lap --you have to read your Bibles and grow.
Saturday morning I came home and attacked the house ---or it attacked me??? It was quite dirty and laundry build-up. Oh well, the joy of the Lord is my strength. With JOY we can do anything and without it, life is a drag.
Our church is painted and looks super nice.
All our pets are fine. Raolline's dog died --that was sad. I wanted to get her one of our neighbor's puppies---like Shelby, who is a very pretty dog. Anyway, we went down there today ---the dog had 6 puppies. Well, they had sprayed the yard and the dogs with a poison to kill ticks and they had all died!! That was super sad for us. Poor mother dog.
School is supposed to start this week ---will it?? I don't know. The school room is in a mess and I am not psyched at all. Dan still wants to paint it, but the time is running out for sure. He painted it today.
Have a great week.
Joan
So, I looked over my notes --no way to tell how they worked on me. Each of the speakers did a very good job and were interesting. The entire theme of camp was Proverbs 31 --picked apart phrase by phrase.
What does a virtuous woman look like??? There is the question. And it doesn't fall into your lap ---takes learning, work and change. I'll have to add in my own comments as I go ---what encouraged me in my own mind. (Me) It does take work, but the Holy Spirit is there to work IN us. It is not our own effort. We just have to eat. We eat and we grow. If you eat the right food, your body will grow beautifully. So, I need to serve good food (at church spiritually) and the ladies will grow ---that is what we are predestined to do. Our work is to feed and eat. Jesus said --Come to me - find rest for your SOULS. That is what we want ---rest in our souls.
Your testimony counts --Who can find / who can Be a virtuous woman? You don't find one in the world. Must be a Christian. Virtue comes from God. Does him good and not evil all her days. (Me) Wise --opposite of a fool. If you are not acting wisely, you are acting like a fool. Who wants to be considered a fool? Not I.
The definitions were great. What are the signs of her character? DAILY These make an acrostic in French - Vertueuse (Virtuous).
Have a CLEAR Vision --a goal with plans to arrive there.
Surpass them all (Emerithe)---do everything with excellence ---do the best you can whatever you do --the best quality, master of technique.
Radiant and joyful --on your face a smile. Beauty of anyone can be seen in a smile --that is what makes people attractive.
Triumphs over problems ---looks for solutions, positive, encouragement --not criticism and panic.
Useful - others can depend on her. Are you missed? or are you lazy. Mean --able to help but won't?
Economic - spends with reflection ---thinks before she spends money. plans ahead, organized --lamp does not go out.
Unique - passes all, above all, what is your work testimony?
Sage - wise - watch your mouth --ALL the time. encourage, not to destroy. Character is evident by the way she speaks.
Worthy of praise (Eloge)--because of the quality of her work and her character ---worthy of praise. If you live well and have no character ---zero.

Well, I am sure you don't want to hear it all --that is just some of what was brought again to my mind. One other thing was the influence on her family. Your family is the evidence of your influence. Her testimony is the same in the family as is out of the family. Appreciated. "A family without prayer is like a house without a roof."
I told the people at our church --send your wives to camp. Do you want them to grow? to become virtuous women? women you can be proud of? If the women don't get fed spiritual food, it is not only they who suffer but you the men and also the whole family. Vice-versa for the men. I love it when Dan goes to conferences --gets fed good spiritual food.
Sorry this was long --not nearly all by any means. Each session was 1 1/2 hours - 6 hours per day ---I know that doesn't add up, but it always went over with the discussion and questions.

Susanna and I are going to try to get in shape ---and stick with it. That is the main problem ---it is so daily!!
Oh yes, Hannah would love to just come back out with Dan!!!! I am so excited with that possibility ---my sweet, kind, French-speaking girl friend to come out and live with us. We are talking the best of the best mappers. Wow. She could do a course at the Bible School --improve her French, do deliveries, drive, on and on, help me with school, piano, ----she is like another me - smile. What do you think? She is not wanting to get married and is not wanting to look. I think I will think along those lines. She wants to be home for a while. So, Seth and Ruth could go on somewhere --maybe Hannah could join them in the next semester. We'll see. Plans and discernment ---lots of praying and God will give us peace ---The God of ALL PEACE will be with us ---and with you. The thought of Hannah coming out makes my heart sing. She might change after she gets to the states and sees Ruth and Seth and Dan. We just need to pray for God's direction and leading.
Love in Christ,
Joan and Dan