Recap, Report, and REST!

Happy Monday! It's my favorite day again. Deep breaths and moments of recovery after the activities of the past week and weekend.

SPA DAY GETAWAY was a smashing success!! Our last number of total attendance was 70 women! We turned the Baptist Building into a high end spa for a day. The pastors that meet there each week wouldn't have recognized the place. Nor would they have been terribly comfortable with the nail polishing, hand massaging, and all around femininity that abounded, I imagine! Only one man was brave enough to enter the Spa Day, our own Dr. Joe came by around lunchtime and read a beautiful poem he picked out for the ladies. A tender moment indeed, and one that revealed Dr. Joe's compassionate heart for the things these ladies face.

The ministers' wives who attended enjoyed the day so much. I could watch as their precious faces relaxed, some of the tension melted away, and they started to really enjoy themselves.

The Spa Day idea was born months ago, and lots of hard work and prayer went into the day. Many individuals from four different states and many different churches pitched in to make the day a wonderful treat for some ministry wives who have been through the wringer. The Arkansas Baptists donated funds that made the day possible. Fairview Heights Baptist Church in VA sent lots of fun spa stuff for the ladies to play with and take home. Celebration Church provided encouragers, a worship leader, and professional counselor. A massage therapist volunteered her time and worked NONSTOP throughout the day to give the ministry wives some meaningful and therapeutic touch. Riverside Church provided a talented lady who designed the menu and prepared the food, and several other women to make the food and spa treatments a success. Metairie Baptist loaned decorations, as did Riverside and Celebration.

Of course, Christy Sallee's line of spa products, "Kiki's Suds" was a big treat! Each attendee recieved her own "vacation in a box" that we used throughout the day. As we were planning Spa Day Getaway, we wanted to provide spa treatments for the ladies, but we wanted something more special than what they could get themselves at any store. So I called my friend Christy and asked if she was interested in dreaming something up for these ladies. Of course she was. Kiki's Suds has been a longtime dream of hers. She agreed to create some products especially for us. A few weeks ago, as I was in Florida, I stopped by Christy's house in the middle of the night (as is our custom) and we played with the products she was making. She told me the name "Kiki" means "home" in another language. We all had tears as we realized the spa products named "home" would be used for the first time by women who perhaps have not felt at home in a long time. Another special blessing from God for our day.

As the women arrived, they were greeted with snacks and coffee. We could see they weren't quite sure what to expect, but as the day got underway, they relaxed more and more. Laughter, tears, hugs, and smiles were abundant. Some of them hadn't seen one another in a long time. Woman after woman approached me to gush a thank you, telling me how much she needed this day.

Katie Boudreaux led off with worship, including a special theme song for the day "Do Not Fear" taken directly out of Zephaniah 3:14
Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.

16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.

17 The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."


Then Kathy performed her first character, Betty Lou Macaunahey, Pastor's Wife at 1950's Baptist Church, complete with pillbox hat and matching purse. Kathy did a character for each session, including Liz, a resentful music minister's wife who dropped all her cares at Spa Day, and Consuela Maria Chiquita Hernandez Gonzalez, a well-meaning but slightly misdirected minister's wife. Our three sessions were: REST, where we discussed Letting ourselves rest, Laying down our burdens, and Leaving it there, or living a life of rest in God. REJUVENATE, where we discussed the rejuvenating benefits of Relationships, Rejoicing, and Reality. And RECOVER, where we discussed the healing qualities of Facing up to our hurts, Forgiveness, and Flaunting the treasures God brings about in our lives through painful experiences. At the end of each session, the ladies spent time in discussion around their tables.

Throughout the day, ladies spent time in the spa room, where they could recieve a massage, an encouraging prayer time, and a hand treatment. They also had access to Michelle, a counselor and pastor's wife, who could provide professional advice for any major hurts the ladies were carrying. We wrapped up the day with a quiet reflection as Katie sang our theme song again, some special moments of prayer, and then more hugs and tears as we said goodbye.

Terry Dickson was graciously present and available for the ladies. We now have a working database of contact information for Terry to work with for future events. Terry also designed the beautiful invitations for the day and kept track of RSVP's.

As Kathy, Terry, and I were finishing the cleanup and loading up our vehicles, we were exhausted and SO pleased with the day. We left with the peaceful joy of knowing God had touched the ministry wives in a special way. Knowing their lives were made a bit brighter and their burdens a bit lighter was worth every effort we put into the day. Just as the wife often sets the tone of a home, the ministers' wives can have great influence over the atmosphere at a church. We know the peace and relaxation given to these ministry wives will spill over to those who are looking to them as examples in the church.

We think EVERY woman should experience a Spa Day Getaway!! Pray that God will open those doors. Ya never know, a Spa Day Getaway may be headed your way soon!

For now, I have a satisfied smile, sort of like the cat that ate the canary. I am overjoyed at the privilege I had of speaking to these women, looking in their beautiful, sometimes teary eyes, and cheering them on. I know well the burdens they carry and it is wonderfully satisfying to know that Jesus loved on them through me and Kathy and Terry, and all the women who were there to minister to those who usually DO the ministering.

Happy Monday indeed. I'm off to tie up leftover loose ends and begin preparing for a trip to Birmingham this weekend. OH! And to drink some tea from the lovely tea set I got for Mother's day. There's a scripture printed on it, incredibly appropriate for this weekend's experience, I think. Hebrews 4:9-11

9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest