retreat! retreat!

I just wanted to let you guys know about something exciting for Whitney and myself. The other day whitney and I decided that we need to get away from everything (i.e. northview, our families) and take some time to process all that we have been through in the past nine months or so. We need time away from distractions to just listen, ya know? We wanted it to be as soon as possible.

We looked at our calendars and saw that the best option would be July 16-21. It needed to be little or no cost and definitely out of town. With no direction as to where, what, or how, I asked my dad and I think Joe to pray that God would provide a low-cost quiet, refreshing, retreat-type get-away. Well, today our prayer was answered!

Last weekend we had searched online for free retreat-centers for ministers and came up with two websites with many links to such accomodations. You should check them out when you get a chance, click: sabbaticals: christian reformed church -OR- clergy retreat info. The first link we looked into was broomtree ministries. They had only a few weeks where they provide these retreats, but one of the options is close (Niles, MI) AND it includes accomodations for a week with food...free! Supporters make donations so ministers can get away with their wives for spiritual refreshing and renewal. And get this. The first week listed was the exact week we were hoping for: July 16-21. When we called yesterday, they said it was full, but that we would be put on the cancellation list. Today, someone cancelled! God totally provided this for us. We're quite exctied about being in a beautiful place with natural surroundings for the sole purpose of being close to God and each other and spending $0. Click here for pictures of the lodge.

I didn't realize how many opportunities there are out there for ministers like this one. Whitney and I plan on looking into setting up retreats like this out west (they have some in Colorado) as debreifing weeks before we come back home for visits. I think it would be quite beneficial and a great way to push our "pause" buttons as John from SPCF put it last week at the meeting.

Please pray for us during that week. Ask God to calm us down and allow us to listen to Him there. Thanks for your prayers!