Women's Weekend--Cowra

The second weekend in October was probably just a normal weekend for most of the women around New South Wales. But for a small group gathered in Cowra, it was life-changing.

Seeing the need for a special time of fellowship, Jan Newton and Pastor Daga Le Leivre planned a cozy get-together for ladies in the Cowra area. Several of us from Sydney, Wollongong and even Cooma, made the trip to be a part of this special weekend.

“They’ve always come to us,” said Jan. “It was our turn to come to them.”

We gathered in a hall near the city centre, ladies of many ages, backgrounds and cultures. We enjoyed morning tea and lunch together in between wonderful ministry by Pastor MaryAnn Mansu and Rev Sue James. We were encouraged to wrestle with God – a form of intimacy, take off old coats to put on new ones and draw on the anointing that we had made room for.

This was my first time to visit the bush of rural New South Wales, and I, Danielle, was astounded by the hospitality I experienced while there. During the Saturday meetings, however, I also became acutely aware of the hunger for more of the Lord and of fellowship and the need for healing of some very deep wounds.

I was sitting up near the front of the hall, manning the “book” table—we were only selling one book—and it was almost lunch time, and a few ladies were milling around the room, but a few were up at the front being prayed for. As I sat there, I saw a lady crumpling a tissue in her hand and walked back to her seat, and it really struck me at that moment that this is what “it” is about. It’s about lives changing. It’s about bringing hope and healing to broken and bruised hearts. It’s about creating an atmosphere that reminds all of us that God is God, no matter what we’ve been through or where we’ve come from or who’s said lies about us or who we’ve said lies about. God is God. Forgiveness is forgiveness, and healing is healing. And we all experienced it together.

Having a women’s meeting on a Saturday morning is more than just a reason to get together for a good chin wag. It’s a way of finding accountability and encouragement in others who are around us—near or far—so that we can go to the rest of the world and bring them they same hope and healing and encouragement that we’ve encountered through and because of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Danielle Philippi | Monday, October 26, 2009 | Comments (3) | Permalink