Cool Beans!: Jenn and Gracia

Photo by Marilyn Gorenflo

We've been reconnecting with MAF friends while here in Nampa, some of whom we have served with in Congo! Just look at that group of MK girls! Both kids have enjoyed making new friends and seeing old ones.

Another blessing for us that we weren't planning on but thoroughly enjoyed was getting to attend the MAF Family Conference. Family Conference means a lot of different things in MAF but one of those things is a chance to be a Mary instead of a Martha for a few days.

photo by Marilyn Gorenflo

Jenn Helvering led the worship music and spoke for one of the sessions. For those of you who do not already know, Jenn is the daughter of singer Sandi Patty. I remember Sandi Patty songs from my high school and college days and now her daughter is leading worship at our conference? Oh, I am old!

Jenn is uber-talented and a delightful person. I appreciated the time she took to talk with Emily and the other teen girls at the conference.

photo by Marilyn Gorenflo

Our other speaker was Gracia Burnham! I read her book In The Presence of My Enemies several years ago. Gracia made us laugh with her, and cry with her. She encouraged us and exhorted us. I had the pleasure of meeting her for just a couple minutes and will treasure the memory. Her story, not just the story of her time in captivity in the jungle but her story of God's work since her rescue, is astounding.

Several things Gracia said during the conference really resounded in my own heart and either convicted me, reminded me I was not so different from everyone else, or both. She shared that the hardest thing about her captivity was seeing her own heart not as she thought it was but as it really was. During our first term in overseas missions I learned that it does not take much hardship to bring out the ugly in me and that my heart needed a lot more work than I realized. None of us like to see that in ourselves but it is a good thing if it humbles us and helps us see how much we really need God, not just for our salvation but also for our freedom and transformation.

We wrapped it up with a picnic at a local park. For us that was a double treat because we had not seen a city park in years. The abundance of green, flowers, even trash cans and bathrooms, and the lack of concrete was refreshing.

The songs and words chosen by Jenn and Gracia for the conference, along with the fellowship with our Nampa team, was something I really needed. Many times in those last six months or so before our furlough I told God, "Lord, I'm TIRED." We all were. When I think now about the fact that while I was telling Him I was tired, He had already planned this for me, it just amazes me.

Here are some extra photos from the conference.