Selah Massage & Bodywork
Thrive Retreat: Tuscany, Italy February 14-24, 2019
Hello Friends,
I want you all to know my heartfelt thanks for your support for my time in Tuscany, both in thoughts and prayer, and giving. This trip was an amazing experience filled with many deep connections and unexpected blessings. Thrive has been a supporter and advocate for Global Women for over 20 years. They were formerly known as Women of the Harvest and had a magazine dedicated to encouraging women on the field. Retreats are held all over the world, four times a year, with the focus on supporting women holistically: body, mind and spirit. This retreat saw 110 attendees from 37 different countries of service, representing 48 different agencies. We also had 42 volunteers doing amazing things to support the attendees, and each other. Women were renewed through an inspiring speaker, personal counseling sessions, self-care options, and times of reflection. For my part, I was one of four massage therapists, and was able to massage 22 women over 2 days, each receiving a 25 minute session. Yes, that sounds like a lot, and it was; but the time went by so fast, and I was moved by their stories and privileged to pray for each one. We were divided into smaller groups of 5-6 women, plus a facilitator and co-facilitator (I was one). In these sessions we got to know each other better and hear the struggles each experience in their area of service. Our group had women from Estonia, France, the UK, Cameroon, Bulgaria and Italy. I was inspired to meet both younger women and women who had been serving for over 40 years. It was also sweet to meet a few serving abroad who are from the Chicagoland area. We plan to meet up in the coming months when they are home from assignment. Here are just a "few" photos of our amazing time together. We had two days of training and preparation before the attendees arrived; four days of the retreat, and three days afterward for debriefing (one of which included a day of touring Florence). We had perfect, 60-degree days and cool nights--unexpectedly mild for Italy in February! |
$2,930 DONATED! FULLY FUNDED!
Thank you! |
Here are some comments from the attendees about their time in Tuscany:
"To be expected, anticipated, looked for, welcomed, embraced, listened to, showered [upon], understood, and known, was a taste of our heavenly homecoming. I will treasure the memory until that day!"
"Thank you for caring for those of us who often feel unseen in our roles overseas. You have seen our needs, provided a time for us to slow down, and given us connection with other women. I am deeply grateful for something so special."
"Thank you for this beautiful time. The best word I can think of to describe it is restorative. I'm heading back to Zimbabwe feeling loved and refreshed...two things I desperately needed!"
"To be known, understood, heard, accepted, and affirmed has been priceless. To have lived for years not feeling those things and to then enter into community with people who get it--and to experience that together--has been life giving."
"To be expected, anticipated, looked for, welcomed, embraced, listened to, showered [upon], understood, and known, was a taste of our heavenly homecoming. I will treasure the memory until that day!"
"Thank you for caring for those of us who often feel unseen in our roles overseas. You have seen our needs, provided a time for us to slow down, and given us connection with other women. I am deeply grateful for something so special."
"Thank you for this beautiful time. The best word I can think of to describe it is restorative. I'm heading back to Zimbabwe feeling loved and refreshed...two things I desperately needed!"
"To be known, understood, heard, accepted, and affirmed has been priceless. To have lived for years not feeling those things and to then enter into community with people who get it--and to experience that together--has been life giving."
Thank you all for helping to make this happen.
With a grateful heart and open hands,
Mei