WOW THE MINGUS METHODIST CAMP RETREAT WAS A PERFECT SEPT. 28, 29 AND 30.  THE AREA IS ONE OF GOD'S CREATIONS AND RIGHTFULLY SO.  WE WERE AT 7200 FT AND  THEN ONE DAY WE WALKED THE ROAD UP ANOTHER 300 FT. WHERE SKY DIVERS JUMPED.  YOU COULD SEE FLAGSTAFF, JEROME, SEDONA AND THE VERDE VALLEY - REALLY BREATHTAKING. THE FOOD WAS 5 STAR SERVED FAMILY STYLE AND PLENTY OF IT.  THE PROGRAM WAS VERY ENRICHING AND SELF EVALUATING. 
PASTOR LAURA HAD A MARBLE ENDURANCE GAME.  YOU GOT A CUP OF CLEAR MARBLES AS GOD'S START UP.  YOU COULD EARN 2 EACH OF 4 DIFFERENT COLORS.  EMOTIONS, PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND  SPIRITUAL.  THROUGH A PROCESS OF QUESTIONS PASTOR LAURA ASKED YOU WE COULD ADD THE COLORED MARBLES.  WHEN WE HAD THAT ACCOMPLISHED  - WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH OUR TABLE OF FOUR AND WE TOOK AWAY MARBLES WE FELT WE DID NOT LIVE UP TO IN THOSE CATAGORIES .  THE END RESULT OF THE MARBLES LEFT WAS VERY INTERESTING.  WE  AGREED WE ALL ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING IN THE LEARNING WE RECEIVED.
THE CRAFTS WENT OVER VERY WELL.  WE DECORATED CANDLES WITH LACE, SEQUINS AND RIBBONS  WE MADE SUN VISORS AND DECORATED THEM.  EVERYONE HAD A CHOICE - DO CRAFTS OR REST OR GO FOR A WALK.  THE WEATHER WAS AROUND 50/55 AND A LOT WALKED OVER THE PROPERTY.  ASK PASTOR LARRY ABOUT HIS VERY, VERY EARLY WALK WITH THE JAVALINAS. THE  CAMPFIRE AT NIGHT WAS A LOT OF FUN.  SINGING, TELLING EXPERIENCES , ROASTING MARSHMELLOWS AND MAKING SMORES.    THE COMRADERIE WAS SO ENJOYABLE AND WE REALLY GOT TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT EACH OTHER. 
TUESDAY MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST WE HAD COMMUNION IN THE CENTER OF THE MEADOW WHERE THE FIRE PIT WAS.  THERE WAS A TALL ALUMINUM CROSS THAT A LADY DONATED IN MEMORY OF TWO LOVED ONES.  IT SHONE BY THE FIRE AND ALSO IN THE SUN - IT WAS BEAUTIFUL,  WE MADE A CIRCLE AROUND THE CROSS AFTER WE HAD COMMUNION BY INTINCTURE AND MANY HAD PRAYERS.  PASTOR LAURA GAVE THE FINAL PRAYERS. 
THERE WAS LOTS OF HUGS AND BEST WISHES.  AFTER THAT WE PACKED UP OUR STUFF AND BETWEEN BETTY AND AL JOSEPH'S FIFTH WHEEL AND CHET AND MARY JO'S MOTORHOME THEY BROUGHT OUR GEAR BACK TO THE CHURCH. OUR CABIN HAD 14 WOMEN AND THE LAST EVENING AFTER CAMPFIRE WE HAD A PAJAMA  PARTY.  ANOTHER GET TO KNOW SESSION.  EVERYONE JUST THOUGHT THE RETREAT WAS GREAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING ONE  NEXT YEAR.  THE ONLY NEGATIVE WAS THAT THE BEDS WERE A LITTLE HARD SO BRING AIR  MATTRESSES NEXT YEAR .   

AMEN  VIV COX