Monday, June 23, 2008

Back from She Speaks

Hi Friends. Thanks for all your sweet notes and emails saying you've been missing me. (big smiles) I've just returned from a week out of town for the She Speaks conference, so that's why I've been MIA for awhile.


This is the same conference I was fasting about in my previous post. Thanks for praying for me during that time. The fast was not as difficult as I'd first feared, and it was definitely worth while. I think more fasting is in my near future. And I challenge you to be open to the idea of fasting next time you face a big challenge, or the next time you hear God asking you to press hard into Him.

Each year before the weekend conference begins, the P31 crew gathers to set up at the conference hotel and prepare for the event. Since this is the only time of the year the speaker team is all in one place, we also do a lot of ministry updating and team training. And since its the only time of the year we're all together, we stay up way too late talking in our jammies and getting caught up on one another's lives.

It's a good thing I began adjusting to little food with my pre-conference fast because my schedule was so busy the last several days that I rarely got to finish a meal during the week. I think I've operated this last week on an average of 5.5 hours of sleep per night and 1.5 meals a day. But I wouldn't trade a minute of it for all the Starbucks, chocolate and fluffy pillows in the world.

Here is the P31 speaker team and staff. This photo was taken on Thursday. (I'm on the inside side of the rock on the far left.)

Each year I'm left speechless as I watch what God does in the lives of His daughters through this little band of women at Proverbs 31 Ministries. God breaks shackles, confirms callings, and brings dreams to fruition as He woos women's hearts closer to His. It's such a privilege and a thrill to play a part.

I got to meet some of our fellow bloggy friends while there! Several women came up and introduced themselves and said "I love reading your blog" or "I've learned so much from the online bible study we've done on your blog." That was terrific. I'm hoping some of them will post a comment and tell us about their conference experience - or blog about it and leave us the link in a comment below.

I'll be back later to tell you more about it myself, but for now I'm off to actually finish a meal and to snuggle with my kids. It's good to be home, and to be back in touch with you all.

23 comments:

  1. Welcome Back! I can't wait to read about the conference. When I woke this morning I felt that the Lord wanted me to fast Wed-Fri...this month our church changed our weekly Bible study to a weekly time of prayer and Friday we are hosting the third prayer meeting for our community...This is the second confirmation I received regarding fasting since this morning...
    Be Blessed
    Debrah

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  2. Rachel, welcome back. Sounds like it must have been a special time. Can't wit to read more about it. Sure wish I could attend some time.
    Looking forward to gettin back into the Bible study.

    Janet
    Latrobe, PA

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  3. Welcome home,
    You have been missed but know that you have gained a lot from your conference. Look forward to hearing more. I will be out of town Sunday through Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, but will try to keep up if I am near a computer.
    AliceE.

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  4. Welcome back Rachel, you have been missed ALOT!!!!! I know we are all thankful you are refreshed in the Lord and have been blessed this past week...can't wait to hear more about it. I'm looking forward to getting back into Bible Study.
    God Bless,

    Josie

    P.S. Thank you all for your prayers for my husband, his heart shock (cardio-version) was a huge success and he is feeling much better...PRAISE GOD!!!!!

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  5. I really enjoyed meeting you this weekend. What an incredible time of God filling the place! The memories won't be forgotten any time soon. God bless!
    ~Carol

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  6. Thanks for the sweet comment and stopping in to leave it.

    I really appreciate the ministry you and rest of P31 does. Two years ago I feel like it marked the start of a change. This year I was simply overwhelmed with the confirmation. I thought I had changed a bit, but apparently underestimated the evidence of it.

    I thought about stopping to talk to you a couple times, but it seemed that either I was on my way somewhere or you were chatting with someone. There are just so many people it is impossible to get to know everyone.

    Thanks again for everything. I know those conferences take months of prep and planning and long hours immediately before and during. (I use to do ministry with college students, so I've been behind the scenes.) I hope that you were blessed as much as those of us who attended.

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  7. yea! your back! i am so glad to hear the confrence went well and can't wait to hear all about it. hope you enjoy your meal and your snuggles!

    blessings to you rachel!

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  8. AnonymousJune 23, 2008

    Welcome Back Rachel!! I have been
    checking daily for word from you,
    (I didn't realize the conference lasted one week). Well, I'm glad you had a great time and those snuggles with the children are the best part of getting home...
    Laura's Mom

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  9. Hi Rachel,

    This is a beautiful picture of the team. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for serving. I will never be the same. We, indeed serve a mighty God. Love and hugs, Lynn

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  10. Hi Rachel,
    Yahoo you are back! I/We have missed you. Would have been great to meet you also but maybe someday.
    Just realized there is another Lynn out there and she was there checked out some pictures on her blog. Funny she signs hers "Be Blessed" too.
    Anyway rest up snuggle up with kids and hubby, and we'll look forward to new wisdom and insight.
    Be Blessed :)
    Lynn - Oregon

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  11. Rachel-it is amazing the way God is working in all the lives of the ladies we met, isn't it? You and the P31 team are so REAL and I think that is what makes it all so special to those who attend. God blessed us beyond what we ever could have imagined. Thank you for being so willing to serve us this weekend. I wish there would have been time to meet with you all 1:1!!

    In His Graces~Pamela

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  12. Welcome home Rachel. Great photo. I look forward to hearing how God moved at the conference this year.

    Blessings,
    Pearls

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  13. Hey Rachel,

    I don't think we ever got to meet. There was so much going on! I wanted to let you and your readers know about Robin's Mr. Linky. She's gathering all the links to stories from She Speaks. So stop by there and have a look, and be sure to leave a link to your blog post as well!

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  14. Welcome back! I wished I could have been there, I really feel like God is moving mightly in this country and using every one that makes themselves available. I'm excited to hear all about the conference and what God did in your midst.
    Alice, be careful on your trip and hope you have a great time.
    Be in prayer for me, Our church is doing back yard bible studies for kids in our comunity and many do not know the Lord. Pray that God's light will shine through us that are teaching.
    Have a blessed day.
    Tommie

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  15. Rachel,

    Your back, and sounds like it was a blessing, fun by all. The picture is great. I would love to attend one of those. I am sure your family is glad to have you back.. Get some food,coffee and chocolate back in ya, and we'll see ya back at the bible study.

    God Bless you and your family
    Sharon

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  16. Welcome back Rachel... :) It's awesmone that you guys had a great conference. I missed ya and definitely eat something before you forget, K? :)

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  17. AnonymousJune 24, 2008

    Shoot, Rachel, we didn't get to meet. My daughter's name is Rachel, so your email caught my eye immediately :).

    It was a wonderful weekend and thank YOU for your part in making it happen. May the Lord continue to bless you and your ministries, as you blessed so many in your SheSpeaks service.

    :)

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  18. My dear, Rachel, how precious you are to me. I just thank you for your prayers and love and thank God for whispering for me to find you.

    I wrote a post on my new blog about Saturday night. Feel free to check it out when you can.

    http://wendyblackwell.blogspot.com/

    Blessings!

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  19. Hey Rachel!

    I was so excited that you had a chance to post! I enjoyed meeting you so much this weekend. You were helpful, inspiring and just fun to be around!

    I loved this picture of the team! Very neat!

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  20. Welcome Back!!! So happy that the fast and the conference was a success! Missed you, but glad to see that you made it safely back home to your family. Also, missed the bible study. Be blessed and get plenty of rest.
    LaTonya/FL

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  21. Hello Ladies,

    My husband has started a sight for men, so please let your husbands or boyfriends know that they can join in with him and share God's word. I have spoken to Rachel and we need to spread the word, so that men can have a place to fellowship like we do. There are alot of men out there hungry for God's Word.

    The website is:
    www.bradhurley42.blogspot.com

    Have a Blessed Day
    Sharon

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  22. AnonymousJune 25, 2008

    Welcome back, Rachel, from me, too. I've missed the bible study — logging on and finding no new post — and have wondered how the conference was going.
    I can read that others who were able to get there have lots of praise for their experiences. I'm waiting for more specifics. :-)
    Meanwhile I'm fasting again this week, with my daughters in various parts of the world, on personal, family, community, and world issues that God is revealing to us individually. It's a painful process, but reassuring and encouraging to know that the Lord cares and is working in the hearts of so many women. PTL!

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  23. I have been enjoying these posts about She Speaks so much. God is doing marvelous things through Proverbs 31. I was unable to attend this year but am already praying about next year!

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