Dear friends, I want to share something with you that I’m excited about. I was recently on my way home from leading a guided retreat in someone’s home. It was three hours of talking about how God works in our lives and discussion and prayer and solitude and I left there full and grateful for the beauty of women’s hearts. And on my drive home, I thought to myself, I should come up with a retreat like this specifically for women who are divorced. I jotted it down to think about later.
The next day, I jumped on my private Facebook page for women who are separated/divorced and one of the gals had posted, “There seem to be quite a few of us somewhat near —…perhaps Elisabeth could drive a few hours our way for a retreat/meet-up??”
I don’t believe in coincidences. Not in the least. So I immediately took this idea to God and basically said, “This is yours. If you want this to come to pass, please open up wide opportunities and ideas and doors.”
I believe retreats for divorced women just aren’t out there right now, for a number of reasons.
I believe that divorced women need to be poured into in special ways, and there is a need for something like this.
I believe in “…for such a time as this…”, and I am declaring that I am humbly willing to try to take this on.
I have no idea what this might look like. And I do know that our largest obstacle would be money, as it usually is for most things.
So I am coming to you to ask for prayer. If you have a heart for women who have been through divorce, please pray with me that something will come of this. The former Women’s Ministry Director in me wants to start coercing things into place, but the newer me wants to wait on God and see what he might do with all of this. So I will wait and I will pray and I will dream, and I invite you to come along for the journey.
If my work has encouraged you and you’d like to partner with me as I reach out to help hurting women, click here for more information.
Great idea! The church doesn’t know what to do with us so why not something like this.
I think this is an awesome idea. It is always helpful to share with other women who have traveled the road of a difficult marriage and divorce. I would love to be a part of this and I feel that God has blessed me in so many ways that my testimony would be an inspiration to others. Praying with you that God will continue to source you to minister to others.
Elisabeth! This is amazing timing. I’ve referred a few women I know that are going thru such difficult relationships/divorces like we all have. One of them suggested getting together monthly to review your posts and our situations. I’ve been wanting to do something to work with companies that have employees experiencing such divorces and marriages to help them with work etc. I would welcome helping in NE Ohio. I believe there are grants available for such things. Perhaps working with a county victim / witness director to identify and secure such grants would help? I know someone that might be able to help if you’re interested.
Great idea & definitely a need for it. Where in the US were you thinking about? Could you consider a day retreat? I am in England – are there English women on this blog, in the same position? If so, can we chat… My divorced friend & I have already been talking about a church-based group for the relationally broken.
Terri x
Hi Terri,
I’m not sure how many English women read my blog…and I’m just now in the thinking stages, so I have no idea where it might be held (though I’m envisioning going where there are women able to get me out there).
Elisabeth
Elisabeth,
Praying with you that as you wait and pray, God will orchestrate all clearly for you to see…1 Cor 3:6 …we can plant and water but only God can grow….asking all in the name of Jesus
Blessings in Christ…dear sister in Christ…
Thank you, Carolyn!
Divorced and divorcing women really need this. I’m sure you will be a blessing, Elisabeth!
Thank you, Gail! I’d love any words of advice…
Great idea Elisabeth! I have been to a single mom’s retreat in MN and I would recommend you as a speaker at their annual May retreat.
Thank you, Margaret. So kind!
Here’s a link to the website: http://mnbtg.org/events/single-moms-retreat
Margaret, the retreat looks lovely. Would you like me to email you my speaker information so you can pass that along?
This is a great idea and I have been mulling doing the same here in southern Caifornia. I am on vacation now but would love to touch base with you soon.
Brenda, I’d love to work with you!
Elisabeth – I think it is a wonderful idea.
In the Old Testament they used to hire professional mourners to come and help them grieve a loss… why couldn’t we just bring in authentic mourners to help us process our places of brokenness…
I’ve been saying for years that we as women have got to figure out how to do-life-together BETTER. This would be an amazing start to learning how to help each other heal.
I have two retreats coming up this fall with the topic The Wounded, The Healers and The Warriors. It is a call to women to live life better together. We like to categorize ourselves in one of the roles listed above – the truth is, we are all of them and need to learn the grace for us to flow from one to other – all under the guidance of Abiding in Christ.
I will pray for you as you seek God’s specific guidance for yourself and the women you are leading. You are a great example of The Wounded, The Healer and The Warrior all rolled up into one 🙂 Thanks for being on the front line.
Cheryl, thank you for the kind words! I love that concept of being all three in one. And your retreats sound wonderful!
Think its a great idea! I’m praying that something comes through and maybe I can travel to the US to attend along with others I know.
It is not an easy word but God sees and knows and takes care of his own.
easy road*
How much would it cost?
Lisa, I don’t know yet. There would be many expenses in putting something like this together, and yet, I’d want to keep the cost down as divorced women tend to have tight budgets. Still praying and thinking! -Elisabeth-
Dear Ming,(As I don’t have your email, hope you don’t mind that I leave you a message here.)What a plsueare to meet you and Mr. Zhu last Saturday at Taitung! And it’s such a sweet surprise to know that we are both Malaysian!From first sight, I was inspired by your positive energy, without knowing that you are the author of RippleCards, the cards I love to share with my friends!Thanks for your hospitality in showing us around your beautiful home at Dulan. Taitung is always the place I love to go for relaxation and recharge of energy, hope we have chance to meet in Taitung again!Please send my regards to Mr. Zhu as well. Since I joined the Ayurvedic Trip to India arranged by Aveda 6 or 7 years ago, Mr. Zhu is always a master of life that I try to learn from. And Aveda has been the place that initiated all my passion in yoga. Certainly I will take Mr. Zhu’s encouragement to continue my yoga practice and take the trainer program soon!Keep in touch!Alicia